Jan Ceulemans

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Jan Anna Gumaar Ceulemans ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}; born 28 February 1957) is a Belgian former professional footballer who played as midfielder. A prolific goalscorer, Ceulemans was known for his stamina, aerial ability, technique and was also recognized as one of the greatest Belgium footballers of all time. He was also known for his power, imposing frame and natural authority.<ref>Lionheart Ceulemans still the pride of Belgium FIFA.com</ref>

Ceulemans was also a regular member of the Belgium national football team, with 96 international appearances, a record that stood for 26 years until it was surpassed by Jan Vertonghen's 97th appearance for Belgium on 10 October 2017;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ceulemans is now the ninth most-capped for Belgium. He still holds the record for most appearances in the Belgian Pro League with 517. Most of his time with Belgium took place under the guidance of Guy Thys. This period saw the Belgium squad record some of their finest results, which include reaching the final of Euro 80 and fourth place at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.<ref name="Ceulemans">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

CareerEdit

Ceulemans was born in Lier, Belgium. His first of three World Cup appearances was at the 1982 FIFA World Cup, where Belgium beat the defending champions Argentina 1–0 in the opening game of the tournament at Camp Nou en route to reaching the second round. Among Ceulemans' finest achievements was captaining his national side to fourth place in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, scoring three goals in the tournament including a spectacular diving header against Spain in the quarter-finals. His performance earned the nickname "Captain Courageous".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He retired from international competition after the 1990 FIFA World Cup; Jan scored the third goal in a 3–1 win over Uruguay but Belgium was eliminated by England in the round of sixteen, with the winning goal being scored by David Platt in the 119th minute in extra time. Jan had struck the post during the game.

Professionally, he stayed at Club Brugge for 13 years, endearing himself to his country when he turned down an offer from Italian club A.C. Milan. He remains the only football player to have posed with the A.C. Milan board for the press that never actually became an A.C. Milan player.<ref>Belga sport (2012) Afl. 4 – Jan Ceulemans</ref>

After retiring as a player due to knee injury, he became a manager at KSC Eendracht Aalst in 1992. He won promotion to Belgian First Division and even a qualification for UEFA Cup. He moved in 1998 to K.V.C. Westerlo where he also qualified for UEFA Cup. In 2005, he is back at 'his' Club Brugge where he would be manager for three years but after several bad results he was fired in April 2006. For the 2007–08 season, he returned to K.V.C. Westerlo. He currently lives in Westerlo.

Ceulemans was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004.

Style of playEdit

Considered one of Belgium's greatest players, Ceulemans was a complete and versatile player, able to play anywhere in midfield or the attack. A physically powerful player with a tall frame, Ceulemans had great technique, was a good passer of the ball, possessed a powerful shot, and was superb in the air. He also stood out for his mentality and leadership on the pitch, receiving the nicknames. Fellow Belgium national team teammate Eric Gerets said of Ceulemans: "He wasn't the best dribbler, not the best finisher and not an assist master. He had all three. He was complete."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Career statisticsEdit

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref name="Stats"/>
Club Season League National cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Lierse 1974–75 First Division 15 1 2 3 17 4
1975–76 29 12 3 1 32 13
1976–77 34 12 2 1 2Template:Efn 1 38 14
1977–78 32 14 3Template:Efn 3 39 19
Total 110 39 11 7 2 1 3 3 126 50
Club Brugge 1978–79 First Division 34 13 8 9 2Template:Efn 2 44 24
1979–80 34 29 5 4 39 33
1980–81 32 12 3 1 2Template:Efn 1 1Template:Efn 1 38 15
1981–82 29 11 2 0 2Template:Efn 0 33 11
1982–83 33 14 8 6 41 20
1983–84 31 15 2 0 33 15
1984–85 27 17 4 3 3Template:Efn 1 34 21
1985–86 33 13 9 7 4Template:Efn 1 46 21
1986–87 28 12 2 1 2Template:Efn 0 1Template:Efn 1 33 14
1987–88 30 13 3 2 9Template:Efn 5 42 20
1988–89 28 13 4 0 4Template:Efn 0 1Template:Efn 0 37 13
1989–90 34 15 2 3 4Template:Efn 1 40 49
1990–91 33 14 7 3 4Template:Efn 0 1Template:Efn 0 45 17
Total 406 191 59 39 36 11 6 2 505 243
Career total 516 230 70 46 38 12 9 5 631 293

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File:Coeck en Ceulemans, Bestanddeelnr 929-0883.jpg
Ludo Coeck and Ceulemans during a training of the national team in 1977
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National team Year Apps Goals
Belgium 1977 3 0
1978 2 0
1979 5 0
1980 11 3
1981 5 3
1982 10 0
1983 5 1
1984 8 3
1985 5 0
1986 12 4
1987 5 0
1988 5 2
1989 9 4
1990 9 1
1991 2 1
Total 96 23
List of international goals scored by Jan Ceulemans
Template:Abbr Cap Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 14 6 June 1980 Heysel Stadium, Brussels, Belgium Template:Fb 1–1 Template:Won Friendly
2 15 12 June 1980 Stadio Comunale, Turin, Italy Template:Fb 1–1 Template:Draw UEFA Euro 1980 Group stage
3 21 21 December 1980 Makario Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus Template:Fb 2–0 Template:Won 1982 World Cup qualification
4 22 18 February 1981 Heysel Stadium, Brussels, Belgium Template:Fb 2–0 Template:Won 1982 World Cup qualification
5 23 25 March 1981 Heysel Stadium, Brussels, Belgium Template:Fb 1–0 Template:Won 1982 World Cup qualification
6 24 29 April 1981 Parc des Princes, Paris, France Template:Fb 2–3 Template:Lost 1982 World Cup qualification
7 38 27 April 1983 Heysel Stadium, Brussels, Belgium Template:Fb 1–1 Template:Won Euro 1984 qualification
8 43 6 June 1984 Heysel Stadium, Brussels, Belgium Template:Fb 1–0 rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" Template:Draw Friendly
9 2–2
10 46 19 June 1984 Stade de la Meinau, Strasbourg, France Template:Fb 1–0 Template:Lost UEFA Euro 1984 Group stage
11 60 15 June 1986 Estadio León, León, Mexico Template:Fb 2–2 Template:Won Template:Aet 1986 World Cup Round of 16
12 61 22 June 1986 Estadio Cuauhtémoc, Puebla, Mexico Template:Fb 1–0 Template:Pending Template:Aet 1986 World Cup Quarter finals
13 63 28 June 1986 Estadio Cuauhtémoc, Puebla, Mexico Template:Fb 1–0 Template:Lost Template:Aet 1986 World Cup Third place play-off
14 65 14 October 1986 Stade Municipal, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg Template:Fb 5–0 Template:Won Euro 1988 qualification
15 71 11 November 1987 Heysel Stadium, Brussels, Belgium Template:Fb 1–0 Template:Won Euro 1988 qualification
16 73 26 March 1988 Heysel Stadium, Brussels, Belgium Template:Fb 1–0 Template:Double dagger Template:Won Friendly
17 74 5 June 1988 Odense Stadium, Odense, Denmark Template:Fb 1–0 Template:Lost Friendly
18 81 8 June 1989 Terry Fox Stadium, Ottawa, Canada Template:Fb 1–0 Template:Won Friendly
19 82 23 August 1989 Olympiastadion, Bruges, Belgium Template:Fb 2–0 rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" Template:Won Friendly
20 3–0 Template:Double dagger
21 86 6 September 1989 Heysel Stadium, Brussels, Belgium Template:Fb 1–0 Template:Won 1990 World Cup qualification
22 90 17 June 1990 Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi, Verona, Italy Template:Fb 3–0 Template:Won 1990 World Cup Group stage
23 96 27 February 1991 Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht, Belgium Template:Fb 2–0 Template:Won Euro 1992 qualification
Key
Template:Double dagger Indicates goal was scored from a penalty kick

HonoursEdit

PlayerEdit

Club Brugge<ref name="eurosport32">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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  • Bruges Matins: 1979, 1981, 1984, 1990<ref name="eurosport323">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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Belgium

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ManagerEdit

Eendracht Aalst

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KVC Westerlo

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Club Brugge

  • Belgian Super Cup: 2005<ref name="eurosport373" />

Individual

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  • Belgian Golden Shoe: 1980, 1985, 1986, runner-up: 1979, 1984<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • Ballon d'Or 5th place: 1980<ref name="Yashin Award3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • Ballon d'Or nominations: 1981,<ref name="Yashin Award332">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • Sport Ideal European XI: 1980<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • Onze de Bronze: 1981<ref name="eurosport375">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • Onze Mondial: 1980, 1981<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • Platina 11 (Best Team in 50 Years Golden Shoe Winners): 2003<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • FIFA 100: 2004<ref name="Yashin Award6">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • The Best Golden Shoe Team Ever: 2011<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • Het Nieuwsblad Best Club Brugge player ever: 2011<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • Honorary Citizen of Lier: 2014<ref name="hln-1800">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • RBFA 125 Years Icons Team: 2020<ref name="eurosport3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • Pro League Hall of Fame: 2024<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

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