Jean-Marie Abeels

{{short description|Belgian footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Jean-Marie Abeels

| image =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1962|11|18}}

| birth_place =

| height =

| currentclub =

| position = Forward

| years1 = 1981–1983 | clubs1 = {{ill|Stade Waremmien|nl}}{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

| years2 = 1983–1986 | clubs2 = Tongeren

| years3 = 1986–1989 | clubs3 = Kortrijk

| years4 = 1989–1990 | clubs4 = Germinal Ekeren

| years5 = 1990–1993 | clubs5 = Waregem

| years6 = 1993–1995 | clubs6 = Germinal Ekeren

| years7 = 1995–1996 | clubs7 = Sint-Truiden

| years8 = 1996–1998 | clubs8 = Verviers

| years9 = 1998–1999 | clubs9 = Herentals

| years10 = 1999–2000 | clubs10 = {{ill|KVVOG Vorselaar|nl|lt=Vorselaar}}

| years11 = 2000–2002 | clubs11 = Verviers

| years12 = 2002 | clubs12 = Sprimont Comblain

| years13 = 2003 | clubs13 = Montegnée

| years14 = 2004 | clubs14 = {{ill|KVVOG Vorselaar|nl|lt=Vorselaar}}{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

}}

Jean-Marie Abeels (born 18 November 1962) is a Belgian former football player and manager who played as a forward.

He amassed over 200 games in the Belgian Pro League for Kortrijk, Germinal Ekeren, Waregem and Sint-Truiden.{{WorldFootball.net|jean-marie-abeels_2}}

In the later stages of his career he was allegedly involved in illegal birdcatching and trading.{{cite news|url=https://www.hbvl.be/cnt/dmf20180111_03293971|title=Natuurinspecteurs doeken netwerk vinkenvangers op|work=Het Belang Van Limburg|language=nl|access-date=19 June 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.demorgen.be/nieuws/abeels-beschuldigd-van-illegale-vogelhandel~b1ec5420/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F|title=Abeels beschuldigd van illegale vogelhandel|date=4 February 1999|work=De Morgen|language=nl|access-date=19 June 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.gva.be/cnt/oid8923|title=Beschermde zangvogels in beslag genomen|date=2 February 2001|work=Gazet Van Antwerpen|language=nl|access-date=19 June 2023}}

Abeels married a Kenyan woman. Together they started a football academy in Kenya named JMJ Sport Academy, bringing such players to Europe such as Victor Wanyama and Ayub Timbe.{{cite news|url=https://www.voetbalkrant.com/nieuws/2009-12-22/abeels-ik-denk-dat-genk-de-financien-niet-had|title=Abeels: "Ik denk dat Genk de financiën niet had"|author=Gonzalez, Manuel|date=22 December 2009|work=Voetbalkrant|language=nl|access-date=19 June 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.humo.be/nieuws/jean-marie-abeels-alias-de-vogelvanger-hoe-een-belg-de-keniaanse-voetbalvelden-leegstroopt~b0f1060f/?referrer=https://www.google.com/|title=Jean-Marie Abeels, alias de vogelvanger: hoe een Belg de Keniaanse voetbalvelden leegstroopt|author=Sauviller, Raf|date=5 December 2011|work=Humo|language=nl|access-date=19 June 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://nation.africa/kenya/life-and-style/football/belgian-dream-beckons-for-kenyan-boys-533460|title=Belgian dream beckons for Kenyan boys|date=7 May 2007|work=Nation|access-date=19 June 2023}}