Jelle Van Damme facts for kids
Van Damme playing for Standard Liège in 2014
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jelle François Maria Van Damme | ||
| Date of birth | 10 October 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Lokeren, Belgium | ||
| Height | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender, left midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Beveren | |||
| Lokeren | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1998 | Lokeren | 1 | (0) |
| 2001–2002 | Germinal Beerschot | 7 | (0) |
| 2002–2004 | Ajax | 18 | (0) |
| 2004–2006 | Southampton | 6 | (0) |
| 2005–2006 | → Werder Bremen (loan) | 8 | (1) |
| 2006–2010 | Anderlecht | 100 | (12) |
| 2010–2011 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 6 | (1) |
| 2011–2016 | Standard Liège | 120 | (17) |
| 2016–2017 | LA Galaxy | 46 | (1) |
| 2017–2019 | Royal Antwerp | 44 | (1) |
| 2019–2020 | Lokeren | 23 | (1) |
| Total | 379 | (34) | |
| International career | |||
| 2001–2002 | Belgium U19 | 18 | (0) |
| 2002–2003 | Belgium U21 | 4 | (0) |
| 2003–2014 | Belgium | 31 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Jelle François Maria Van Damme (born 10 October 1983) is a retired professional footballer from Belgium. He was a versatile player, often playing as a defender on the left side or in the center, or as a left midfielder.
During his long career, Van Damme played for teams in Belgium, the Netherlands, England, Germany, and the United States. He also played for the Belgian national team more than 30 times.
Contents
Club Career
Starting in Belgium and the Netherlands
Jelle Van Damme began his career at a young age, first with the youth team of Beveren and then Lokeren. He made his first professional appearance in the top Belgian league with the club Germinal Beerschot in 2001.
His talent was noticed by the famous Dutch club Ajax, and he moved there in 2002. At Ajax, he got to play in the UEFA Champions League, Europe's biggest club competition. However, an injury and tough competition for his position meant he didn't always get to play.
Moving to England and Germany
In 2004, Van Damme moved to England to play for Southampton in the Premier League. He played only a few games for the club. The next season, he was sent on loan to the German club Werder Bremen. A loan is when a player temporarily plays for a different club. He played eight games for Bremen, and the team finished second in Germany's top league, the Bundesliga.
Success with Anderlecht
In 2006, Van Damme returned to his home country of Belgium to play for Anderlecht. This was a very successful time for him. In four years with the club, he helped them win the Belgian league championship twice and the Belgian Cup once. He became an important player for the team and even scored the winning goal that secured the league title in 2010 against their rivals, Club Brugge.
During his time at Anderlecht, Van Damme was involved in a serious disagreement with another player, Oguchi Onyewu of Standard Liège. The two players later met and resolved the issue.
Return to the Premier League
In 2010, Van Damme went back to England to play for the Wolverhampton Wanderers. He scored one goal for the team but found it hard to settle in. After only six months, he decided to return to Belgium.
Playing for Standard Liège and LA Galaxy
In January 2011, Van Damme joined Standard Liège, one of Anderlecht's biggest rivals. He was immediately made the team captain and helped them win the Belgian Cup that same year. He played for Standard Liège for five years.
In 2016, Van Damme made a big move to the United States to play for the LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer (MLS). He was a key player for the team and was even chosen for the MLS All-Star team in his first year.
Final Years and Retirement
In 2017, Van Damme returned to Belgium to be closer to his family, signing with Royal Antwerp. He later joined his very first club, Lokeren, in 2019.
In February 2021, Jelle Van Damme announced his retirement from professional football, ending a career that spanned two decades and five countries.
International Career
Van Damme made his first appearance for the Belgian national team in 2003. He played for his country in qualifying matches for the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship. In total, he earned over 30 caps, which means he played in more than 30 official games for Belgium.
Personal Life
Van Damme was married to former tennis player Elke Clijsters, who is the sister of another famous tennis star, Kim Clijsters. They were married in 2008 and have two children together. The couple separated in 2016.
Honours
Ajax
- Eredivisie: 2003–04
Anderlecht
- Belgian First Division: 2006–07, 2009–10
- Belgian Cup: 2007–08
- Belgian Super Cup: 2006, 2007
Standard Liège
- Belgian Cup: 2010–11
Individual
- MLS All Star: 2016
- MLS Best XI: 2016
See also
In Spanish: Jelle Van Damme para niños
