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Jeremain Lens

{{short description|Dutch footballer (born 1987)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Jeremain Lens

| image = Jeremain Lens 2015.jpg

| caption = Lens with Dynamo Kyiv in 2015

| full_name = Jeremain Marciano Lens{{TFF player|1928312}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|11|24|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/6387/Jeremain-Lens/overview |title=Jeremain Lens: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=8 September 2022}}

| birth_place = Amsterdam, Netherlands

| height = 1.78 m

| position = Winger

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = VVA/Spartaan

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = Ajax

| youthyears3 =

| youthclubs3 = Omniworld

| youthyears4 =

| youthclubs4 = AZ

| years1 = 2006–2010

| clubs1 = AZ

| caps1 = 55

| goals1 = 13

| years2 = 2007–2008

| clubs2 = → NEC (loan)

| caps2 = 31

| goals2 = 9

| years3 = 2010–2013

| clubs3 = PSV

| caps3 = 96

| goals3 = 34

| years4 = 2013–2015

| clubs4 = Dynamo Kyiv

| caps4 = 49

| goals4 = 10

| years5 = 2015–2018

| clubs5 = Sunderland

| caps5 = 22

| goals5 = 3

| years6 = 2016–2017

| clubs6 = → Fenerbahçe (loan)

| caps6 = 26

| goals6 = 4

| years7 = 2017–2018

| clubs7 = → Beşiktaş (loan)

| caps7 = 24

| goals7 = 1

| years8 = 2018–2022

| clubs8 = Beşiktaş

| caps8 = 53

| goals8 = 4

| years9 = 2021

| clubs9 = → Fatih Karagümrük (loan)

| caps9 = 16

| goals9 = 3

| years10 = 2022–2024

| clubs10 = Versailles

| caps10 = 41

| goals10 = 9

| nationalyears1 = 2006

| nationalteam1 = Netherlands U19

| nationalcaps1 = 2

| nationalgoals1 = 1

| nationalyears2 = 2006–2007

| nationalteam2 = Netherlands U20

| nationalcaps2 = 4

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2007–2008

| nationalteam3 = Netherlands U21

| nationalcaps3 = 5

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| nationalyears4 = 2010–2017

| nationalteam4 = Netherlands

| nationalcaps4 = 34

| nationalgoals4 = 8

| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{fb|NED}}}}

{{MedalCompetition|FIFA World Cup}}

{{Medal|3rd|2014 Brazil|}}

| pcupdate =

| ntupdate =

}}

Jeremain Marciano Lens (born 24 November 1987) is a Dutch former professional footballer. He was a versatile attacking player, known for his pace and stamina, primarily being used as a winger or a striker, but he could also successfully play as a second striker.

Lens began his career at AZ, and after a loan at NEC, played a part in their 2008–09 Eredivisie triumph. In 2010, he moved to PSV, where he won the 2011–12 KNVB Cup, and in 2013 was signed by Dynamo Kyiv. He won the Ukrainian Cup in his first season, the double in his second, and signed for Sunderland in July 2015.

Lens was a full international for the Netherlands, and has earned 34 caps. In August 2010, he received his first international cap against Ukraine and scored a debut goal. He was part of the Dutch squad which came third at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

= AZ =

Lens made his debut into professional football in the 2005–06 season. He played two matches for AZ that season. Before that, he played in the youth team of AZ, Omniworld, Ajax and his regional team, Spartaan.

In June 2007, AZ reached a deal concerning a loan involving Lens; it meant he would play the 2007–08 season for NEC, and that he would return to AZ the season afterwards. Lens agreed with the deal, and the player officially joined NEC on loan in the summer of 2007.

== NEC (loan) ==

After a difficult beginning with his new club NEC before the winter, Lens' as well as his team's situation improved with Lens scoring eight goals in 16 matches. NEC qualified for the UEFA Cup preliminaries. For a long time, it seemed he would join NEC permanently, but he eventually decided to return to AZ.

== Return to AZ ==

In July 2008, Lens had an operation on his left foot, which meant he was out for some time. The 2008–09 season was a personal disappointment for Lens, who did not contribute much to AZ's championship win. When head coach Louis van Gaal left the team for Bayern Munich, Lens saw a chance for himself to play more matches. He grabbed the chance under the new coach, and he played well and scored important goals for AZ.[http://www.vi.nl/Nieuws-item-TS1/173064/Ongrijpbare-Lens-is-VVVVenlo-te-machtig.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201013657/http://www.vi.nl/Nieuws-item-TS1/173064/Ongrijpbare-Lens-is-VVVVenlo-te-machtig.htm|date=1 December 2009}}

= PSV =

File:Jeremain Lens (cropped).jpg in 2010]]

On 21 May 2010, PSV contracted Lens for four years, swapping Dirk Marcellis as part of the deal. Lens was given the number 9 shirt, and his first year at the club was a successful one for the player. He was moved from a central position to the flanks, being more utilised on both wings or working behind strikers as a second striker. He struggled to score in first few matches, but eventually became used to the new position. He reached the Europa League quarter-finals with the team, scoring 3 goals in 11 appearances, and reached 10 Eredivisie goals in 33 appearances, while the Eindhoven-based team only finished in third place, despite being the table leaders for most of the 2010–11 season.

At the beginning of the 2011–12 season, Lens' jersey number was changed to number 11, which was free since the departure of Nordin Amrabat to Kayserispor in January 2011. On 6 November 2011, Lens came in from the bench against Heracles and scored a hat-trick, his first for the club.

= Dynamo Kyiv =

File:DK-Olborg (10).jpg

On 18 June 2013, Lens signed a four-year contract with Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv.{{cite web|url=http://www.interfax.co.uk/ukraine-news/dynamo-kyiv-signs-dutch-striker/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130624202702/http://www.interfax.co.uk/ukraine-news/dynamo-kyiv-signs-dutch-striker/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 June 2013 |access-date=19 June 2013 |title=Dynamo Kyiv signs Dutch striker » Interfax News Wire :: Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Central Asia }} On 29 August, he scored his first official goal for Dynamo, opening the score on the ninth minute of a 5–1 victory over Kazakhstani club Aktobe in the UEFA Europa League play-offs second leg, an 8–3 aggregate win. On 6 October, Lens scored his first two goals in the Ukrainian Premier League in a crushing 9–1 victory over Metalurh Donetsk. He helped Dynamo win the Ukrainian Cup in his first season.

On 23 April 2015, Lens was sent off for two bookings in the first half, as Dynamo lost 0–2 at Fiorentina and were eliminated from the quarter-finals of the Europa League. His second yellow card was when the referee judged that he had dived in the penalty area.{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/fiorentina-2-0-dynamo-kiev-italians-power-through-1506768|title = Fiorentina 2 - 0 Dynamo Kiev: Italians power through}} In his second and final season for Dynamo, he managed to help his team win both the Premier League and Ukrainian Cup without suffering a single defeat in both competitions.

= Sunderland =

On 15 July 2015, after completing a medical, Sunderland signed Lens for an undisclosed fee on a four-year contract. This move reunited him with head coach Dick Advocaat after previously working under him at PSV and AZ.{{cite news|title=Sunderland capture Lens|url=https://www.safc.com/news/team-news/2015/july/safc-capture-lens|access-date=15 July 2015|work=SAFC.com}}

Lens scored his first English Premier League goal on 29 August 2015, securing a 2–2 draw at Aston Villa.{{cite news|last1=Jurejko|first1=Jonathan|title=Aston Villa 2–2 Sunderland|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34025308|access-date=29 August 2015|date=29 August 2015}} He scored his second Sunderland goal against West Ham United on 3 October 2015, lobbing the ball over goalkeeper Adrián to put Sunderland 2–0 ahead. However, Lens was then sent off after receiving two yellow cards for rash tackles, and West Ham went on to earn a 2–2 draw.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34366673|title=Sunderland 2-2 West Ham United|work=BBC Sport}} The match turned out to be Advocaat's final one in charge of Sunderland, as he left the club the next day.

Lens stated he was unhappy at Sunderland, suggesting he could leave the club in the January transfer window as he "did not come to the Premier League to sit on the bench".{{cite web|last=Johns |first=Craig |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/jeremain-lens-unhappy-sunderland-i-10636464 |title=Jeremain Lens unhappy at Sunderland: 'I did not come to the Premier League to sit on the bench' |publisher=Chronicle Live |date=22 December 2015 |access-date=9 January 2016}} Lens started in Sunderland's FA Cup third round tie against Arsenal, and scored the opening goal in the match, after which Arsenal came back to win 3–1.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2016/jan/09/arsenal-sunderland-fa-cup-third-round-live |title=Arsenal 3–1 Sunderland: FA Cup third round – as it happened | Football |newspaper=The Guardian |date=9 January 2016 |access-date=9 January 2016}}

== Fenerbahçe (loan) ==

On 30 August 2016, Lens was loaned to Fenerbahçe on a season-long deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37221373|title=Fenerbahce sign Sunderland winger Jeremain Lens|publisher=BBC Sport|date=30 August 2016}}

= Beşiktaş =

On 6 August 2017, Beşiktaş signed Lens on loan, with the option of a permanent transfer afterwards.{{cite web|url=http://www.bjk.com.tr/en/haber/70616/welcome_to_besiktas_jeremain_lens.html|title=Beşiktaş sign Sunderland winger Jeremain Lens on loan|publisher=Beşiktaş J.K. Official Website|date=7 August 2017|access-date=7 August 2017}} He scored his debut goal for the club in a 2–2 draw against Trabzonspor. Playing as a replacement for Ricardo Quaresma, he managed to find the net in the 58th minute of the match.{{cite web|title=JEREMAIN LENS, TRABZONSPOR'U YİNE BOŞ GEÇMEDİ|url=http://www.goal.com/tr/haber/jeremain-lens-trabzonsporu-yine-bos-gecmedi/j5hq3hticoyv18a9g5v67ujw8|publisher=Goal|access-date=3 October 2017|language=tr|date=1 October 2017}} On 7 June 2018, it was confirmed that Lens had signed four years contract for Beşiktaş.

= Versailles =

After not playing for any club in the 2021–22 season despite remaining under contract with Beşiktaş, on 28 July 2022 Lens signed with French third-tier Championnat National club Versailles.{{cite web|publisher=Versailles|url=https://fcversailles.com/nat-jeremain-lens-est-versaillais/|title=Nat – Jeremain Lens est Versaillais|date=28 July 2022|access-date=29 July 2022|language=fr}} He made his debut for the club on 26 August 2022, replacing Jordan Leborgne in the 69th minute of a 2–0 home win over Bourg-en-Bresse Péronnas.{{cite news |title=Vraagtekens rondom Jeremain Lens: 21 minuten sinds verrassende transfer |url=https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/vraagtekens-rondom-jeremain-lens-21-minuten-sinds-verrassende-transfer |access-date=25 December 2022 |work=Voetbal International |date=30 September 2022 |language=nl}} Lens scored his first goal for Versailles on 25 November, coming off the bench for Mondy Prunier and scoring in injury time to secure a 2–0 victory against Villefranche Beaujolais.{{cite news |last1=Alves |first1=Simon |title=LIVE / Le FCVB piégé par Versailles à Chouffet (0–2) |url=https://www.lepatriote.fr/live-fcvb-versailles-les-equipes-a-lechauffement-116822.html |access-date=25 December 2022 |work=Le Patriote Beaujolais |date=25 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127050044/https://www.lepatriote.fr/live-fcvb-versailles-les-equipes-a-lechauffement-116822.html |archive-date=27 November 2022 |language=FR}}{{cite news |title=Eindelijk! Oud-international Jeremain Lens scoort 1e goal in 1,5 jaar tijd |url=https://sportnieuws.nl/voetbal/buitenland/eindelijk-oud-international-jeremain-lens-scoort-1e-goal-in-15-jaar-tijd/ |access-date=25 December 2022 |work=Sportnieuws |date=26 November 2022 |language=nl-NL}} In May 2024, Lens announced he would retire at the end of the season.{{Cite web |title=34-voudig Oranje-international Jeremain Lens zet na seizoen punt achter carrière |url=https://www.nu.nl/voetbal/6312005/34-voudig-oranje-international-jeremain-lens-zet-na-seizoen-punt-achter-carriere.html |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=NU.nl |language=nl-NL}}

International career

= Suriname =

Although Lens previously played for the Netherlands under-21 team, he chose to play for the Suriname national team, since his roots (parents) are Surinamese. In 2009, Lens was called up for Suriname's squad by national team coach Wensley Bundel, for the Parbo Bier Cup. He scored two goals in three matches and helped Suriname finish second in the tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/parbobeer09.html |title=Parbo Bier Cup 2009 (Surinam) |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |date=12 June 2014 |access-date=9 January 2016}}

Since the tournament was not under the auspices of FIFA, Lens was still eligible for a call-up for the Netherlands.

= Netherlands =

On 3 May 2010, Lens was called up for the Dutch national team, as a part of the preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[http://www.vi.nl/Nieuws-item/179812/Van-Marwijk-beloont-Anita-en-Lens-met-uitnodiging.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505195137/http://www.vi.nl/Nieuws-item/179812/Van-Marwijk-beloont-Anita-en-Lens-met-uitnodiging.htm|date=5 May 2010}} However, on 27 May 2010, Netherlands manager Bert van Marwijk announced that the player would not be part of the final 23-man squad participating in the competition.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/may/27/holland-world-cup-23-man-squad |title=Holland coach Bert van Marwijk finalises World Cup squad |work=The Guardian |date=27 May 2010 |agency=Press Association |access-date=27 May 2010}} On 11 August 2010, Lens made his debut in a 1–1 friendly draw with Ukraine, scoring the only goal for the Oranje.{{cite news|url=http://www.goal.com/en/match/49573/ukraine-vs-netherlands/report|title=Ukraine vs Netherlands Report|publisher=Goal com|date=11 August 2010|agency=website|access-date=5 February 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011220045/http://www.goal.com/en/match/49573/ukraine-vs-netherlands/report|archive-date=11 October 2012|df=dmy-all}}

Lens became a regular member of the Dutch team under the management of his former AZ coach Louis van Gaal. He scored five goals and made a further five assists during the 2014 World Cup qualification campaign.{{cite news|url=http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2014/teams/player=106777/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915051018/http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2014/teams/player=106777/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 September 2012|title=Jermain Lens|access-date=9 April 2014|publisher=UEFA}}

Lens was named in the Netherlands squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27402627 |title=World Cup 2014: Netherlands announce final World Cup squad |publisher=BBC |date=31 May 2014 |access-date=9 January 2016}} He appeared as a substitute in the Netherlands' first two Group B games (a 1–5 win over Spain and a 2–3 victory against Australia) before starting in a 2–0 victory over Chile.{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=255931/match=300186470/report.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626050834/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=255931/match=300186470/report.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 June 2014 |title=2014 FIFA World Cup – Matches |publisher=FIFA |date=23 June 2014 |access-date=9 January 2016 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616130733/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=255931/match=300186470/report.html |date=16 June 2018 }}

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|15 May 2021}}{{cite web|title=J. LENS|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/jeremain-lens/2219/|website=Soccerway|access-date=11 September 2015}}{{cite web|title=Jeremain Lens|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=55669|website=Soccerbase|access-date=11 September 2015}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
rowspan=2|Club

!rowspan=2|Season

!colspan=3|League

!colspan=2|National Cup

!colspan=2|League Cup

!colspan=2|Continental

!colspan=2|Other

!colspan=2|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
rowspan=6|AZ

|2005–06

|rowspan="5"|Eredivisie

|2

000colspan=2|—00colspan=2|—20
2006–07

|14

100colspan=2|—00colspan=2|—141
2007–08

|0

000colspan=2|—00colspan=2|—00
2008–09

|8

100colspan=2|—00colspan=2|—81
2009–10

|32

1220colspan=2|—5{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}}21{{efn|name=JCS|Appearance in Johan Cruyff Shield}}24016
colspan=2|Total

!56

1420colspan=2|—52126418
NEC (loan)

|2007–08

|Eredivisie

|31

1300colspan=2|—colspan=2|—colspan=2|—3113
rowspan=4|PSV

|2010–11

|rowspan="3"|Eredivisie

|33

1020colspan=2|—13{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}}3colspan=2|—4813
2011–12

|33

951colspan=2|—12{{efn|name=UEL}}1colspan=2|—5011
2012–13

|30

1530colspan=2|—6{{efn|name=UEL}}31{{efn|name=JCS}}14019
colspan="2"|Total

!96

34101colspan=2|—3171113843
rowspan=3|Dynamo Kyiv

|2013–14

|rowspan="2"|Ukrainian Premier League

|28

540colspan=2|—9{{efn|name=UEL}}2colspan="2"|—417
2014–15

|21

561colspan=2|—10{{efn|name=UEL}}300379
colspan="2"|Total

!49

10101colspan=2|—195007816
rowspan=3|Sunderland

|2015–16

|rowspan="2"|Premier League

|20

31110colspan=2|—colspan="2"|—224
2016–17

|2

00000colspan=2|—colspan="2"|—20
colspan=2|Total

!22

31110colspan=2|—colspan="2"|—244
Fenerbahçe (loan)

|2016–17

|Süper Lig

|26

450colspan=2|—5{{efn|name=UEL}}1colspan="2"|—365
Beşiktaş (loan)

|2017–18

|Süper Lig

|24

163colspan=2|—2{{efn|name=UCL}}0colspan=2|—324
rowspan="4"|Beşiktaş

|2018–19

|rowspan="3"|Süper Lig

|28

100colspan="2"|—9{{efn|name=UEL}}4colspan="2"|—375
2019–20

|23

220colspan=2|—4{{efn|name=UEL}}0colspan="2"|—292
2020–21

|2

100colspan=2|—2{{efn|One appearance in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League}}0colspan="2"|—41
colspan="2"|Total

!77

583colspan=2|—174colspan="2"|—10214
Fatih Karagümrük (loan)

|2020–21

|Süper Lig

|16

3colspan=2|—colspan=2|—colspan=2|—colspan=2|—163
colspan="3"|Career total

!372

8636610771923489114

{{notelist}}

= International =

class="wikitable collapsible"

!colspan=7|Lens – goals for Netherlands{{cite web|url=http://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=26328 |title=Jeremain Lens – national football team player |website=Eu-football.info |access-date=9 January 2016}}

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.11 August 2010Donbas Arena, Donetsk, Ukraine{{fb|UKR}}align=center| 0–1align=center| 1–1Friendly match
2.rowspan=2|11 September 2012rowspan=2|Puskás Ferenc Stadion, Budapest, Hungaryrowspan=2|{{fb|HUN}}align=center| 0–1style="text-align:center;" rowspan=2| 1–4rowspan=3|2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
3.align=center| 1–3
4.16 October 2012Arena Națională, Bucharest, Romania{{fb|ROM}}align=center| 0–1align=center |1–4
5.6 February 2013rowspan=4|Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands{{fb|ITA}}align=center| 1–0align=center| 1–1Friendly
6.26 March 2013{{fb|ROM}}align=center| 4–0align=center | 4–0rowspan=2|2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
7.11 October 2013{{fb|HUN}}align=center| 3–0align=center | 8–1
8.4 June 2014{{fb|WAL}}align=center| 2–0align=center | 2–0Friendly

Honours

AZ

PSV

Dynamo Kyiv

Netherlands

  • FIFA World Cup Third place: 2014{{cite web|title=2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: Brazil-Netherlands|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=255957/match=300186502/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707122322/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=255957/match=300186502/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 July 2014|publisher=FIFA|date=12 July 2014|access-date=21 August 2014}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829192159/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=255957/match=300186502/index.html |date=29 August 2014 }}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category}}

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20160118060343/http://www.onsoranje.nl/team-statistieken/teams/speler/20/50a3c208-be251858-319416 Holland U19 stats] at OnsOranje {{in lang|nl}}
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045610/http://www.onsoranje.nl/team-statistieken/teams/speler/19/50a3c208-be251858-319416 Holland U20 stats] at OnsOranje {{in lang|nl}}
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035226/http://www.onsoranje.nl/team-statistieken/teams/speler/25/50a3c208-be251858-319416 Holland U21 stats] at OnsOranje {{in lang|nl}}
  • {{FFU}}

{{Netherlands squad 2014 FIFA World Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lens, Jeremain}}

Category:1987 births

Category:Living people

Category:Dutch men's footballers

Category:Dutch sportspeople of Surinamese descent

Category:AZ Alkmaar players

Category:NEC Nijmegen players

Category:PSV Eindhoven players

Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players

Category:FC Dynamo Kyiv players

Category:Fenerbahçe S.K. footballers

Category:Beşiktaş J.K. footballers

Category:Fatih Karagümrük S.K. footballers

Category:FC Versailles 78 players

Category:Footballers from Amsterdam

Category:Men's association football wingers

Category:Men's association football forwards

Category:Premier League players

Category:Eredivisie players

Category:Ukrainian Premier League players

Category:Süper Lig players

Category:Championnat National players

Category:Netherlands men's youth international footballers

Category:21st-century Dutch sportsmen

Category:Netherlands men's under-21 international footballers

Category:Netherlands men's international footballers

Category:2014 FIFA World Cup players

Category:Dutch expatriate men's footballers

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Ukraine

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France

Category:Dutch expatriate sportspeople in Ukraine

Category:Dutch expatriate sportspeople in England

Category:Dutch expatriate sportspeople in Turkey

Category:Dutch expatriate sportspeople in France