Thomas Beelen (born 11 June 2001) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Eredivisie club Feyenoord.[2] Beelen started his professional career at PEC Zwolle in 2022. A year later, he promoted to the Eredivisie with PEC Zwolle and moved to Feyenoord, where he won the KNVB Cup and the Johan Cruyff Shield in 2024.

Career

Beelen started playing football for VV Hierden. At an age of 10, he started playing in the academy of FC Twente. However, he left the club with FC Twente being in financial trouble. He played for VVOG in the following year.[3]

PEC Zwolle

Beelen joined the academy of PEC Zwolle in 2017.[4][5] He made his professional debut for PEC Zwolle in the Eredivisie on 23 April 2022 in a 2–0 win away against RKC Waalwijk as a substitute for Gervane Kastaneer.[6] A week later, he made his home league debut in the Eredivisie starting in a 2–1 defeat against PSV Eindhoven at the MAC³PARK Stadion.[7] In June 2022, Beelen signed his first professional contract to mid-2023 with an option for another year with PEC Zwolle despite their relegation to the Eerste Divisie.[8] Beelen scored his first professional goal in a 13–0 win against Den Bosch on 3 March 2023, which was the biggest-ever win in the Eerste Divisie.[9] Beelen was a regular starter for a PEC Zwolle side that immediately promoted back to the Eredivisie in the 2022–23 season.[10] He attracted interest from Eredivisie clubs PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord, AZ Alkmaar and FC Twente.[11]

Feyenoord

On 8 July 2023, PEC Zwolle and Feyenoord announced that the clubs had agreed Beelen's transfer to Feyenoord and the full details would be announced when the transfer was fully finalized.[12][13] Two days later, the transfer was finalized.[14] Beelen made his Feyenoord debut on 13 August 2023, in a goalless draw against Fortuna Sittard.[15] On 13 December 2023, he was praised by his manager Arne Slot after his UEFA Champions League debut in a 2–1 defeat against Celtic.[16][17] After Gernot Trauner suffered an injury, Beelen became a regular starter in the final months of the 2023–24 season. On 21 April 2024, he played the full match as Feyenoord beat NEC 1–0 in the final to win the KNVB Cup. On 24 July 2024, Beelen extended his contract at Feyenoord with a year, to mid-2028.[18] On 4 August 2024, he played the full match as Feyenoord beat PSV Eindhoven on penalties to win the Johan Cruyff Shield. Beelen scored his first Feyenoord goal in a 1–4 league win against Almere City on 10 November 2024.

Career statistics

As of match played 11 March 2025[19]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
PEC Zwolle 2021–22 Eredivisie 3 0 0 0 3 0
2022–23 Eerste Divisie 30 1 0 0 30 1
Total 33 1 0 0 33 1
Feyenoord 2023–24 Eredivisie 19 0 3 0 3[a] 0 0 0 25 0
2024–25 Eredivisie 20 1 3 0 12[b] 0 1[c] 0 36 1
Total 39 1 6 0 15 0 1 0 61 1
Career total 72 2 6 0 15 0 1 0 94 2
  1. ^ One appearance in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. ^ Appearance in Johan Cruyff Shield

Personal

Beelen followed secondary education at three different schools before he got his vwo diploma.[3]

Honours

Feyenoord

References

  1. ^ Thomas Beelen at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ Thomas Beelen at Soccerway
  3. ^ a b Jansen, Marco (13 June 2022). "Thomas Beelen trots op debuut en contract bij PEC Zwolle: 'Hele leven voor gewerkt'" [Thomas Beelen proud of debut and contract with PEC Zwolle: 'Worked for it all my life'] (in Dutch). Harderwijse Zaken. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  4. ^ Vries, Vincent de (8 June 2022). "Thomas Beelen (20) tekent eerste contract bij PEC Zwolle: 'Hier heb ik al die jaren voor gewerkt'" [Thomas Beelen (20) signs first contract with PEC Zwolle: 'This is what I have worked for all these years'] (in Dutch). de Stentor. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  5. ^ Heppenhuis, Merle (8 July 2023). "Feyenoord neemt gewilde verdediger Thomas Beelen (22) over van PEC Zwolle" [Feyenoord takes over popular defender Thomas Beelen (22) from PEC Zwolle] (in Dutch). BN De Stem. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  6. ^ "RKC Waalwijk vs. PEC Zwolle – 22 April 2022". Soccerway.
  7. ^ "PEC Zwolle vs. PSV 1-2 – 15 May 2022". Soccerway.
  8. ^ "Thomas Beelen tekent eerste contract" [Thomas Beelen signs first contract]. Peczwolle.nl (in Dutch). 8 June 2022.
  9. ^ "PEC Zwolle evenaart Ajax met recordoverwinning van 13-0 tegen FC Den Bosch" [PEC Zwolle equals Ajax with record 13-0 victory against FC Den Bosch]. NU.nl (in Dutch). 3 March 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  10. ^ "Gelijkspel in Almere is genoeg: PEC Zwolle keert na jaar terug in eredivisie" [Draw in Almere is enough: PEC Zwolle returns to the Eredivisie after a year]. NOS.nl (in Dutch). 21 April 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  11. ^ Timmer, Marco (5 July 2023). "PSV meldt zich met miljoenen in Zwolle" [PSV reports to Zwolle with millions] (in Dutch). Voetbal International. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  12. ^ "PEC Zwolle en Feyenoord bereiken akkoord over Beelen" [PEC Zwolle and Feyenoord reach an agreement about Beelen] (in Dutch). PEC Zwolle. 8 July 2023.
  13. ^ "Feyenoord en PEC Zwolle bereiken akkoord over Thomas Beelen" [Feyenoord and PEC Zwolle reach agreement about Beelen]. Feyenoord (in Dutch). 8 July 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  14. ^ Heppenhuis, Merle (10 July 2023). "Thomas Beelen tekent voor vier jaar bij Feyenoord: 'Soms komen er kansen die je niet kunt laten liggen'" [Thomas Beelen signs for four years at Feyenoord: 'Sometimes chances you have to take come'] (in Dutch). Algemeen Dagblad. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  15. ^ "Thomas Beelen Reflects on Debut for Feyenoord and Man-of-the-Match Performance". Archy Sport. 13 August 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  16. ^ "Slot lovend over CL-debutant Beelen: 'Indrukwekkend met en zonder bal'" [Slot praises CL debutant Beelen: 'Impressive with and without the ball'] (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  17. ^ Owen, Dan (14 December 2023). "FEYENOORD ACE ADMITS HE STRUGGLED TO COPE WITH 'DIFFERENT' £4M CELTIC STAR". HITC. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  18. ^ "Thomas Beelen blijft bij Feyenoord" [Thomas Beelen stays at Feyenoord] (in Dutch). Feyenoord. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  19. ^ Thomas Beelen at Soccerway
  20. ^ "Als rook is opgetrokken, wint Feyenoord bekerfinale van NEC" [As smoke clears, Feyenoord wins cup final against NEC] (in Dutch). 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.


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