Carl Hoefkens

Carl Hoefkens (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈkɑrl ˈɦuf.kəns]; born 6 October 1978) is a Belgian former professional footballer who played as a defender. He is currently the head coach of Belgian Pro League club Standard Liège.

Carl Hoefkens
Hoefkens in 2012
Personal information
Date of birth (1978-10-06) 6 October 1978
Place of birth Lier, Belgium
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Standard Liège (head coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2001 Lierse 129 (1)
2001–2003 Lommel 54 (4)
2003 Westerlo 7 (0)
2003–2005 Germinal Beerschot 62 (2)
2005–2007 Stoke City 89 (5)
2007–2009 West Bromwich Albion 52 (0)
2009–2013 Club Brugge 127 (4)
2013–2014 Lierse 20 (0)
2014–2015 Oostende 18 (1)
2015–2016 Manchester 62 19 (2)
Total 577 (19)
International career
1992–1993 Belgium U15 22 (1)
1994–1995 Belgium U16 5 (1)
1994–1995 Belgium U17 7 (1)
1995–1996 Belgium U18 19 (1)
1995–1996 Belgium U19 7 (0)
1997–1999 Belgium U21 16 (2)
1999–2008 Belgium 22 (1)
Managerial career
2018 Knokke (scout)
2018–2019 Club Brugge (youth)
2019–2022 Club Brugge (staff)
2022 Club Brugge
2023– Standard Liège
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Early career

Born in Lier, Hoefkens started his career at K. Lierse S.K. 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

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 the 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 4 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 2 goals as the Red Devils of Gibraltar finished 6th 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 as a beloftencoach/talentcoach, 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 Bruges.[20] Hoefkens named Yaya Touré as part of his coaching staff.[21]

Personal life

Hoefkens married model Vanessa D'Hooghe in 2001.[22]

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[23][24]
Club Season League National cup League cup Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lierse 1996–97 Belgian First Division 170—170
1997–98 Belgian First Division 271—271
1998–99 Belgian First Division 300—300
1999–2000 Belgian First Division 280—280
2000–01 Belgian First Division 270—270
Total 1291—1291
Lommel 2001–02 Belgian First Division 333—333
2002–03 Belgian First Division 211—211
Total 544—544
Westerlo 2002–03 Belgian First Division 70—70
Germinal Beerschot 2003–04 Belgian First Division 324—324
2004–05 Belgian First Division 303—303
Total 627—627
Stoke City 2005–06 Championship 4434010493
2006–07 Championship 4522000472
Total 8956010965
West Bromwich Albion 2007–08 Championship 4205000470
2008–09 Premier League 1004010150
Total 5209010620
Club Brugge 2009–10 Belgian Pro League 31030—340
2010–11 Belgian Pro League 38220—402
2011–12 Belgian Pro League 34210—352
2012–13 Belgian Pro League 24010—252
Total 127470—1344
Lierse 2013–14 Belgian Pro League 20020—220
Oostende 2014–15 Belgian Pro League 18100—181
Career total 558222402058422

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year[24]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Belgium 199940
200530
200681
200750
200820
Total221
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
124 May 2006Cristal Arena, Genk, Belgium Turkey3–33–3Friendly

Manager
As of 8 October 2023
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat. From To Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Club Brugge Belgium 1 July 2022 28 December 2022 27 15 6 6 46 29 +17 055.56
Standard Liège Belgium 1 July 2023 present 11 4 4 3 13 11 +2 036.36
Career total 37 19 9 9 58 39 +19 051.35

Honours

Player

Lierse[25]

Beerschot A.C.[25]

West Bromwich Albion[25]

Individual

Manager

Club Brugge

References
  1. "Stoke City: The story".
  2. "Stoke complete deal for Hoefkens". BBC Sport. 26 July 2005. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
  3. "Hoefkens injury boost for Stoke". BBC Sport. 28 March 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
  4. "West Brom close on Hoefkens deal". BBC Sport. 5 August 2007. Retrieved 6 August 2007.
  5. "Hoefkens seals Baggies switch". West Bromwich Albion F.C. 7 August 2007. Archived from the original on 16 June 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
  6. "Burnley vs WBA". West Bromwich Albion F.C. 11 August 2007. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2007.
  7. "Coca-Cola Championship Team Of The Week (20/08/2007)" (PDF). The Football League. 20 August 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 May 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2007.
  8. "Saturday's gossip column". BBC Sport. 5 April 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2008.
  9. "Relegated West Brom release trio". BBC Sport. 22 May 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
  10. Koster wacht af hoe Hoefkens zich toont Archived 28 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  11. "Malaysia 1997 – Belgium squad". FIFA. Retrieved 25 May 2007.
  12. Bayet, G. (3 June 2011). "Belgique-Turquie: Les précédents" (in French). RTBF. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  13. "Belgische club speelt op de verrassing: 'Hebben akkoord met Hoefkens'". voetbalprimeur.be. 31 January 2018.
  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. "Officieel: Club Brugge kiest voor Carl Hoefkens als nieuwe hoofdcoach". 25 May 2022.
  18. "Club Brugge can continue to surprise in Champions League, says coach". Reuters. 2 November 2022.
  19. "Club Brugge beëindigt samenwerking met Carl Hoefkens". Club Brugge (in Dutch). 28 December 2022.
  20. "Le Standard tient son nouvel entraîneur : le "Brugeois" Carl Hoefkens est le successeur de Ronny Deila, parti à… Bruges" (in French). RTBF. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  21. Veal, Jonathan (4 July 2023). "Yaya Toure hopes Standard Liege coaching spell leads to Premier League return". The Independent. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  22. Grobben, Annick (26 May 2022). "PORTRET. Über-WAG Vanessa Hoefkens (47): ooit een weddenschap voor Carl Hoefkens, nu trainersvrouw bij Club Brugge". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  23. Carl Hoefkens at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  24. Carl Hoefkens at National-Football-Teams.com
  25. Carl Hoefkens at Soccerway
  26. "Player Awards". Stoke City F.C.
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