Janou Levels
{{Short description|Dutch footballer (born 2000)}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
|embed =
|name = Janou Levels
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|fullname = Janou Johanna Theodora Levels
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2000|10|30|df=y}}
|birth_place = Roermond, Netherlands{{cite web|url=https://www.bayer04.de/en-us/player/women/women/janou-levels|title=5 Janou Levels|access-date=16 December 2023|website=bayer04.de}}
|height =
|position = Defender
|currentclub = Bayer 04 Leverkusen
|clubnumber = 5
|years1 = {{circa}} 2014–2018
|clubs1 = {{ill|CTO Eindhoven|lt=CTO|nl|Centrum voor Topsport en Onderwijs}}
|caps1 =
|goals1 =
|years2 = 2018–2023
|clubs2 = PSV
|caps2 = 87
|goals2 = 1
|years3 = 2023–
|clubs3 = Bayer 04 Leverkusen
|caps3 = 8
|goals3 = 1
|nationalyears1 = 2016–2017
|nationalteam1 = Netherlands U17
|nationalcaps1 = 7
|nationalgoals1 = 0
|nationalyears2 = 2018–2019
|nationalteam2 = Netherlands U19
|nationalcaps2 = 16
|nationalgoals2 = 0
|nationalyears3 = 2019–
|nationalteam3 = Netherlands U23
|nationalcaps3 = 14
|nationalgoals3 = 0
|nationalyears4 = 2021–
|nationalteam4 = Netherlands
|nationalcaps4 = 2
|nationalgoals4 = 0
|club-update = 16 December 2023 (UTC)
|nationalteam-update = 16 December 2023 (UTC)
}}
Janou Levels (born 30 October 2000) is a Dutch professional football player who plays as a defender for Bundesliga club Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Levels has captained the Netherlands women's national under-23 football team, and she has been capped for the Netherlands national team twice. She previously played for Dutch teams {{ill|CTO Eindhoven|lt=CTO|nl|Centrum voor Topsport en Onderwijs}} and PSV.
Club career
Levels started playing football at the age of five for SHH Herten.{{cite web| url=https://www.shh-herten.nl/janou-levels-tekent-2-jarig-profcontract-bij-psv| title=Janou Levels tekent 2-jarig profcontract bij PSV| language=nl| publisher=SSH Herten| accessdate=24 February 2022}} At the age of 14, she moved to {{ill|CTO Eindhoven|lt=CTO|nl|Centrum voor Topsport en Onderwijs}} in Eindhoven.
At the age of 17, Levels signed for PSV ahead of the 2018–19 Eredivisie season.{{cite web| url=https://www.psv.nl/nieuwspagina/artikel/vrouwenteam-legt-pattiwael-levels-en-van-schoonhoven-vast.htm| title=VROUWENTEAM LEGT PATTIWAEL, LEVELS EN VAN SCHOONHOVEN VAST| language=nl| publisher=PSV| date=26 April 2018|accessdate=24 February 2022}}{{cite news| url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2264633-toekomst-van-oranjevrouwen-de-20-grootste-talenten-van-nederland| title=Toekomst van Oranjevrouwen: de 20 grootste talenten van Nederland| language=nl| work=Nederlandse Omroep Stichting| date=22 December 2018| accessdate=24 February 2022}} She was a part of the PSV team that lost the 2020 Eredivisie Cup Final to FC Twente.{{cite news| url=https://www.1limburg.nl/limburgse-doelpunten-eerste-editie-eredivisie-cu| title=Limburgse doelpunten in eerste editie Eredivisie Cup| language=nl| work=1 Limburg| date=28 February 2020| accessdate=24 February 2022}} In April 2020, she signed a new contract with PSV.{{cite news| url=https://www.ed.nl/psv/drie-speelsters-verlengen-contract-bij-psv~a62fed98/| title=Drie speelsters verlengen contract bij PSV| language=nl| work=Eindhovens Dagblad| date=22 April 2020| accessdate=24 February 2022}} In the 2020–21 KNVB Women's Cup Final against ADO Den Haag, Levels conceded a peculiar penalty for handball. The ball touched her hand in the 18-yard box, when she raised it to appeal for supposed handball by her opponent.{{cite news| url=https://www.ad.nl/nederlands-voetbal/bizar-psver-appelleert-voor-hands-en-krijgt-zelf-een-penalty-tegen~a0b6812e/| title=Bizar: PSV'er appelleert voor hands en krijgt zélf een penalty tegen| language=nl| work=Algemeen Dagblad| date=5 June 2021| accessdate=24 February 2022}}{{cite magazine| url=https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/opmerkelijk-penaltymoment-houdt-psv-vrouwen-niet-van-de-beker-af| title=Opmerkelijk penaltymoment houdt PSV vrouwen niet van de beker af| language=nl| magazine=Voetbal International| date=5 June 2021| accessdate=24 February 2022}} Nevertheless, PSV won the match 1–0, and earned their first major honour.{{cite news| url=https://www.ed.nl/psv/psv-verovert-eerste-prijs-in-clubhistorie-bij-de-vrouwen~a537d159/| title=PSV verovert eerste prijs in clubhistorie bij de vrouwen| language=nl| work=Eindhovens Dagblad| date=5 June 2021| accessdate=24 February 2022}} In April 2021, she signed a new three-year contract with the club.{{cite news| url=https://www.ed.nl/vrouwenvoetbal/psv-linksback-janou-levels-het-belangrijkste-is-dat-wij-aan-het-einde-van-de-streep-prijzen-binnenhalen~a9613bd2/| title=PSV-linksback Janou Levels: 'Het belangrijkste is dat wij aan het einde van de streep prijzen binnenhalen'|language=nl| work=Eindhovens Dagblad| date=18 April 2021| accessdate=24 February 2022}} In total, she made 117 appearances for PSV in five seasons with the club. In June 2023, Levels was transferred to Frauen-Bundesliga club Bayer 04 Leverkusen.{{cite news| url=https://www.ed.nl/sport-regio/bayer-leverkusen-betaalt-psv-transfersom-voor-overname-janou-levels~abedcccf/| title=Bayer Leverkusen betaalt PSV transfersom voor overname Janou Levels| language=nl| work=Eindhovens Dagblad| date=21 June 2023| accessdate=2 July 2023}}
International career
In October 2021, Levels was named to the Netherlands women's national football team for the first time.{{cite news| url=https://www.1limburg.nl/levels-oranje-leeuwin-nooit-gedacht-wel-gedroomd| title=Levels is Oranje Leeuwin: 'Nooit gedacht, wel gedroomd'|language=nl| work=1 Limburg| date=18 October 2021| accessdate=24 February 2022}} The next month, she made her senior debut in a match against Japan.{{cite news| url=https://www.limburger.nl/cnt/dmf20211129_96660976| title=Oranje Leeuwinnen spelen bij debuut Hertense Janou Levels bloedeloos gelijk tegen Japan| language=nl| work=De Limburger| date=29 November 2021| accessdate=24 February 2022}} She was in the Dutch squad for three matches in February 2022.{{cite news| url=https://www.1limburg.nl/janou-levels-alsnog-opgeroepen-voor-oranje-leeuwinnen| title=Janou Levels alsnog opgeroepen voor Oranje Leeuwinnen| language=nl| work=1 Limburg| date=14 February 2022| accessdate=24 February 2022}}
Personal life
Levels grew up in Herten, Netherlands.{{cite news| url=https://www.limburger.nl/cnt/dmf20210415_94159608| title=Janou Levels enorm gemotiveerd bij PSV: 'Ik wil die titel pakken en belangrijk zijn voor het team'|language=nl| work=De Limburger| url-access=subscription|date=16 April 2021| accessdate=24 February 2022}} She is the daughter of Jo Levels, who played for VVV-Venlo.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|440061}}
{{Bayer 04 Leverkusen (women) squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Levels, Janou}}
Category:Dutch women's footballers
Category:Netherlands women's youth international footballers
Category:Netherlands women's international footballers
Category:Footballers from Limburg (Netherlands)
Category:Bayer 04 Leverkusen (women) players
Category:Frauen-Bundesliga players
Category:Women's association football defenders
Category:Sportspeople from Roermond
Category:Dutch expatriate sportspeople in Germany