Carl Hoefkens

Hoefkens (2012 )

Carl Hoefkens ( born October 6, 1978 in Lier ) is a Belgian footballer. By July 2009, the defense was the English first division side West Bromwich Albion under contract. In the season 2011/12 Hoefkens plays at FC Bruges.

Career

Association

Hoefkens began his career in his hometown at Lierse SK. There he came in 1996 in the senior squad and was able to win at the end of the season his first national title. Lierse secured in this season's first Belgian championship since 1960. At the beginning of the following season they also triumphed in the match for the Supercup. 1999, the final was reached by the Belgian Cup against Standard Liege. Here sat the team by 3-1. After five years, Hoefkens decided a change to league rivals SK Lommel. When Erstligaaufsteiger the defender undergoing a stressful time. For the second half of the season 2002 /03 the club the license was revoked due to lack of funds and all the games were canceled. Already in February 2003 drew Hoegkens the consequences and signed for KVC Westerlo before he joined in the summer of Germinal Beerschot Antwerp. With Germinal he won the 2004 /05 Belgian Cup for the second time, where we prevailed 2-1 against FC Bruges. Even before the start of the following season to Bruges retaliated and kept in the match for the Supercup the upper hand. Because of its good performance during this time became Hoefkens a crowd favorite. In the summer of 2005, Stoke City grabbed the transfer fee defender and pulled him to England. His debut for his new club he gave on August 6, 2005, in the 0-0 draw against Sheffield Wednesday. Hoefkens was a regular player and performer. As in Antwerp, he wowed the fans even at Stoke and became a fan - favorite of the 2005/06 season selected. During the following year he surprised viewers and city manager as he was able to convince as foreign and midfielder. During the winter break, the Belgian giants Club Brugge showed interest in the then Belgian national team. However, it did not come to change. Only in the summer of 2007, the English second division side West Bromwich Albion secured the services Hoefkens. There he signed a two -year contract with an option for another season. Even with the Baggies, he introduced himself and stood on the opening day of the 2007/08 season in the starting lineup of the team. After his first year at West Bromwich team won first place and consequently the direct promotion to the Premier League. On the first day of the new season, on 16 August 2008 Hoefkens made ​​his debut in the Premier League against Arsenal. The game was lost 0-1. After he still held a place in the previous year, Hoefkens was propagated on the bench again. After his contract expired, Hoefkens is without a club since 2009.

National

Hoefkens was nominated several times for the national team of Belgium. Previously, he was already youth international and took part in the Junior World Cup in 1997. There they reached the knockout stages, but different by a 00:10 defeat against Brazil. Hoefkens came here in all three group games as well as in the second round to use.

Achievements

  • Belgian champion with Lierse SK: 1997
  • Belgian Supercup with Lierse SK: 1997
  • Belgian Cup with Lierse SK: 1999
  • Belgian Cup with Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen: 2005
  • Winning the Football League Championship with West Bromwich Albion: 2008
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