Bryan Heynen
{{short description|Belgian footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Bryan Heynen
|image =
|caption =
|fullname = Bryan Heynen
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|2|6|df=y}}{{cite web |title=B. Heynen: Summary |url=https://ca.soccerway.com/players/bryan-heynen/410320/ |website=soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=4 June 2023}}
|birth_place = Bree, Belgium
|position = Defensive midfielder
|currentclub = Genk
|clubnumber = 28
|youthyears1 = 2003–2015
|youthclubs1 = Genk
|collegeyears2 =
|college2 =
|collegecaps2 =
|collegegoals2 =
|years1 = 2015–
|clubs1 = Genk
|caps1 = 261
|goals1 = 30
|nationalyears1 = 2013
|nationalteam1 = Belgium U16
|nationalcaps1 = 3
|nationalgoals1 = 0
|nationalyears2 = 2017–2019
|nationalteam2 = Belgium U21
|nationalcaps2 = 12
|nationalgoals2 = 0
|nationalyears3 = 2025–
|nationalteam3 = Belgium
|nationalcaps3 = 1
|nationalgoals3 = 0
|club-update = 15 March 2025
|nationalteam-update = 23 March 2025
}}
Bryan Heynen (born 6 February 1997) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Belgian Pro League club Genk and the Belgium national team.
Career
A creative midfielder, Heynen came through the youth system at Racing Genk to make his Belgian Pro League debut on 25 July 2015 in a 3–1 home win against OH Leuven. He replaced Wilfred Ndidi after 66 minutes.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/07/25/belgium/pro-league/krc-genk/fc-oud-heverlee-leuven/2038947/|title=Genk vs. OH Leuven - 25 July 2015 - Soccerway|publisher=soccerway.com|accessdate=2015-07-25}}
In his second season at the club, Heynen had an elongated run in the first team under Peter Maes at the age of 19 as Genk finished eighth.
Due to a serious knee injury that he sustained in training in November 2017, he did not play much in the 2017/2018 season, but was still offered a new five-year contract at the end of 2018.{{cite news|url=https://www.hln.be/belgisch-voetbal/ft-belgie-20-12-bryan-heynen-en-jere-uronen-verlengen-bij-genk-pro-league-verscherpt-bondsregels-rond-racisme-en-spreekkoren~a712243c/|title=FT België 20/12. Bryan Heynen en Jere Uronen verlengen bij Genk - Pro League verscherpt bondsregels rond racisme en spreekkoren(Bryan Heynen and Jere Uronen extend at Genk)|work=Het Laatste Nieuws|date=20 December 2018|access-date=7 April 2023|language=Dutch}}
With Philippe Clement now in charge, Heynen played all but five games as Genk stormed to the 2019 league title, the fourth in their history and their first for eight years.{{cite news|url=https://www.hln.be/jupiler-pro-league/van-groot-nieuws-tot-een-nieuwe-sensatie-de-tien-genkse-sleutelmomenten-richting-delirium~ad04aa91/|title=Van gróót nieuws tot een nieuwe sensatie: de tien Genkse sleutelmomenten richting delirium|work=Het Laatste Nieuws|date=16 May 2019|access-date=7 April 2023|language=Dutch}}{{cite news|url=https://sporza.be/nl/categorie/voetbal/jupiler-pro-league/jupiler-pro-league-seizoen-2018-2019/|title=Jupiler Pro League 2018-19|work=Sporza|date=25 May 2019|access-date=7 April 2023|language=Dutch}}
Clement's departure for Club Brugge saw a period of instability and major change off the pitch as the club hired four first-team coaches in the space of 15 months - Felice Mazzu, Hannes Wolf, Jess Thorup and finally John van den Brom.
With Heynen now appointed captain by Mazzu, he featured in Genk's early UEFA Champions League exit in 2019-20 having been paired with Liverpool, Napoli and a Salzburg side containing Erling Haaland and Takumi Minamino.
When Thorup departed for FC Copenhagen in his native Denmark after six games, Genk finally found stability for the 2020-21 season under van den Brom, finishing runners-up behind Club Brugge in the League, and winning the 2020-21 Belgian Cup with Heynen as captain, beating Standard Liege 2-1 in the final.{{cite news|url=https://www.hln.be/dossier/racing-genk-wint-de-croky-cup~d00cfa86c-3856-451e-9a17-ba091092df96/|title=Racing Genk wins the Croky Cup|work=Het Laatste Nieuws|date=25 April 2021|access-date=7 April 2023|language=Dutch}}{{cite news|url=https://www.hln.be/belgisch-voetbal/ons-rapport-twee-uitblinkers-bij-racing-genk-een-buis-bij-standard~ad183cfb/|title=ONS RAPPORT. Twee uitblinkers bij Racing Genk, één buis bij Standard|work=Het Laatste Nieuws|date=25 April 2021|access-date=7 April 2023|language=Dutch}}{{cite news|url=https://www.hln.be/beker-van-belgie/reacties-uit-het-winnende-kamp-of-ik-dronken-zal-zijn-we-zullen-zien~a2624257/|title=Reacties uit het winnende kamp: "Of ik dronken zal zijn? We zullen zien"|work=Het Laatste Nieuws|date=25 April 2021|access-date=7 April 2023|language=Dutch}}
After a disappointing campaign the following season where defensive frailty saw van den Brom dismissed mid-season, and Bernd Storck only able to guide Genk to the 2022 Belgian Pro League's European play-offs, Heynen's form surged under the tenureship of new coach Wouter Vrancken. Genk lost their opening league game of the season champions Club Brugge, before going on to win 15 of their next 16 league games - drawing the other one for an unbeaten run of 16 - to go ten points clear of second-placed Union St-Gilloise by Christmas 2022.
Genk remained in touch at the top and lying in third place heading into the final day, needed a home win over league leaders Royal Antwerp to clinch the club their first title since 2019, with Union dropping points to Club Brugge. Heynen headed Genk in front with 15 minutes to go, but with Union leading Club Brugge 1-0 in Brussels, were set to finish second. However, Club equalised in the 90th minute and went ahead in stoppage time at Duden Park. With Genk still leading going into stoppage time, Hrynen's lead goal meant they were suddenly in pole position to win the league. However, Toby Alderweireld equalised in the 94th minute for Antwerp, denying Genk the crown.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65805961|title=Royal Antwerp win first Belgian title in 66 years after Toby Alderweireld's stoppage-time equaliser|website=BBC|date=4 June 2023|accessdate=5 June 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jun/04/alderweireld-earns-royal-antwerp-first-belgian-league-title-in-66-years |title=Alderweireld earns Royal Antwerp first Belgian league title in 66 years |work=The Guardian |date=4 June 2023 }}
Heynen was named by Belgium national team coach Roberto Martinez in the preliminary Belgian squad of 55 ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but didn't make the plane for Qatar. A continuation in strong form saw big calls for Heynen and team-mate Mike Trésor to be capped by new national team coach Domenico Tedesco for his first games in charge against Sweden and Germany in March 2023,{{cite news|url=https://getfootballnewsbene.com/domenico-tedesco-must-send-the-right-message-by-calling-up-mike-tresor/|title=Domenico Tedesco must send the right message by calling up Mike Tresor|work=Get Football News|last=Jackson|first=Ben|date=9 February 2023|access-date=7 April 2023|language=English}} but neither player was chosen.{{cite news|url=https://www.hln.be/videos/productie/tedesco-over-ontbreken-heynen-tresor-close-call-363933|title=Tedesco about missing Heynen/Trésor:"Close Call"|work=Het Laatste Nieuws|date=17 March 2023|access-date=7 April 2023|language=Dutch}}{{cite news|url=https://www.footnews.be/news/364403/genk-ohl-heynen-et-tresor-repondent-a-tedesco|title=Genk-OHL:Heynen et Tresor répondent à Tedesco|work=footnews.be|date=2 April 2023|access-date=7 April 2023|language=French}}{{cite news|url=https://sporza.be/nl/2023/03/21/-als-je-20-spelers-selecteert-is-het-dan-een-reuzeschande-dat-tresor-er-niet-bij-is~1679397971732/|title="If you select 20 players, is it a huge shame that Trésor is not there?"|work=Sporza|date=21 March 2023|access-date=7 April 2023|language=Dutch}}{{cite news|url=https://www.lavenir.net/sports/football/d1a/2023/03/17/apres-la-non-selection-de-heynen-et-tresor-chez-les-diables-genk-dezingue-lunion-belge-un-manque-de-respect-76H6WAS4PZHLXI24CJCRUD2PCA/|title=Après la non-sélection de Heynen et Trésor chez les Diables, Genk dézingue l'Union belge : "Un manque de respect"|work=L'Avenir|date=17 March 2023|access-date=7 April 2023|language=French}}
Heynen battled through a muscle injury to score a late equaliser away to KVC Westerlo to squeeze Genk into the 2023-24 title play-offs, but the damage inflicted ruled him out for the rest of the season. Without him, Genk finished fifth and were beaten in the European play-off final by Gent.
Heynen made his 300th appearance in all competitions for Genk in a 4-0 win over Dender on 22 September 2024, a win that put the club top of the table.{{cite news|url=https://www.hbvl.be/cnt/dmf20240922_96039579|title='Mister 300' Bryan Heynen: "Tifo jammer genoeg te groot om thuis op te hangen"|trans-title='Mister 300' Bryan Heynen: “Tifo unfortunately too big to hang at home”|work=Het Belang van Limburg|date=22 September 2024|access-date=3 November 2024|language=Dutch}}
Career statistics
=== Club ===
{{Updated|match played 15 March 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Belgian Cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="10"|Genk
|10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 12 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17
|Belgian Pro League |33 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 13{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 1 | 50 | 1 | |
| 2017–18
|Belgian Pro League |10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 11 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19
|Belgian Pro League |35 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 7{{efn|name=UEL}} | 1 | 44 | 6 | |
| 2019–20
|Belgian Pro League |14 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | 20 | 2 | |
| 2020–21
|Belgian Pro League |29 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 2 | |
| 2021–22
|Belgian Pro League |38 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 7{{efn|Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, five appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | 47 | 5 | |
| 2022–23
|Belgian Pro League |39 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 11 | |
| 2023–24
|Belgian Pro League |25 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 9{{efn|Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, seven appearances and two goals in UEFA Europa Conference League}} | 2 | 35 | 8 | |
| 2024–25
|Belgian Pro League |28 | 0 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 32 | 0 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!261 | 30 | 25 | 1 | 40 | 4 | 326 | 35 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 23 March 2025}}
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="1"|Belgium
|2025 | 1 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 1 | 0 |
Honours
Genk
- Belgian First Division A: 2018–19
- Belgian Cup: 2020–21{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/onuachu-with-an-assist-as-genk-clinch-belgian-cup-title/1jp81i8ofssju1k0yrdb9b6nu8|title=Onuachu with an assist as Genk clinch Belgian Cup title after Standard Liege win|website=Goal|date=26 April 2021|accessdate=29 April 2021}}
- Goal of the Year: 2022 v Royal Antwerp
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|bryan-heynen/410320}}
- {{RBFA player|PH_6390}}
{{K.R.C. Genk squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Heynen, Bryan}}
Category:People from Bree, Belgium
Category:Belgian men's footballers
Category:Belgium men's international footballers
Category:Belgium men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Belgium men's youth international footballers