Mats Rits
Mats Rits (born 18 July 1993) is a Belgian professional footballer, who currently plays for Club Brugge. He came through the famed Ajax academy system before moving back to his native Belgium to play in the Belgian First Division A.
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Personal information | |||
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Full name | Mats Rits | ||
Date of birth | 18 July 1993 | ||
Place of birth | Antwerp, Belgium | ||
Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
Playing position(s) | Central midfielder | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Club Brugge | ||
Number | 26 | ||
Youth career | |||
1999–2001 | FC Walen | ||
2001–2004 | Lierse | ||
2004–2009 | Germinal Beerschot | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2009–2011 | Germinal Beerschot | 23 | (2) |
2011–2013 | Ajax | 0 | (0) |
2013–2018 | Mechelen | 155 | (16) |
2018– | Club Brugge | 56 | (7) |
National team‡ | |||
2008 | Belgium U15 | 7 | (3) |
2008–2009 | Belgium U16 | 12 | (3) |
2008–2009 | Belgium U17 | 5 | (1) |
2011–2012 | Belgium U19 | 6 | (2) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 February 2020 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11:12, 4 October 2018 (UTC) |
Career
K.F.C. Germinal Beerschot
Rits made his debut at the highest level of Belgian football in a 3–1 win over VC Westerlo. He came on the pitch in the 30th minute as a replacement for the injured Daniel Cruz. Mats Rits scored the equalizer and the last goal of the match.
During his youth career, several bigger clubs showed interest in the Belgium youth international, who had captained his country at the Under-17 level. RSC Anderlecht, Real Madrid, and Ajax were all clubs that expressed an interest in Rits.[1]
AFC Ajax
On the 28th of June 2011, Rits would go on to sign a contract with Ajax.[2] He scored his first goal for Ajax in a friendly match against VV Buitenpost on 2 July 2011 in the '75 minute, with the match ending in a 0–4 away win for Ajax. Four days later on 6 July 2011, Mats Rits scored an additional two goals in the '64 and '70 minute in a friendly fixture against AZSV Aalten. The match ended in a 0–11 away win for the Amsterdam side. Suffering a back injury during practice, Mats Rits was sidelined for the entire 2011–12 season, and for the first half of the 2012–13 season. He appeared in a couple more friendly fixtures for Ajax while recuperating, but was unable to find his way back into the A-Selection. On 9 October 2012, Mats Rits scored the only goal for Ajax in a 1–1 draw at home, in the '76 minute, in a friendly match against AS Trenčín from Slovakia.
KV Mechelen
Unable to break through into the first team in Amsterdam following his injury, Mats Rits returned to Belgium, signing a 2,5 year contract with KV Mechelen during the Winter transfer window, on 6 January 2013.[3]
Club Brugge
In the 2018 Summer transfer window, Rits was transferred to Club Brugge.[4]
Statistics
- As of 14 March 2013
Club performance | League | Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
Belgium | League | Belgian Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
2009–10 | Germinal Beerschot | Pro League | 12 | 2 | - | - | - | - | 12 | 2 |
2010–11 | 11 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 11 | 0 | ||
Netherlands | League | KNVB Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
2011–12 | AFC Ajax | Eredivisie | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 |
2012–13 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||
Belgium | League | Belgian Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
2012–13 | KV Mechelen | Pro League | 6 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 6 | 0 |
2013–14 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 23 | 1 | ||
2014–15 | 22 | 2 | 3 | 0 | - | - | 25 | 2 | ||
2015–16 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 0 | - | - | 25 | 3 | ||
2016–17 | 28 | 5 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 29 | 5 | ||
2017–18 | 29 | 4 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 31 | 2 | ||
2018–19 | Club Brugge | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 1 | |
Career total | 160 | 18 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 171 | 17 |
Honours
Club
- Eredivisie (1): 2011–12
References
- "Toptalent Mats Rits blijft bij Germinal Beerschot". Gazet van Antwerpen. 2 April 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
- Ajax contracteert Mats Rits Archived 30 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- Mats Rits ruilt Ajax voor KV Mechelen
- "Club Brugge awarded Belgian Pro League title as season ended early". Sky Sports. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
External links
- Player info at the official Germinal Beerschot website (in Dutch)
- Player info at sporza.be (in Dutch)
- Belgium stats at Belgian FA
- Mats Rits at Soccerway