Carl Hoefkens

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography Carl Hoefkens (born 6 October 1978) is a Belgian football manager and former professional footballer who played as a defender. He is currently the manager of Eredivisie club NAC Breda.

Club career

Early career

Born in Lier, Hoefkens started his career at Lierse and played there for six years. He made his breakthrough with Lierse in first division and won the Belgian Cup in 1999, beating Standard Liège in the final with 3–1. Afterwards, he made a move to Lommel but Lommel went bankrupt in 2003. In the summer of 2003, he came to Germinal Beerschot, a first division team in Antwerp. There, he became one of the pillars of the team. In his second season at Germinal Beerschot, he won the cup in the final against Club Brugge, then champions of Belgium. Hoefkens is still appreciated by Beerschot fans; a group of fans from the club have travelled to England on numerous occasions to watch him play.[1]

Stoke City

In the summer of 2005, Stoke City manager Johan Boskamp snapped him up for an undisclosed fee.[2] He made his debut for the club in a 0–0 draw against Sheffield Wednesday on 6 August 2005. Hoefkens became an ever-present in the Stoke line-up and wore the number 2 shirt.

Hoefkens received acclaim for his performances in his first season in English football. He became a fans favourite at Stoke and was crowned 'Fans' Player of the year (2005–06). He then won his 9th cap for his country against Kazakhstan (0–0).

During the January 2007 transfer window, he was linked with a return to Belgium, with Club Brugge reportedly interested in him. He was also penalty taker for Stoke before the arrival of Danny Higginbotham; however, he still maintained a 100% record for the club. Hoefkens impressed both manager and fans alike with his technical ability during the 2006–07 season. He was also praised for his versatility, as he operated as a winger or a central midfielder on occasions in the latter stages of the season.

It was feared that Hoefkens had broken a bone in his foot in a Euro 2008 qualifier against Portugal however a scan revealed that there was no damage.[3]

West Bromwich Albion

File:Carl Hoefkens 20071020.jpg
Hoefkens with West Bromwich Albion in 2007

Stoke accepted a bid for Hoefkens from West Bromwich Albion on 4 August 2007.[4] He joined Albion on 7 August 2007 in a £750,000 deal and was offered a two-year contract plus a further one-year as an option.[5] Hoefkens made his Albion debut in a 2–1 defeat away at Burnley on the opening day of the 2007–08 season.[6] One week later, Hoefkens was named in the Championship Team of the Week, following his performance in the 2–0 home win over Preston North End.[7] He is known by his West Brom teammates as "Wolverine", due to his resemblance to the comic book hero from X-Men.[8]

Hoefkens was released in the summer of 2009.[9]

Return to Belgium

On 25 August 2009, Club Brugge signed the former West Bromwich Albion's Belgian right-back on a two-year deal. He became captain in the season 2010–11. After the season ended, he signed for an extra year with the club.[10] After four years and 127 appearances for the club, Hoefkens moved to Lierse in 2013, spending a season there before a move to Oostende.

Gibraltar and retirement

In August 2015, after his release from Oostende, Hoefkens signed for Gibraltar Premier Division side Manchester 62, who beat off competition from reigning champions Lincoln Red Imps for his signature. He signed undisclosed semi-professional terms for the side and aided in the development of David Ochello's young side, making his debut on 26 September in a 1–0 victory over Glacis United. After 19 league games and two goals, as the Red Devils of Gibraltar finished sixth in the league, he retired at the end of the 2015–16 season.

International career

Hoefkens played 22 times for the Belgium national team, scoring once. He also represented Belgium in the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship.[11]

Hoefkens' one international goal came on 24 May 2006, in a friendly with Turkey in Genk. His last-minute goal secured a 3–3 draw.[12]

Coaching and later career

At the end of January 2018, Hoefkens was hired as a scout for Knokke.[13]

On 28 May 2018, it was confirmed that Hoefkens would return to Club Brugge from the upcoming season, where he would function as assistant coach and talent coach for the U21 and U18 teams.[14] In June 2019, Hoefkens was placed in a new role as a part of the first team staff, where he would have the specific task of guiding young talents and provide the link between the academy and the first team.[15][16] In May 2022, Hoefkens took over as head coach of Club Brugge, signing a contract with indefinite duration.[17] In the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League, he led Club Brugge to the knockout phase for the first time in the Champions League era.[18] On 28 December 2022, Club Brugge announced the termination of his contract.[19]

Hoefkens was named as manager of Standard Liège on 16 June 2023, on a three-year deal. He replaced Ronny Deila, who went to Brugge.[20] Hoefkens named Yaya Touré as part of his coaching staff.[21] Later that year, on 31 December, he was dismissed by the club due to disappointing results.[22]

Hoefkens was then announced as NAC Breda manager on the 6 June 2024 for the 24/25 season in the Eredivisie, which was NAC's first season in the division since 2018/19.[23]

Personal life

Hoefkens married model Vanessa D'Hooghe in 2001.[24]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[25][26]
Club Season League National cup League cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Lierse 1996–97 Belgian First Division 17 0 17 0
1997–98 Belgian First Division 27 1 27 1
1998–99 Belgian First Division 30 0 30 0
1999–2000 Belgian First Division 28 0 28 0
2000–01 Belgian First Division 27 0 27 0
Total 129 1 129 1
Lommel 2001–02 Belgian First Division 33 3 33 3
2002–03 Belgian First Division 21 1 21 1
Total 54 4 54 4
Westerlo 2002–03 Belgian First Division 7 0 7 0
Germinal Beerschot 2003–04 Belgian First Division 32 4 32 4
2004–05 Belgian First Division 30 3 30 3
Total 62 7 62 7
Stoke City 2005–06 Championship 44 3 4 0 1 0 49 3
2006–07 Championship 45 2 2 0 0 0 47 2
Total 89 5 6 0 1 0 96 5
West Bromwich Albion 2007–08 Championship 42 0 5 0 0 0 47 0
2008–09 Premier League 10 0 4 0 1 0 15 0
Total 52 0 9 0 1 0 62 0
Club Brugge 2009–10 Belgian Pro League 31 0 3 0 34 0
2010–11 Belgian Pro League 38 2 2 0 40 2
2011–12 Belgian Pro League 34 2 1 0 35 2
2012–13 Belgian Pro League 24 0 1 0 25 2
Total 127 4 7 0 134 4
Lierse 2013–14 Belgian Pro League 20 0 2 0 22 0
Oostende 2014–15 Belgian Pro League 18 1 0 0 18 1
Career total 558 22 24 0 2 0 584 22

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[26]
National team Year Apps Goals
Belgium 1999 4 0
2005 3 0
2006 8 1
2007 5 0
2008 2 0
Total 22 1
Score and result list Belgium's goal tally first, score column indicates score after Hoefkens goal.
International goal scored by Carl Hoefkens
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 24 May 2006 Cristal Arena, Genk, Belgium {{ Template:Yesno alias = Turkey flag alias = Flag of Turkey.svg link alias-naval = Turkish Naval Forces link alias-navy = Turkish Navy link alias-air force = Turkish Air Force link alias-army = Turkish Land Forces link alias-military = Turkish Armed Forces size = name = altlink = national football team altvar = football variant =

}} || style="text-align:center"|3–3 || style="text-align:center"|3–3 || Friendly

Manager

As of 27 December 2023Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat. From To Record
<templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />GScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />WScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />DScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />LScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />GFScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />GAScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />GDScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />Win %Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Club Brugge Template:Flagicon 1 July 2022 28 December 2022

Template:WDL

Standard Liège Template:Flagicon 1 July 2023 31 December 2023

Template:WDL

Career total

Template:WDLtot

Honours

Player

Lierse[27]

Beerschot A.C.[27]

West Bromwich Albion[27]

Individual

Manager

Club Brugge

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
  2. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. Koster wacht af hoe Hoefkens zich toont Template:Webarchive
  11. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".Template:Cbignore
  12. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. Carl Hoefkens keert terug naar Club Brugge (als assistent bij de beloften), nieuwsblad.be, 28 May 2018
  15. OPLEIDING EN INNOVATIE KERNWOORDEN IN NIEUWE STAF CLUB BRUGGE, clubbrugge.be, 13 June 2019
  16. CARL HOEFKENS OVER ZIJN ROL BIJ CLUB BRUGGE, voetbalbelgie.be, 9 July 2019
  17. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. Template:ENFA
  26. a b Template:NFT player
  27. a b c Template:Soccerway
  28. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

External links

Template:Sister project

Script error: No such module "football squad".

Template:Eredivisie managers Template:Stoke City F.C. Player of the Year Script error: No such module "navboxes". Template:Club Brugge KV managers Template:Standard Liège managers Script error: No such module "Football manager history".Script error: No such module "navboxes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".