Gert Verheyen
Encyclopedia
Gert Verheyen (ˈʝɛrt vər.ˈhɛi̯.ə(n)) (born 20 September 1970 in Hoogstraten
, Antwerp
) is a retired Belgian
footballer who played as a forward.
In a 20-year professional career, he was mainly associated with Anderlecht
and Club Brugge (especially the latter), scoring over 200 official goals for both clubs combined; he was known to have rather few technical skills, relying in a hard-working approach.
Verheyen represented Belgium in two World Cups
and one European Championship
.
, netting 10 Belgian Second Division
goals in his two season-spell, as he was not yet aged 18. In the 1988 summer, he moved to R.S.C. Anderlecht
, where he did not have a good scoring record, also appearing rarely in his first two years.
In 1992, Verheyen signed with Club Brugge KV, where he would remain for the next 14 years, rarely missing a game and netting in double digits in ten of those, with the side collecting four leagues and two cups
. In October 2000, he was expected to move to England
with Ipswich Town
, but the deal eventually fell through.
After more than 500 overall appearances for Brugge (with 195 goals), Verheyen retired on 5 May 2006, becoming a reserve team trainer at the club in 2006–07 and quitting football subsequently at the season's end.
for the Belgium national team during eight years, scoring 10 times. He was selected for the 1998
and 2002
FIFA World Cup
s, as well as UEFA Euro 2000, the latter played on home soil.
Verheyen's was controversially sent off
at the 1998 World Cup in France
as the nation led 2–0 against Mexico
. The foul resulted in a penalty
and the match ended a 2–2 draw. Despite the incident, he continued to be a regular in the next few years.
Hoogstraten
Hoogstraten is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Hoogstraten proper and the towns of Meer, Meerle, Meersel-Dreef, Minderhout and Wortel,...
, Antwerp
Antwerp (province)
Antwerp is the northernmost province both of the Flemish Region, also called Flanders, and of Belgium. It borders on the Netherlands and the Belgian provinces of Limburg, Flemish Brabant and East Flanders. Its capital is Antwerp which comprises the Port of Antwerp...
) is a retired Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
footballer who played as a forward.
In a 20-year professional career, he was mainly associated with Anderlecht
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
and Club Brugge (especially the latter), scoring over 200 official goals for both clubs combined; he was known to have rather few technical skills, relying in a hard-working approach.
Verheyen represented Belgium in two World Cups
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
and one European Championship
UEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
.
Club career
Verheyen started playing professionally with Lierse SKLierse S.K.
Koninklijke Lierse Sportkring is a Belgian professional football club, from the city of Lier in the Antwerp province. Lierse has been playing in the Belgian Pro League since the 2010-11 season and they have already won the competition 4 times. They also have won 2 Belgian Cups...
, netting 10 Belgian Second Division
Belgian Second Division
The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,...
goals in his two season-spell, as he was not yet aged 18. In the 1988 summer, he moved to R.S.C. Anderlecht
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
, where he did not have a good scoring record, also appearing rarely in his first two years.
In 1992, Verheyen signed with Club Brugge KV, where he would remain for the next 14 years, rarely missing a game and netting in double digits in ten of those, with the side collecting four leagues and two cups
Belgian Cup
The Belgian Cup is the main knockout football competition in Belgium, run by the Belgian Football Association. The first cup was held in 1911-12. The most successful cup club is Club Brugge KV with 10 titles followed by RSC Anderlecht and R Standard de Liège...
. In October 2000, he was expected to move to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
, but the deal eventually fell through.
After more than 500 overall appearances for Brugge (with 195 goals), Verheyen retired on 5 May 2006, becoming a reserve team trainer at the club in 2006–07 and quitting football subsequently at the season's end.
International career
Verheyen gained exactly 50 capsCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for the Belgium national team during eight years, scoring 10 times. He was selected for the 1998
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
and 2002
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
s, as well as UEFA Euro 2000, the latter played on home soil.
Verheyen's was controversially sent off
Ejection (sports)
In sports, an ejection is one of several disqualifying actions assessed to a player or coach by a game official , usually for unsportsmanlike conduct....
at the 1998 World Cup in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
as the nation led 2–0 against Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
. The foul resulted in a penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
and the match ended a 2–2 draw. Despite the incident, he continued to be a regular in the next few years.
Honours
- Belgian League: 1990–91, 1995–96, 1997–98, 2002–03, 2004–05
- Belgian CupBelgian CupThe Belgian Cup is the main knockout football competition in Belgium, run by the Belgian Football Association. The first cup was held in 1911-12. The most successful cup club is Club Brugge KV with 10 titles followed by RSC Anderlecht and R Standard de Liège...
: 1988–89, 1994–95, 1995–96, 2001–02, 2003–04; Runner-up 1997–98, 2004–05 - Belgian SupercupBelgian SupercupThe Belgian Supercup is a Belgian club competition played on a single match at the league champion venue since 2004 and formerly at the Stade Roi Baudouin, between the winner of the last Belgian Pro League and that of the last Belgian Cup. If both teams are the same, the opponent is declared to...
: 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005; Runner-up 1988, 1989, 1995