Istvan Bakx
Encyclopedia
Istvan Bakx is a Dutch
footballer who currently plays in Belgium
for K.R.C. Genk
. He is a left-footed winger, and can also be used as a striker
.
in 2005, while he was playing for VV Kloetinge in the Hoofdklasse
, the highest Dutch amateur league. At the end of the season, Sparta offered Bakx a new contract. But Bakx refused to sign, opting to focus on his school career, and went to HSV Hoek
, another team playing in the Hoofdklasse. Bakx was chosen as player of the year at the end of his season in Hoek. In July 2007, Bakx went to Belgian second division
side KV Kortrijk. He promoted with Kortrijk to the highest level of Belgian football
. When his manager and discoverer Hein Vanhaezebrouck
signed for RC Genk after the 2008-09 season
, he took Bakx with him.
. Search results showed a positive report on Bakx, and Vanhaezebrouck contacted Kortrijk's head scout. As these scouting reports were also positive, Bakx' transfer to Kortrijk became a fact. As a result, Belgian media nicknamed Bakx the Google striker. Bakx impressed in Belgium as part of the KV Kortrijk side that chalked up a shock 5-1 Belgian Cup
victory against AA Gent, in which Bakx scored a hat-trick. Sadly for Bakx and Kortrijk, Gent won the return 4-0, defeating Kortrijk on aggregate.
for the match against Estonia
.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
footballer who currently plays in Belgium
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...
for K.R.C. Genk
K.R.C. Genk
Koninklijke Racing Club Genk , usually referred to as Racing Genk or simply Genk, is a Belgian professional football club based in the city of Genk in Belgian Limburg. Racing Genk plays in the Belgian Pro League and they have won 3 Belgian champion titles in 1998–99, in 2001–02 and in 2010–11 as...
. He is a left-footed winger, and can also be used as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
.
Club career
Bakx was discovered by Sparta RotterdamSparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
in 2005, while he was playing for VV Kloetinge in the Hoofdklasse
Hoofdklasse
The Hoofdklasse is the 2nd highest league of amateur football in the Netherlands, and the fourth tier in general.-Background:The league is divided into two sections: Saturday and Sunday. This is a result of the traditional pillarisation , the segregation of Dutch society. The Saturday-clubs are by...
, the highest Dutch amateur league. At the end of the season, Sparta offered Bakx a new contract. But Bakx refused to sign, opting to focus on his school career, and went to HSV Hoek
HSV Hoek
Hoekse Sportvereniging Hoek, known as HSV Hoek is a football club from Hoek, the Netherlands.-History:The club was founded in 1950, is currently playing in the Topklasse, the third tier of football in the Netherlands...
, another team playing in the Hoofdklasse. Bakx was chosen as player of the year at the end of his season in Hoek. In July 2007, Bakx went to 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,...
side KV Kortrijk. He promoted with Kortrijk to the highest level of Belgian football
Football in Belgium
Football, a sport which has been played in Belgium since the end of the 19th century, is that country's most popular sport. The national association was founded in 1895 with the intention of bringing some order and organization to the sport...
. When his manager and discoverer Hein Vanhaezebrouck
Hein Vanhaezebrouck
Hein Vanhaezebrouck is a Belgian football coach last managing K.R.C. Genk-Coaching career:On 29 November 2009 RC Genk's club board has sacked the coach due to poor results, the last blow was the recent loss against Excelsior Mouscron, the club were currently in 12th place.On 6 June 2010,...
signed for RC Genk after the 2008-09 season
Belgian First Division 2008-09
The 2008–09 season of the Belgian First Division was the 106th season of top-tier football in Belgium. The regular season began on 16 August 2008 and ended on 16 May 2009...
, he took Bakx with him.
The Google Striker
Bakx gained some notability in Belgium with his transfer to Kortrijk. Manager Hein Vanhaezebrouck was searching for a left-footed attacker and had typed in those words at search engine GoogleGoogle
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
. Search results showed a positive report on Bakx, and Vanhaezebrouck contacted Kortrijk's head scout. As these scouting reports were also positive, Bakx' transfer to Kortrijk became a fact. As a result, Belgian media nicknamed Bakx the Google striker. Bakx impressed in Belgium as part of the KV Kortrijk side that chalked up a shock 5-1 Belgian Cup
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...
victory against AA Gent, in which Bakx scored a hat-trick. Sadly for Bakx and Kortrijk, Gent won the return 4-0, defeating Kortrijk on aggregate.
International career
On March 13, 2008, Bakx was taken up into the pre-selection for Jong OranjeNetherlands national under-21 football team
The Netherlands national under-21 football team is the national under-21 team of the Netherlands and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association. The team competes in the European Under-21 Championship, held every two years....
for the match against Estonia
Estonia national under-21 football team
The Estonian U-21 national football team is the football team representing Estonia in competitions for under-21 year old players.-2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification Group 5:-Current table:-Fixtures and recent results:...
.