Glenn Loovens

Glenn Loovens

Glenn Loovens playing for Celtic
Personal information
Full name Glenn Loovens
Date of birth 22 October 1983 (1983-10-22) (age 28)
Place of birth Doetinchem, Netherlands
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)[1]
Playing position Centre Back
Club information
Current club Celtic
Number 22
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2001–2006 Feyenoord 25 (0)
2003–2004 → Excelsior (loan) 24 (2)
2004–2005 → De Graafschap (loan) 11 (0)
2005–2006 → Cardiff City (loan) 33 (2)
2006–2008 Cardiff City 67 (1)
2008– Celtic 57 (7)
National team‡
2004 Netherlands U-21 2 (0)
2009–2010 Netherlands 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10 December 2011.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 August 2010

Glenn Loovens (born 22 October 1983 in Doetinchem) is a Dutch professional footballer currently playing as a centre back for Celtic in the Scottish Premier League. He is a former Netherlands under-21 international, and made his full international debut on 5 September 2009 in a 3–0 friendly win against Japan.

Contents

Club career

Early career

Loovens, a defender, came through the Feyenoord youth system and made his debut against PSV Eindhoven in the 2001–02 season in the Feyenoord team that later won the UEFA Cup, alongside Robin van Persie, Civard Sprockel and Ferne Snoyl. In the later seasons, he failed to make good on his promising start as he quickly lost his position in defence to Patrick Paauwe again. He made his European debut at 19 years old, in a 2–0 defeat to Dynamo Kiev at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev on 23 October 2002.

Cardiff City

Loovens spent the 2005–06 season on loan at Championship side Cardiff City and impressed enough so that they signed the promising young defender on a permanent deal after several months of negotiations for a reported fee of £250,000.[2] He originally formed a defensive partnership with club captain Darren Purse but the 2007–08 season saw Purse lose his place in the side to Roger Johnson and the pair went on to form a vital base for the team to build on, including playing alongside each other in all 6 matches during the clubs run to the 2008 FA Cup Final. Loovens found the back of the net in the final against Portsmouth but it was disallowed for an earlier infringement. The 2007–08 season also saw Loovens make his 100th appearance in all competitions for Cardiff by playing against Hull City on 12 March.

Celtic

Loovens was the subject of transfer interest for most of Summer 2008, with Old Firm rivals Celtic and Rangers emerging as leading candidates to secure his signing. Walter Smith, manager of Rangers, declared his interest in Loovens and made an offer for his services but their valuation of the defender was rejected by Cardiff.[3] On 16 August 2008, Loovens joined Scottish champions Celtic on a four-year contract for a fee of around £2.1 million Loovens stated that Parkhead was his preferred destination as he will get the chance to play in the Champions League.[3][4] He made his Celtic debut on 23 August 2008, in a 3–0 win over Falkirk at Celtic Park.[5][6][7] His first goal came on 23 September 2008 in a Co-op Insurance League Cup tie, also at Celtic Park, as Celtic beat Livingston 4–0.[8]

Loovens scored the winning goal against Hearts in injury time on 20 September 2009, to send Celtic top of the table.[9] He scored an own goal in a 1-3 defeat against Rangers in October 2010[10] and was criticised for his performance in Celtic's next game, a League Cup win over St Johnstone.[11][12][13] Loovens paid for his poor form, as he was dropped for the following match, also against St Johnstone.[14][15]

International career

Loovens received his first senior cap for the Netherlands when he started the Oranje's 3–0 friendly win over Japan, on 5 September 2009.[16] He had previously been capped twice for the under-21 side.[17]

Career statistics

As of 10 December 2011
Season Club Nat Apps Goals Assists
2001–02 Feyenoord 10 0 2
2002–03 Feyenoord 14 0 1
2004–05 Feyenoord 9 0 1
2005–06 Cardiff 36 2 3
2006–07 Cardiff 32 1 2
2007–08 Cardiff 43 0 3
2008–09 Cardiff 2 0 0
2008–09 Celtic 23 4 1
2009–10 Celtic 29 3 1
2010–11 Celtic 21 1 0
2011–12 Celtic 11 0 0
Total 230 11 14

Honours

Feyenoord

Celtic

References

  1. ^ Glenn Loovens Profile Celtic FC
  2. ^ Cardiff City look to the Loovenator Western Mail, 20 March 2008; Retrieved 12 April 2008
  3. ^ a b "Celtic sign Loovens from Cardiff". BBC Sport. 16 August 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/7559527.stm. Retrieved 16 August 2008. 
  4. ^ Glenn Loovens spells out reasons for choosing Celtic ahead of Rangers Telegraph, 19 August 2008
  5. ^ Glenn Loovens Profile Celtic FC
  6. ^ Associated Foreign Press Samaras double lifts Celtic as Dons hold Rangers Soccerway, 23 August 2008
  7. ^ Derby debutants at the ready BBC Sport, 28 August 2008
  8. ^ TUESDAY NIGHT CLOCKWATCH Sporting Life, 23 September 2008
  9. ^ Glenn Loovens sinks Hearts to relieve Celtic manager Tony Mowbray guardian.co.uk, 20 September 2009
  10. ^ Celtic 1 – 3 Rangers BBC Sport, 24 October 2010
  11. ^ Anthony Stokes strikes twice before Celtic resist St Johnstone comeback guardian.co.uk, 27 October 2010
  12. ^ Glenn Loovens running the gauntlet of Old Firm three-strike policy as Celtic head back to Perth The Scotsman, 30 October 2010
  13. ^ Glenn will get stick for errors but we have competition if I want to change things, says Celtic boss Neil Lennon Daily Record, 30 October 2010
  14. ^ Live – Scottish football BBC Sport, 30 October 2008
  15. ^ St Johnstone 0 - 3 Celtic BBC Sport, 30 October 2010
  16. ^ "Netherlands beat Japan 3-0 in friendly". USA today. 5 September 2009. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2009-09-05-2885886170_x.htm. Retrieved 4 August 2011. 
  17. ^ "Glenn Loovens". Uefa.com. http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=52565/profile/index.html. Retrieved 4 August 2011. 

External links

Celtic F.C. – current squad