Jelle Van Damme Explained

Jelle Van Damme
Fullname:Jelle François Maria Van Damme
Height:1.94 m
Birth Date:10 October 1983
Birth Place:Lokeren, Belgium
Position:Defender, left midfielder
Youthclubs1:Beveren
Youthclubs2:Lokeren
Years1:1998
Clubs1:Lokeren
Caps1:1
Goals1:0
Years2:2001–2002
Clubs2:Germinal Beerschot
Caps2:7
Goals2:0
Years3:2002–2004
Clubs3:Ajax
Caps3:18
Goals3:0
Years4:2004–2006
Clubs4:Southampton
Caps4:6
Goals4:0
Years5:2005–2006
Clubs5:Werder Bremen (loan)
Caps5:8
Goals5:1
Years6:2006–2010
Clubs6:Anderlecht
Caps6:100
Goals6:12
Years7:2010–2011
Clubs7:Wolverhampton Wanderers
Caps7:6
Goals7:1
Years8:2011–2016
Clubs8:Standard Liège
Caps8:120
Goals8:17
Years9:2016–2017
Clubs9:LA Galaxy
Caps9:46
Goals9:1
Years10:2017–2019
Clubs10:Royal Antwerp
Caps10:44
Goals10:1
Years11:2019–2020
Clubs11:Lokeren
Caps11:23
Goals11:1
Totalcaps:379
Totalgoals:34
Nationalyears1:2001–2002
Nationalteam1:Belgium U19
Nationalcaps1:18
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2002–2003
Nationalteam2:Belgium U21
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2003–2014
Nationalteam3:Belgium
Nationalcaps3:31
Nationalgoals3:0

Jelle François Maria Van Damme (in Dutch; Flemish pronounced as /ˈjɛ.lə vɑn ˈdɑ.mə/; born 10 October 1983) is a Belgian retired professional footballer who played as a centre-back, left-back or left midfielder. He played for clubs in Belgium, England, Germany, the Netherlands and the United States. He also earned over 30 caps for the Belgium national team.

Club career

Early career

Van Damme started his career at Beveren, before he made a short move to neighbour club Lokeren where he played in the youth teams. He then signed for Germinal Beerschot in 2001, making his senior debut in the Jupiler League. Beerschot were linked with Ajax and the Amsterdam club soon offered him a trial stay beginning in February 2002.

In summer 2002, Van Damme moved permanently to Ajax where he showed promise in the Dutch Cup. In the 2002–03 season, he played in the Champions League and started as a regular player in the squad before breaking his toe in November 2002. The next season, he helped Ajax again qualify for the Champions League group stage but he had few chances to play in the first team's title winning campaign, with the club preferring the Brazilian Maxwell at full back. This limited chance of game time led him to sign for Southampton of the Premier League in June 2004, for £2.5 million.[1]

He made little impact during his spell with Southampton, playing just six times during the 2004–05 season, as the club were relegated to the Championship. He spent the 2005–06 season on loan at German Bundesliga club Werder Bremen but again struggled to hold down regular football, making just eight appearances (three starts), as the club finished runners-up. In search of more playing opportunities, Van Damme returned to his homeland to sign for Anderlecht in June 2006 for €500,000.[2]

Anderlecht

His four-year spell at Anderlecht was much more successful as he won two Jupiler League championships (twice runners-up) and the 2008 Belgian Cup, and appeared in the Champions League group stages several times. Van Damme scored in the 2–1 win at rivals Club Brugge that won the second of these league titles in 2010.[3]

Notes and References

  1. News: Saints land van Damme. 9 June 2004 . BBC Sport . 9 July 2013.
  2. News: Van Damme bound for Anderlecht. 6 June 2006 . UEFA . 9 July 2013.
  3. News: Michael . Adubato . Onyewu: We'll Make Liege Proud . https://web.archive.org/web/20090524170847/http://yanks-abroad.com/get.php?mode=content&id=4745 . usurped . 24 May 2009 . Yanks-Abroad.com . 22 May 2009 . 22 May 2009 . I almost ended up fighting him (Van Damme). He called me a monkey several times. The league has these anti-racism campaigns, but when I told the referee what Van Damme was saying, he chose not to do anything about it. I also told the journalists after the game last night about this..
  4. U.S.' Onyewu sues over alleged racist slur . Sports Illustrated . Associated Press . 2 June 2009. 2 June 2009 .
  5. Web site: Oguchi Onyewu retire sa plainte contre Jelle Van Damme (Oguchi Onyewu withdraws his complaint against Jelle Van Damme) . DH Sports . 17 February 2011. 16 June 2012 . fr.
  6. News: Wolves recruit defender Jelle van Damme from Anderlecht. 1 June 2010 . BBC Sport . 9 July 2013.
  7. News: Van Damme deal nets Saints a cash boost. 1 June 2010. Southern Daily Echo. 1 June 2010.
  8. News: Jelle Van Damme. Standard Liège. 29 November 2010 . fr . 9 July 2013.
  9. News: Wolves confirm Van Damme deal close . wolves.co.uk . 30 November 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101201231954/http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/News/0%2C%2C10307~2233479%2C00.html . 1 December 2010 .
  10. News: R.S.C. Anderlecht 2–0 Royal Standard de Liège. Standard Liège. 23 January 2011. 9 July 2013. fr. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053309/http://www.standard.be/match-3675-r-s-c-anderlecht-royal-standard-de-liege/description-108.htm?lng=fr. 21 September 2013.
  11. Web site: LA Galaxy acquire defender Jelle Van Damme. LA Galaxy. 26 January 2016. 26 January 2016.
  12. Web site: Jelle van Damme completes exit from LA Galaxy and joins Royal Antwerp. 18 August 2017. 19 August 2017. ESPN FC.
  13. Lokeren. Van Damme tekent bij Sporting Lokeren. 3 July 2019. nl.
  14. Web site: Defender Jelle Van Damme retires from professional soccer . LA Galaxy . 17 April 2021 . 12 February 2021.
  15. News: Kim Clijsters. The Guardian. 29 October 2010 . 9 July 2013 . Katy . Murrells.
  16. Web site: Jelle Van Damme » Club matches . worldfootball.net . 1 August 2021.
  17. Web site: Jelle Van Damme » Club matches . worldfootball.net . 1 August 2021.
  18. News: CUP BELGIUM. FINAL. besoccer.com. 22 April 2022.
  19. News: Anderlecht’s Ariel Jacobs Hails Players after Clinching Belgian Title | date=19 April 2010| publisher=insidefutbol.com| url= http://www.insidefutbol.com/2010/04/19/anderlecht’s-ariel-jacobs-hails-players-after-clinching-belgian-title/20823/ | access-date = 9 July 2013}}

    His time in Brussels was the source of an unsavoury incident however, when Standard Liège defender Oguchi Onyewu accused him of racial abuse alleging that Van Damme called Onyewu a "dirty monkey" during the 2008–09 Championship playoff between the clubs.[3] Onyewu subsequently sued Van Damme,[4] although the case was withdrawn in February 2011 after a meeting between the two players when Van Damme apologised for any offence he may have given.[5]

    Wolverhampton Wanderers

    Van Damme returned to the Premier League in June 2010 by joining Wolverhampton Wanderers. He signed a three-year deal, with the option of a fourth year, for a fee reported to be around £2.5 million.[6] Sell-on clauses relating to his 2006 move to Anderlecht mean that Southampton should receive between 10 and 15 per cent of the fee received from Wolves, estimated at £300,000.[7]

    He scored his first, and only, goal for Wolves against Fulham on 11 September 2010. He struggled to settle at the club though, and on 29 November 2010, he signed a pre-contract agreement to return to his Belgian homeland in a three-and-a-half-year deal with Standard Liège, after just six appearances for the Midlands club.[8] [9]

    Standard Liège

    Van Damme's return to Belgium was officially ratified when the January 2011 transfer window opened. He made his Standard debut (playing as captain) in a 2–0 loss at former club Anderlecht on 23 January.[10]

    LA Galaxy

    On 26 January 2016, it was announced that Van Damme had joined LA Galaxy.[11] He made his debut on 24 February 2016 in a CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal leg against Santos Laguna.

    Royal Antwerp

    In August 2017, Van Damme returned yet again to Belgium as he was signed by Royal Antwerp for $235,000. Van Damme said the main reason for leaving the LA Galaxy was that he wanted to be closer to his children.[12]

    Lokeren

    On 3 July 2019, he signed a one-year contract with Lokeren.[13]

    Retirement

    Van Damme retired from professional football in February 2021.[14]

    International career

    Van Damme made his debut for the Belgium national team on 29 March 2003 in a 4–0 friendly loss to Croatia. He appeared for the national team during their unsuccessful qualifying campaigns for the 2006 and 2010 World Cups and UEFA Euro 2008.

    Personal life

    Van Damme was married to former tennis player Elke Clijsters, sister of Kim Clijsters, whom he wed in May 2008 in Bree, Belgium. The marriage ended in 2016. They have two children.[15]

    Career statistics

    Club

    Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
    ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupContinentalOtherTotal
    DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
    Lokeren1998–99[16] Belgian First Division100010
    Germinal Beerschot2001–02[17] Belgian First Division700070
    Ajax2001–02Eredivisie100010
    2002–0311070180
    2003–046050110
    Total180000012000300
    Southampton2004–05Premier League60003090
    Werder Bremen (loan)2005–06Bundesliga811010101
    Anderlecht2006–07Belgian First Division2500030280
    2007–0829710100407
    2008–092230020243
    2009–10Belgian Pro League24210101105458
    Total10012200023112513718
    Wolverhampton Wanderers2010–11Premier League61000061
    Standard Liège2010–11Belgian Pro League824190213
    2011–122052290110427
    2012–132832170374
    2013–142831070100463
    2014–15192109070362
    2015–161722041233
    Total120171240029144020522
    LA Galaxy2016Major League Soccer280102030340
    201718131212
    Total46141002030552
    Royal Antwerp2017–18Belgian First Division A1901040240
    2018–192510090341
    Total441100000130581
    Lokeren2019–20Belgian First Division B23110241
    Career total379342153067272554246

    Honours

    Ajax

    2003–04

    Werder Bremen

    Anderlecht

    2006–07, 2009–10

    2007–08

    2006, 2007

    Standard Liège

    2010–11[18]

    Individual

    2016

    2016

    External links

    .