Patrick Van Kets (12 December 1966 – 26 September 2022) was a Belgian former professional footballer and manager.

Patrick Van Kets
Personal information
Full name Patrick Van Kets
Date of birth 12 December 1966
Place of birth Duffel, Belgium
Date of death 26 September 2022(2022-09-26) (aged 55)
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
K.R.C. Mechelen
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988–1989 K.R.C. Mechelen 31 (11)
1989–1991 Sint-Truiden 47 (12)
1991–1993 Beerschot 34 (16)
1993–1997 Le Mans 136 (53)
1997–1998 Chamois Niortais 33 (4)
1998–1999 Gazélec Ajaccio 34 (19)
1999–2000 Racing Paris 33 (15)
2000–2001 Red Star 29 (10)
2001–2002 US Albi 4 (0)
Managerial career
2014–2015 Standard Liège U21
2015–2017 Sint-Truidense (assistant)
2017–2019 Sint-Truidense Academy
2019 Al Ain FC (assistant)
2020–2021 Waasland-Beveren (assistant)
2021 Kerala Blasters (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career edit

Van Kets started his professional career with the Belgian side K.R.C. Mechelen, debuting for their senior side in 1988. After spending a season there, he made a move Sint Truidense. Van Kets is best known for his career with Le Mans FC. Playing for the French club between 1993 and 1997, he is one of the top scorer for the Le Mans with 53 goals in four seasons. He was also the second top scorer in Ligue 2 in 1995 and 1996. After leaving Le Mans, he played for one season at Gazélec Ajaccio, the opponent of Le Mans FC for accession to Ligue 2. Van Kets played spent the final season in his career with the French side US Albi, before retiring in 2002.[1]

Managerial career edit

In 2014, Van Kets was appointed as the manager of the U-21 side of Belgian stint Standard Liège. He returned to his former club Sint Truidense, this time as their assistant manager in 2015.[2]

In 2016, he was appointed as the club's youth academy manager. After spending two seasons with the academy, he signed with the UAE Pro League side Al Ain FC in 2019 as the assistant to Ivan Leko, thus ending his four year association with Sint Truidenese. His next stint was with Belgian First Division A side Waasland-Beveren after signing with them in 2020 as their assistant manager.[3]

On 17 June 2021, Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters appointed Van Kets as their assistant manager to the new boss Ivan Vukomanović.[4][5] He left the Kerala Blasters camp on 11 October due to a personal emergency.[6]

Death edit

Van Kets suffered from ALS, a muscle disorder. He died on 26 September 2022.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ "Patrick Van Kets, meilleur buteur professionnel du Mans FC : "Le Mans mérite une équipe en Ligue 2, au moins!"". France Bleu (in French). 24 May 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Patrick Van Kets - Sint-Truiden". footballdatabase.eu. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Vukomanovic neemt oude bekende mee naar India". www.voetbalnieuws.be. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  4. ^ Releases, Press (17 June 2021). "Ivan Vukomanovic joins Kerala Blasters FC as the new Head Coach". thebridge.in. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Ivan Vukomanovic joins Kerala Blasters FC as the new Head Coach". Kerala Blasters FC. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  6. ^ K e r a l a B l a s t e r s F C [@KeralaBlasters] (11 October 2021). "Our Assistant Coach, Patrick van Kets, has left the camp due to a personal emergency. All of us at the club wish him all the best and will miss his contribution both on and off the field immensely. 💛 #YennumYellow" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 October 2021 – via Twitter.
  7. ^ "STVV rouwt om voormalig speler en coach Patrick Van Kets". Het Nieuwsblad Mobile (in Flemish). 26 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.

External links edit