Koen Casteels
{{Short description|Belgian footballer (born 1992)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Koen Casteels
| image = FC Salzburg gegen VfL Wolfsburg (CL-Gruppenphase 20. Oktober 2021) 75.jpg
| caption = Casteels playing for VfL Wolfsburg in 2021
| full_name = Koen Casteels{{cite web |url=https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce44/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |title=Squad List: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: Belgium (BEL) |publisher=FIFA |page=3 |date=18 December 2022 |access-date=31 August 2024}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|6|25|df=y}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/player/koen-casteels|title=Koen Casteels – Player Profile|publisher=Bundesliga|access-date=8 July 2022}}
| birth_place = Bonheiden, Belgium
| position = Goalkeeper
| currentclub = Al-Qadsiah
| clubnumber = 1
| youthyears1 = 1996–2002
| youthclubs1 = KAC Betekom
| youthyears2 = 2002–2009
| youthclubs2 = Genk
| years1 = 2009–2011
| clubs1 = Genk
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2011–2014
| clubs2 = TSG Hoffenheim II
| caps2 = 32
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2011–2015
| clubs3 = TSG Hoffenheim
| caps3 = 39
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2015
| clubs4 = → Werder Bremen (loan)
| caps4 = 6
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2015–2024
| clubs5 = VfL Wolfsburg
| caps5 = 238
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2024–
| clubs6 = Al-Qadsiah
| caps6 = 28
| goals6 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2007
| nationalteam1 = Belgium U15
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2008
| nationalteam2 = Belgium U16
| nationalcaps2 = 3
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2008–2009
| nationalteam3 = Belgium U17
| nationalcaps3 = 3
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2009–2011
| nationalteam4 = Belgium U19
| nationalcaps4 = 20
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| nationalyears5 = 2011–2013
| nationalteam5 = Belgium U21
| nationalcaps5 = 9
| nationalgoals5 = 0
| nationalyears6 = 2020–2024
| nationalteam6 = Belgium
| nationalcaps6 = 20
| nationalgoals6 = 0
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's football}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|BEL}}}}
{{Medal|Comp|FIFA World Cup}}
{{Medal|3rd|2018|}}
| club-update = 18 April 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 17 November 2024 (UTC)
}}
Koen Casteels ({{IPA|nl|ˈkun kɑsˈteːls}}; born 25 June 1992) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Saudi Pro League club Al-Qadsiah.
Formed at Genk, Casteels spent most of his professional career in Germany with TSG Hoffenheim, Werder Bremen (loan) and VfL Wolfsburg, making over 200 Bundesliga appearances.
Casteels made 37 appearances for Belgium up to under-21 level. He was first called up for the senior team in 2013 and was part of their squad that came third at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Club career
Casteels was developed at K.R.C. Genk where he was a teammate of fellow goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. He was initially regarded as better than Courtois, but while he and several of the club's other goalkeepers were injured, Courtois broke into the team.{{cite news |last1=Terreur |first1=Kristof |title=Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois: from clumsy boy to top of the world |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/sep/20/chelsea-thibaut-courtois-profile |access-date=12 July 2018 |work=The Observer |date=20 September 2014}}
Casteels was signed by VfL Wolfsburg from TSG Hoffenheim in January 2015, but spent the first six months of the three-and-a-half-year contract on loan at Werder Bremen.{{cite news|title=Casteels über Werder nach Wolfsburg|language=de|url=http://www.weltfussball.de/news/_n1411722_/casteels-ueber-werder-nach-wolfsburg/|access-date=15 May 2018|publisher=Weltfussball.de|date=21 January 2015}} He played for Wolfsburg in the 2015 DFL-Supercup, saving from Xabi Alonso in the penalty shoot-out as his team won after a 1–1 draw.{{cite news|last1=Dunbar|first1=Ross|title=Bendtner leads Wolfsburg over Bayern Munich on penalties in German Super Cup clash|url=http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/bendtner-leads-wolfsburg-over-bayern-munich-on-penalties-in-german-super-cup-clash-080115?vid=null|access-date=3 August 2015|work=Fox Sports|date=1 August 2015}}
When Diego Benaglio left Wolfsburg in June 2017, Casteels signed a new three-year contract with the club and was given the number 1 shirt.{{cite news|title=Keeper Casteels verlängert in Wolfsburg|language=de|url=http://www.weltfussball.de/news/_n2795372_/keeper-casteels-verlaengert-in-wolfsburg/|access-date=15 May 2018|publisher=Weltfussball.de|date=22 June 2017}} He appeared in all of the club's 34 Bundesliga matches during the 2017−18 season.
On 2 September 2023, Casteels announced that he would leave at the end of the 2023−24 Bundesliga season.{{cite news |title=Departing after nine years |url=https://www.vfl-wolfsburg.de/en/newsdetails/news-detail/detail/news/departing-after-nine-years |date=9 February 2024 |access-date=7 March 2024 |publisher=VfL Wolfsburg}}{{cite news |date=2 September 2023 |title=Casteels to leave Wolfsburg at the end of the season |url=https://bulinews.com/news/18608/casteels-leave-wolfsburg-season |access-date=7 March 2024 |website=Bulinews}}
On 10 June 2024, Casteels joined newly promoted Saudi Pro League club Al-Qadsiah on a three-year contract.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/belgium-keeper-casteels-joins-al-qadsiah-free-transfer-2024-06-10/|title=Belgium keeper Casteels joins Al-Qadsiah on free transfer|publisher=Reuters|date=10 June 2024|access-date=10 June 2024}}
International career
Casteels was first called up to the senior Belgium team in May 2013.{{Cite web |last=Belga |title=Thorgan Hazard, Maxime Lestienne et Koen Casteels appelés par Marc Wilmots |url=https://www.dhnet.be/sports/football/diablesrouges/2013/05/16/thorgan-hazard-maxime-lestienne-et-koen-casteels-appeles-par-marc-wilmots-5LPUYX5ZBFG6BNNFD74RFPLUYQ/ |access-date=6 July 2022 |website=DHnet |language=fr}} He was going to be part of Belgium's 2014 FIFA World Cup squad but failed to recover from an injury and was replaced by Silvio Proto and then Sammy Bossut.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/other-sports/news/belgium-keeper-casteels-fails-in-fitness-bid/aj83sar7bt8m1l2113nd98lsz|title=Belgium keeper Casteels fails in fitness bid}}
Manager Roberto Martínez often chose four goalkeepers in his international selections, and as the 2018 FIFA World Cup only permitted three, Casteels battled with Matz Sels for the final space behind Thibaut Courtois and Simon Mignolet.{{cite news |last1=Poissonnier |first1=Niels |title=Casteels: "Je voelde een bepaalde angst" |url=https://www.hln.be/sport/voetbal/belgisch-voetbal/rode-duivels/casteels-je-voelde-een-bepaalde-angst~ab7f76c1/ |access-date=12 July 2018 |publisher=HLN |date=3 June 2017 |language=nl}} He was eventually chosen for the final 23-man squad to go to Russia.{{cite news |title=World Cup 2018: Belgium include Vincent Kompany but Christian Benteke misses out |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44353673 |access-date=12 July 2018 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 June 2018}}
Casteels made his full international debut on 8 September 2020, in a 5–1 win over Iceland for the UEFA Nations League.{{cite news |title=Belgium v Iceland |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54002963 |access-date=8 September 2020 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 September 2020}}
Casteels was part of the Belgium squad at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but again did not play a minute.{{Cite web |title=Royal Belgian FA |url=https://www.rbfa.be/en/news/day-life-koen-casteels |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=www.rbfa.be}}
After Thibaut Courtois fell out with national team coach Domenico Tedesco, Casteels was chosen as first choice, with Tedesco describing him as one of the best in the world.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-24 |title=Domenico Tedesco believes Koen Casteels is a top 20 goalkeeper in the world |url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/domenico-tedesco-believes-koen-casteels-is-a-top-20-goalkeeper-in-the-world-38205648 |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=OneFootball |language=en}} Casteels played in all of Belgium's games at UEFA Euro 2024 and impressed, making important saves and also recording an assist in their 2–0 win over Romania.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-24 |title=Despite concerns over Thibaut Courtois' absence, Koen Casteels has been Belgium's best player at Euro 2024 |url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/despite-concerns-over-thibaut-courtois-absence-koen-casteels-has-been-belgiums-best-player-at-euro-2024-39700553 |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=OneFootball |language=en}}
On 10 March 2025, Casteels announced that he had quit the national team in frustration over the decision to bring Thibaut Courtois back into the fold.{{cite web |last=Garrett-Stanley |first=Fred |date=10 March 2025 |title='I am no longer available' - Belgium No.1 Koen Casteels QUITS national team in protest against 'red carpet' Thibaut Courtois return |url=https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/i-am-no-longer-available-belgium-no-1-koen-casteels-quits-national-team-protest-against-red-carpet-thibaut-courtois-return/blt2877bbe207734307 |accessdate=10 March 2025 |website=Goal}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 18 April 2025}}{{cite web|title=Koen Casteels » Club matches|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/koen-casteels/2/|website=WorldFootball.net|access-date=30 April 2018}}
| 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"|National cup{{efn|Includes DFB-Pokal, King's Cup}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="4"|TSG Hoffenheim II
|23 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 23 | 0 | ||||
| 2012–13
|7 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 7 | 0 | ||||
| 2014–15
|Regionalliga Südwest |2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!32 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 32 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="3"|TSG Hoffenheim
|16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|name=BPO|Appearances in Bundesliga relegation play-offs}} | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14
|Bundesliga |23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 25 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!39 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | 43 | 0 | ||
| Werder Bremen (loan)
|Bundesliga |6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 7 | 0 | |||
| rowspan="10"|VfL Wolfsburg
|Bundesliga |13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in DFL-Supercup}} | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| 2016–17
|Bundesliga |20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|name=BPO}} | 0 | 24 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18
|Bundesliga |34 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|name=BPO}} | 0 | 39 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19
|Bundesliga |26 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 0 | |||
| 2019–20
|Bundesliga |26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 32 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21
|Bundesliga |32 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=UEL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 37 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22
|Bundesliga |28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5{{efn|name=UCL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23
|Bundesliga |34 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 36 | 0 | |||
| 2023–24
|Bundesliga |25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 27 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!238 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 275 | 0 | |
| Al-Qadsiah
|28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 0 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!343 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 385 | 0 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 17 November 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=31038|title=Koen Casteels|website=EU-Football.info|access-date=29 September 2021}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals | ||
| rowspan="5"|Belgium
|2020 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 4 | 0 |
| 2024 | 12 | 0 |
| colspan="2"|Total | 20 | 0 |
|---|
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{RBFA player}}
- {{UEFA player}}
{{Al-Qadisiyah FC squad}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Belgium squads
| bg = #E20E0E
| fg = #FDDA25
| bordercolor = black
| list1 =
{{Belgium squad 2018 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Belgium squad 2022 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Belgium squad UEFA Euro 2024}}
}}
{{2017–18 kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Casteels, Koen}}
Category:Sportspeople from Bonheiden
Category:Footballers from Antwerp Province
Category:Belgian men's footballers
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:TSG 1899 Hoffenheim players
Category:SV Werder Bremen players
Category:VfL Wolfsburg players
Category:Al Qadsiah FC players
Category:TSG 1899 Hoffenheim II players
Category:Saudi Pro League players
Category:Belgium men's youth international footballers
Category:Belgium men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Belgium men's international footballers
Category:2018 FIFA World Cup players
Category:2022 FIFA World Cup players
Category:UEFA Euro 2024 players
Category:Belgian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Germany
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Saudi Arabia