Nicky Evrard

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Nicky Evrard

| image = Nicky Evrard 2014 (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Nicky Evrard in 2014

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1995|05|26}}

| birth_place = Zottegem, Belgium

| height = 1.76 m

| position = Goalkeeper

| currentclub = PSV

| clubnumber =

| youthclubs1 = Racing Strijpen

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs2 = SK Munkzwalm

| youthyears2 =

| years1 = 2013–2016

| clubs1 = AA Gent

| caps1 = 51

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2016–2019

| clubs2 = FC Twente

| caps2 = 42

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2019–2020

| clubs3 = Sporting Huelva

| caps3 = 0

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2020–2022

| clubs4 = Gent

| caps4 = 55

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2022–2023

| clubs5 = OH Leuven

| caps5 = 30

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2023–2024

| clubs6 = Chelsea

| caps6 = 0

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2023–2024

| clubs7 = → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan)

| caps7 = 1

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2024–

| clubs8 = PSV

| caps8 = 0

| goals8 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2009–2010

| nationalteam1 = Belgium U15

| nationalcaps1 = 2

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2010–2012

| nationalteam2 = Belgium U17

| nationalcaps2 = 15

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2012–2013

| nationalteam3 = Belgium U19

| nationalcaps3 = 6

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| nationalyears4 = 2014

| nationalteam4 = Belgium U21

| nationalcaps4 = 1

| nationalgoals4 = 0

| nationalyears5 = 2013–

| nationalteam5 = Belgium

| nationalcaps5 = 69

| nationalgoals5 = 0

| club-update = 9 January 2024

| ntupdate = 5 December 2024 {{Cite web |access-date=2024-12-05 |title=Al onze Red Flames |trans-title=All our Red Flames|url=https://www.rbfa.be/nl/nationale-ploegen/belgian-red-flames/alle-red-flames |website=RBFA |language=nl}}

}}

Nicky Evrard (born 26 May 1995) is a Belgian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for PSV and the Belgium women's national team.{{cite web|url=http://www.belgianfootball.be/en/national-womens-team-selection|title=National Women's Team selection – Royal Belgian Football Association|website=www.belgianfootball.be|access-date=14 August 2017|archive-date=15 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815070124/http://www.belgianfootball.be/en/national-womens-team-selection|url-status=live}}

Club career

Evrard started her career at RC Strijpen boy's teams. She was coached by Stefan Van de Voorde, a legendary coach at Eendracht Elene-Grotenberge. In the 2011–12 season, she signed with Cercle Melle. In 2012, the team change its name to AA Gent. In the 2016–17 season, she won the Cup of Belgium with AA Gent.{{cite web|title=Nicky Evrard (KAA Gent 2011–2017)|url=https://www.facebook.com/notes/vzw-voetbal-in-de-stad/nicky-evrard-kaa-gent-2011-2017/1917570871601708/|website=Facebook|accessdate=16 August 2017|archive-date=28 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128041130/https://www.facebook.com/notes/vzw-voetbal-in-de-stad/nicky-evrard-kaa-gent-2011-2017/1917570871601708/|url-status=live}} On 17 May 2017, Evrard announced that she would be joining FC Twente.{{cite web|last1=Van Der Meulen|first1=Eline|title=Red Flame Nicky Evrard ruilt Gent voor Twente|url=http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/9090/Voetbal/article/detail/3161190/2017/05/18/Red-Flame-Nicky-Evrard-ruilt-Gent-voor-Twente.dhtml|website=HLN|accessdate=16 August 2017|archive-date=17 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817034736/http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/9090/Voetbal/article/detail/3161190/2017/05/18/Red-Flame-Nicky-Evrard-ruilt-Gent-voor-Twente.dhtml|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Nicky Evrard (KAA Gent Ladies) kiest voor Nederlands avontuur! (met video)|url=http://nieuws.vrouwenvoetbal.be/?p=19513|website=Nieuws|accessdate=16 August 2017|archive-date=17 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817035907/http://nieuws.vrouwenvoetbal.be/?p=19513|url-status=live}}

Evrard joined Women's Super League club Chelsea in the summer of 2023,{{Cite web |title=Chelsea transfer news: Welcome to Chelsea, Nicky Evrard! |url=https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/welcome-to-chelsea-nicky-evrard |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=www.chelseafc.com |language=en-gb |archive-date=4 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604050251/https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/welcome-to-chelsea-nicky-evrard |url-status=live }} signing on a season's loan with Brighton & Hove Albion on loan for the 2023–24 season on 14 September 2024.{{cite news|url=https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/3681851/nicky-evrard-joins-albion-on-loan-from-chelsea|title=Nicky Evrard joins Albion on loan from Chelsea|publisher=Brighton & Hove Albion|date=14 September 2023|access-date=15 September 2023|archive-date=14 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914201104/https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/3681851/nicky-evrard-joins-albion-on-loan-from-chelsea|url-status=live}} She returned to Chelsea on 9 January 2024 after suffering a long-term hamstring injury.{{cite web |title=Statement on Nicky Evrard injury |url=https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/statement-on-nicky-evrard-injury |website=Chelsea F.C. |access-date=9 January 2024 |date=9 January 2024 |archive-date=9 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109170133/https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/statement-on-nicky-evrard-injury |url-status=live }}

Chelsea confirmed Evrard's departure for PSV on 19 July 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/nicky-evrard-departs-chelsea-for-psv-eindhoven|title=Nicky Evrard departs Chelsea|website=www.chelseafc.com|access-date=19 July 2024}}

International career

From 2009 to April 2013, Evrard was part of several Belgium's youth teams. On 2 June 2013, she played for Belgium senior team for the first time in a friendly match against Ukraine.{{cite web|title=België 3 – 0 Oekraïne|url=http://www.belgianfootball.be/nl/wedstrijd_verslag/dames-belgi%C3%AB-oekra%C3%AFne-3-0|website=Belgian Football|accessdate=16 August 2017|archive-date=17 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817034424/http://www.belgianfootball.be/nl/wedstrijd_verslag/dames-belgi%C3%AB-oekra%C3%AFne-3-0|url-status=live}} Evrard was also part of the team who represented Belgium at the UEFA Women's Euro 2017.{{cite web|title=23 Belgian Red Flames in EK-selectie|url=http://www.belgianfootball.be/nl/nieuws/23-belgian-red-flames-ek-selectie|website=Belgian Football|accessdate=16 August 2017|archive-date=29 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229064159/http://www.belgianfootball.be/nl/nieuws/23-belgian-red-flames-ek-selectie|url-status=live}} Evrard was in the national team in 2022 alongside Lisa Lichtfus then of Dijon and Diede Lemey who at the time played for Sassuolo.{{Cite web |last=UEFA.com |date=4 July 2022 |title=Women's EURO 2022 inside track: Belgium |url=https://www.uefa.com/womenseuro/news/0277-158b606dd403-71f80ded6abb-1000--women-s-euro-2022-inside-track-belgium/ |access-date=10 July 2022 |website=UEFA |language=en |archive-date=10 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710182150/https://www.uefa.com/womenseuro/news/0277-158b606dd403-71f80ded6abb-1000--women-s-euro-2022-inside-track-belgium/ |url-status=live }}

At the start of 2022, Evrard kept goal in Belgium's winning of the Pinatar Cup for the first time in Spain, beating Russia on penalties in the final after a 0-0 draw.{{in lang|fr}} [https://www.rtbf.be/article/les-red-flames-remportent-la-pinatar-cup-face-a-la-russie-le-tout-premier-trophee-de-leur-histoire-10940999 Les Red Flames remportent la Pinatar Cup face à la Russie, le tout premier trophée de leur histoire]

Evrard was the first-choice goalkeeper for Belgium's UEFA Women's Euro 2022 campaign in England. She was vital to their progression to the quarter-finals despite not being amongst the heavy favourites in their group, and saved both penalties she faced in the group stages, one each against Iceland and France.{{Cite web |title=Tale of two penalties as Iceland rue miss from spot in Belgium draw |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/tale-of-two-penalties-as-iceland-rue-miss-from-spot-in-belgium-draw-41829161.html |access-date=22 July 2022 |website=independent |language=en |archive-date=22 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722165646/https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/tale-of-two-penalties-as-iceland-rue-miss-from-spot-in-belgium-draw-41829161.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=14 July 2022 |title=France 2–1 Belgium: Women’s Euro 2022, Group D – as it happened |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2022/jul/14/france-belgium-womens-euro-2022-group-d-live-updates |access-date=22 July 2022 |website=the Guardian |language=en |archive-date=21 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721231229/https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2022/jul/14/france-belgium-womens-euro-2022-group-d-live-updates |url-status=live }}

Her hamstring injury at the end of 2023 meant Evrard did not play a single international for Belgium in 2024, recovering sufficiently to be substitute goalkeeper in Belgium's final games of their successful UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualification via the play-offs, and remained on the bench for both legs of the play-off final against Ukraine, with Lisa Lichtfus starting instead.{{Cite news |title=Red Flames dansen, zingen en glunderen na EK-kwalificatie: "Zeer belangrijk voor ons vrouwenvoetbal"|trans-title=Red Flames dance, sing and beam after European Championship qualification: "Very important for our women's football"|url=https://sporza.be/nl/2024/12/03/red-flames-dansen-zingen-en-glunderen-na-ek-kwalificatie-zeer-belangrijk-voor-ons-vrouwenvoetbal~1733261431019/|date=2024-12-05 |website=Sporza |language=nl}}{{Cite news |title=Het EK is binnen! Red Flames klaren ook laatste klus tegen Oekraïne na knappe goal en assist van Tessa Wullaert|trans-title=The European Championship is here! Red Flames complete final task against Ukraine after a great goal and assist from Tessa Wullaert |url=https://sporza.be/nl/matches/voetbal/2024-11/het-ek-is-binnen-red-flames-klaren-ook-laatste-klus-tegen-oekraine-na-knappe-goal-en-assist-van-tessa-wullaert~1732532810075/|date=2024-12-05 |website=Sporza |language=nl}}

Personal life

Like many of her Belgium teammates, Evrard is semi-professional and when she is not playing football, she is an entrepreneur with her own business renting out bouncy castles.{{Cite web |last=UEFA.com |date=22 July 2022 |title=Goalkeeper Evrard giving Belgium their bounce |url=https://www.uefa.com/womenseuro/news/0277-15ab88bc2c7f-758fbdc6096d-1000--goalkeeper-evrard-giving-belgium-their-bounce/ |access-date=22 July 2022 |website=UEFA |language=en |archive-date=22 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722164827/https://www.uefa.com/womenseuro/news/0277-15ab88bc2c7f-758fbdc6096d-1000--goalkeeper-evrard-giving-belgium-their-bounce/ |url-status=live }}

Evrard is in a relationship with Belgian footballer Shari Van Belle.{{Cite web |title=Ik blonk van trots |url=https://www.hln.be/ek-voetbal/ik-blonk-van-trots-vriendin-shari-van-belle-die-zelf-net-naast-de-ek-selectie-viel-juichte-nog-net-iets-luider-na-penaltysaves-van-flames-doelvrouw-nicky-evrard~aa66b9d4 |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=hln.be |language=nl |archive-date=12 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012043456/https://www.hln.be/ek-voetbal/ik-blonk-van-trots-vriendin-shari-van-belle-die-zelf-net-naast-de-ek-selectie-viel-juichte-nog-net-iets-luider-na-penaltysaves-van-flames-doelvrouw-nicky-evrard~aa66b9d4/ |url-status=live }}

Honours

Belgium

Pinatar Cup: 2022

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20170519200128/http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=250023764/profile/index.html Player's Profile at UEFA]
{{Soccerway}}
{{Royal Belgian Football Association player|id=5896}}
{{GSA player|nicky-evrard/135852}}

Category:1995 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from East Flanders

Category:Sportspeople from Zottegem

Category:Belgian women's footballers

Category:Belgium women's international footballers

Category:21st-century Belgian LGBTQ people

Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Spain

Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands

Category:Belgian expatriate women's footballers

Category:Belgian lesbian sportswomen

Category:BeNe League players