Stijn De Smet
Encyclopedia
Stijn De Smet is a Belgian professional football player, who plays for K.V.C. Westerlo
on loan from AA Gent.
) at the age of 12 while playing for his local team, SV Jabbeke.
De Smet's big breakthrough came in the 2004-2005 season
, being in the starting line-up 19 times. The season before, De Smet had only appeared in 6 matches in total. He has plays for Cercle Brugge, where he is regarded as the most promising youth prospect and the best youth player at the team since Thomas Buffel
. In December 2006, Stijn De Smet was invited for a trial at Blackburn Rovers, the partner team of Cercle. Sadly for De Smet, a knee injury caught in the match at Anderlecht
forced him to stay in Belgium. On 17 July 2009 the 24 year old forward has left Cercle Brugge to sign a five-year deal for K.A.A. Gent. In this team, he won the Belgian Cup in 2010.
On 25 July 2011, De Smet signed a season-long loan deal with K.V.C. Westerlo
.
. He was also part of the squad that qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
.
De Smet was selected for Belgium for the first time for an unofficial friendly against Standard Liège
, as a replacement for the injured Thomas Chatelle
. De Smet played the last 10 minutes of the match. He was selected again for the friendly against Morocco
, and was part of the starting XI.
K.V.C. Westerlo
Koninklijke Voetbal Club Westerlo is a Belgian professional football club located in the city of Westerlo in the province of Antwerp. Westerlo has been playing in the Belgian Pro League since 1997–98. Their highest finish is a 6th place in 1999–2000, 2003–04 and 2008–09. They have won 1 Belgian...
on loan from AA Gent.
Career
De Smet usually plays as an attacking midfielder or forward. He was discovered by Cercle Brugge (as well as their rivals Club BruggeClub Brugge
Club Brugge Koninklijke Voetbalvereniging is a football club from Bruges in Belgium. It was founded in 1891 and is one of the top clubs in Belgium. Its home ground is the Jan Breydel Stadium, which has a capacity of 29,472....
) at the age of 12 while playing for his local team, SV Jabbeke.
De Smet's big breakthrough came in the 2004-2005 season
Jupiler League 2004-05
The 2004-05 season of the Belgian First Division began on August 6, 2004 and ended on May 23, 2005. Club Brugge became champion on May 15, 2005 after a decisive game against long-time rival Anderlecht. The season was full of suspense as the champion and the relegated teams were only known on the...
, being in the starting line-up 19 times. The season before, De Smet had only appeared in 6 matches in total. He has plays for Cercle Brugge, where he is regarded as the most promising youth prospect and the best youth player at the team since Thomas Buffel
Thomas Buffel
Thomas Buffel is a Belgian footballer who plays for Jupiler League side RC Genk. He is an attacking midfielder and can play as a striker...
. In December 2006, Stijn De Smet was invited for a trial at Blackburn Rovers, the partner team of Cercle. Sadly for De Smet, a knee injury caught in the match at 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...
forced him to stay in Belgium. On 17 July 2009 the 24 year old forward has left Cercle Brugge to sign a five-year deal for K.A.A. Gent. In this team, he won the Belgian Cup in 2010.
On 25 July 2011, De Smet signed a season-long loan deal with K.V.C. Westerlo
K.V.C. Westerlo
Koninklijke Voetbal Club Westerlo is a Belgian professional football club located in the city of Westerlo in the province of Antwerp. Westerlo has been playing in the Belgian Pro League since 1997–98. Their highest finish is a 6th place in 1999–2000, 2003–04 and 2008–09. They have won 1 Belgian...
.
International
Since the 2004-2005 season, De Smet is being selected for the matches of the Belgian national under-21 teamBelgium national under-21 football team
The Belgium national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Belgium and is controlled by the Belgian Football Association. The team competes in the European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
. He was also part of the squad that qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
.
De Smet was selected for Belgium for the first time for an unofficial friendly against Standard Liège
Standard Liège
Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège....
, as a replacement for the injured Thomas Chatelle
Thomas Chatelle
Thomas Chatelle is a Belgian footballer who plays as a winger for R.S.C. Anderlecht, and the Belgian national team.His former clubs include Racing Genk, AA Gent, KV Mechelen and the Dutch club N.E.C.....
. De Smet played the last 10 minutes of the match. He was selected again for the friendly against Morocco
Morocco national football team
The Morocco national football team , nicknamed أسود الأطلس , is the national team of Morocco and is managed by Eric Gerets. Winners of the African Nations Cup in 1976, they were the first African team to win a group at the World Cup, which they did in 1986, finishing ahead of Portugal, Poland, and...
, and was part of the starting XI.