Joos Valgaeren
Encyclopedia
Joos Valgaeren (ˈjoːs vɑl.ˈʝaː.rə(n)) (born 3 March 1976 in Leuven
) is a former Belgian
international footballer
who lastly played as a defender
for FC Emmen
in the Dutch Eerste Divisie
. His former clubs include Club Brugge
in Belgium
, Roda JC in the Netherlands
and Celtic
in Scotland
and he was in the Belgian squad for Euro 2000.
. He then moved to K.F.C. Verbroedering Geel
where he proved to be a sturdy and consistent centre-back as well composed full-back in the club's youth squad. After a number of years at Geel
he left for Eerste Klasse
side KV Mechelen in 1994. At the age of 21 Valgaeren moved to Dutch
Eredivisie
club Roda JC where he broke into the first-team in his second season. His competent displays for Roda earned him a call up to the Belgium squad by manager Georges Leekens in late 1997. Before he left the club the media had linked him with big-money moves to Ajax Amsterdam
and Bayern Munich. Celtic F.C.
manager Martin O'Neill
signed Valgaeren in 2000 from Roda J.C. for an undisclosed fee, said to be around £2 million. He was an instant success at Celtic
and scored two goals against Juventus FC in the 2001/02 Champions League
campaign, most notably his header in Celtic's 4-3 win at Celtic Park
. Under O'Neill
Valgaeren was first choice in a three-man defence, consisting of Johan Mjällby
, Bobo Baldé
and Valgaeren. However, when Gordon Strachan
took over as Celtic manager in 2005 he was released on a free transfer after five years at the club which he made over 100 appearances for. In 2005 Valgaeren returned to Belgium
to sign for Club Brugge
on a free transfer from Celtic
. He made over 35 appearances for Club Brugge. In 2008 he signed a two year contract at FC Emmen
for the seasons 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 with an option for another year. He got a lot trouble with injuries and during the season 2009/2010 he stopped playing professional football in November 2009.
Valgaeren made his debut for Belgium in 1997 in a friendly match against Austria
at the King Baudouin Stadium
in Brussels
. He was named in Robert Waseige
's 23-man squad for the 2000 European Football Championships but missed out on the 2002 FIFA World Cup
because of injury.
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
) is a former Belgian
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...
international footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who lastly played as a defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for FC Emmen
FC Emmen
FC Emmen is a Dutch football club based in Emmen, Drenthe, and currently playing in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of football in the Netherlands.-History:...
in the Dutch Eerste Divisie
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
. His former clubs include Club Brugge
Club 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....
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...
, Roda JC in the Netherlands
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...
and Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and he was in the Belgian squad for Euro 2000.
Football career
Joos Valgaeren started his career at amateur side Serskamp in his home town of LeuvenLeuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
. He then moved to K.F.C. Verbroedering Geel
K.F.C. Verbroedering Geel
K.F.C. Verbroedering Geel was a Belgian association football club, from the city of Geel in Antwerp .-History:The club was born in 1912 and registered in 1924 to the Belgian Football Association receiving the matricule n° 395. It played for the first time in the second division in 1985–86...
where he proved to be a sturdy and consistent centre-back as well composed full-back in the club's youth squad. After a number of years at Geel
K.F.C. Verbroedering Geel
K.F.C. Verbroedering Geel was a Belgian association football club, from the city of Geel in Antwerp .-History:The club was born in 1912 and registered in 1924 to the Belgian Football Association receiving the matricule n° 395. It played for the first time in the second division in 1985–86...
he left for Eerste Klasse
Eerste Klasse
The Eerste Klasse is the fifth tier of football in the Netherlands, and the second tier of amateur football. The league is divided into eleven divisions, five for Saturday clubs and six for Sunday clubs...
side KV Mechelen in 1994. At the age of 21 Valgaeren moved to Dutch
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...
Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
club Roda JC where he broke into the first-team in his second season. His competent displays for Roda earned him a call up to the Belgium squad by manager Georges Leekens in late 1997. Before he left the club the media had linked him with big-money moves to Ajax Amsterdam
Ajax Amsterdam
Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax , also referred to as AFC Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam or simply Ajax , is a professional football club from Amsterdam, Netherlands...
and Bayern Munich. Celtic F.C.
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
manager Martin O'Neill
Martin O'Neill
Martin Hugh Michael O'Neill, OBE, is a Northern Irish football manager and former player.Until resigning the post on 9 August 2010, he was manager of Aston Villa. Starting his career in his native Northern Ireland, O'Neill moved to England where he spent most of his playing career with Nottingham...
signed Valgaeren in 2000 from Roda J.C. for an undisclosed fee, said to be around £2 million. He was an instant success at Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
and scored two goals against Juventus FC in the 2001/02 Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
campaign, most notably his header in Celtic's 4-3 win at Celtic Park
Celtic Park
Celtic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which is the home ground of Celtic FC. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield, Old Trafford,...
. Under O'Neill
Martin O'Neill
Martin Hugh Michael O'Neill, OBE, is a Northern Irish football manager and former player.Until resigning the post on 9 August 2010, he was manager of Aston Villa. Starting his career in his native Northern Ireland, O'Neill moved to England where he spent most of his playing career with Nottingham...
Valgaeren was first choice in a three-man defence, consisting of Johan Mjällby
Johan Mjällby
Johan Mjällby is a Swedish former footballer. He made his debut for the national team in 1997, and played 49 matches and scored 4 goals as a defender or midfielder. Mjällby was the team captain during the 2002 World Cup. He also took part in Euro 2000 and Euro 2004...
, Bobo Baldé
Bobo Balde
Dianbobo "Bobo" Baldé is a Guinean footballer who currently plays for AC Arles-Avignon. He has previously played for Mulhouse, AS Cannes, Toulouse, Celtic and Valenciennes...
and Valgaeren. However, when Gordon Strachan
Gordon Strachan
Gordon David Strachan OBE is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is currently without a club, having last managed Middlesbrough. Strachan played for Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City, as well as the Scotland national team. Prior to Middlesbrough,...
took over as Celtic manager in 2005 he was released on a free transfer after five years at the club which he made over 100 appearances for. In 2005 Valgaeren returned to 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...
to sign for Club Brugge
Club 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....
on a free transfer from Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
. He made over 35 appearances for Club Brugge. In 2008 he signed a two year contract at FC Emmen
FC Emmen
FC Emmen is a Dutch football club based in Emmen, Drenthe, and currently playing in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of football in the Netherlands.-History:...
for the seasons 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 with an option for another year. He got a lot trouble with injuries and during the season 2009/2010 he stopped playing professional football in November 2009.
Valgaeren made his debut for Belgium in 1997 in a friendly match against Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
at the King Baudouin Stadium
King Baudouin Stadium
The King Baudouin Stadium is a sports ground in north-west Brussels, Belgium. It was inaugurated on 23 August 1930 as the Stade du Jubilé or Jubelstadion in the presence of Prince Leopold. It was built to embellish the Heysel plateau in view of the Brussels International Exposition...
in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. He was named in Robert Waseige
Robert Waseige
Robert Waseige is a Belgian football manager and a former player. He became the coach of Belgium before the Euro 2000 and lead Belgium to the second round at the 2002 World Cup....
's 23-man squad for the 2000 European Football Championships but missed out on the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
because of injury.