Matte Smets
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 4 January 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Bilzen, Belgium | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) |
Centre-back, Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Sint-Truiden | ||
| Number | 16 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2009–2010 | Bilzerse | ||
| 2010–2018 | Genk | ||
| 2018–2022 | Sint-Truiden | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022– | Sint-Truiden | 44 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023– | Belgium U20 | 2 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 March 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:06, 9 December 2023 (UTC) | |||
Matte Smets (born 4 January 2004) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Sint-Truiden.
Club career[edit]
Smets began playing football with Bilzerse, where his father was a former player. He shortly after moved to Genk in 2010 where he stayed for 8 years.[1] In 2018, he moved to the youth academy of Sint-Truiden where he finished his development. On 27 May 2022, he signed his first professional contract with the club.[2] He made his senior and professional debut with Sint-Truiden as a substitute in a 2–0 Belgian First Division A loss to Royal Antwerp on 7 October 2022.[3]
Originally a defensive midfielder, Smets was developed into a centre-back in the middle of a three-man defense.[4] On 6 July 2023, he extended his contract with Sint-Truiden until 2026.[5]
International career[edit]
Smets is a youth international for Belgium, having played for the Belgium U20s in November 2023.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ "STVV-jonkie Matte Smets is bezeten van het spelletje: "Als kleuter wilde ik maar één speelgoed: een bal"". www.hbvl.be. 10 January 2023.
- ^ "Maak kennis met STVV-debutant Matte Smets: van net niet bij KRC Genk tot titularis op Stayen?". www.hbvl.be (in Flemish). 11 October 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "Antwerp herpakt zich na nederlaag tegen Kortrijk: Great Old klopt tienkoppig STVV met 2-0". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). 7 October 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "De jonkie, de sterke kopper of de krachtpatser: wie vervangt geschorste Janssens in gehavende STVV-defensie?". www.hbvl.be. 3 February 2023.
- ^ "STVV verlengt contract van jeugdproduct Matte Smets". Het Belang van Limburg. 6 July 2023.
- ^ "Matte Smets (19) van STVV is de enige tiener in Europa die élke minuut speelt: "Hij zou zo uit de Ajax-school kunnen komen"". www.gva.be. 6 December 2023.
External links[edit]
- Matte Smets at Soccerway
- RBFA profile