Luc Nilis

Luc Nilis
Personal information
Full nameLuc Gilbert Cyrille Nilis
Date of birth25 May 1967
Place of birthHasselt, Belgium
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing positionStriker
Club information
Current team
Genclerbirligi S.K.
NumberAssistant Manager
Youth career
1973–1980Halveweg Zonhoven
1980–1984Winterslag
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1984–1986Winterslag47(16)
1986–1994Anderlecht224(127)
1994–2000PSV164(110)
2000Aston Villa3(1)
Total503(288)
National team
1982–1983Belgium U166(3)
1982–1983Belgium U173(2)
1983–1984Belgium U188(1)
1983–1985Belgium U1911(6)
1986–1987Belgium U213(0)
1988–2000Belgium56(10)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Luc Nilis (born 25 May 1967 in Hasselt, Belgium) is a former Belgian football striker. He enjoyed a successful career in his native Belgium and, in particular, in the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven. However, his playing days came to an end in the 2000–01 season after breaking his leg in a match with his club Aston Villa following a clash with Ipswich Town goalkeeper Richard Wright.

Club career

His former clubs include K.F.C. Winterslag, R.S.C. Anderlecht, PSV Eindhoven and Aston Villa. During his time with PSV, Nilis formed one of the deadliest partnerships in Europe with team-mate Ruud van Nistelrooy. In the 1998–1999 season, Nilis and van Nistelrooy scored 55 league goals between them. Van Nistelrooy finished as top-scorer, Nilis came second. In the following season, Nilis' last for PSV, they scored 48 league goals between them.

Then, after 6 years in the Netherlands, Nillis joined Aston Villa on a Bosman transfer in July of 2000.[1] Nilis' Villa career started well, as he scored on his debut in the UEFA Intertoto Cup against Dukla Příbram on 22 July 2000[2] before going on to score on his league debut against Chelsea on 27 August 2000.[3] Then in a league match against Ipswich Town on 9 September 2000, Nilis was involved in a clash with goalkeeper Richard Wright[4] that left him with a double compound fracture of his right shin.[5] At one point the injury became infected and Nilis even feared a possible amputation.[6] This hypothesis was later ruled out, although his playing career was effectively ended.

Ronaldo occasionally names Nilis as one of the best strike partners he had played with despite sharing only a brief time with him at PSV.[7] Ruud van Nistelrooy has also stated on several occasions that the Belgian was one of the best players, if not the best, he had ever played with.

International career

Nilis played 56 times for the Belgian national team, scoring 10 times. A prolific goalscorer with his clubs, he scored his first goal for Belgium only on his 24th cap (a 9–0 win against Zambia). Nilis played in the 1994 World Cup, the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, the latter was co-hosted by his birth-country Belgium and the Netherlands.

International goals

"Score and result lists Belgium's goals first."[8]

Coaching career

After his playing career Nilis took a job with PSV, in which he was responsible for training the club's forwards. In January 2011, Nilis became assistant manager with Turkish club Kasımpaşa Spor Kulübü.

Personal

Nilis's father, Roger, played as a professional footballer in Belgium in the 1960s.[9] His son, Arne, played for the PSV reserve team but currently plays with Belgian fourth division team KSK Hasselt.

Honours

Club

Anderlecht
PSV

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Nilis turns blind eye to Villa". BBC Sport. 9 June 2000. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  2. ↑ "Merson off in Villa win". BBC. 22 July 2000. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  3. ↑ "James gives Chelsea helping hand". BBC. 27 August 2000. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  4. ↑ "Nilis injury mars Villa win at Ipswich". BBC Sport. 9 September 2000. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  5. ↑ Peter O'Rourke. "Nilis making good progress". Sky Sports. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  6. ↑ "Nilis feared amputation". BBC Sport. 11 November 2000. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  7. ↑ http://esporte.uol.com.br/ultimas/multi/2009/05/15/04023762DC812346.jhtm?sabatina-da-folha-com-ronaldo--integra-da-entrevista-04023762DC812346
  8. ↑ http://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=15141
  9. ↑ Chris Mayer (4 July 2011). "Belgian Legends – Luc Nilis". The Belgian Waffle. Retrieved 5 January 2014.