Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 24 July 2002 | ||
Place of birth | Genk, Belgium | ||
Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Sint-Truiden | ||
Number | 20 | ||
Youth career | |||
2007–2011 | Genker VV | ||
2011–2016 | Genk | ||
2016– | Sint-Truiden | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2021– | Sint-Truiden | 20 | (0) |
2022–2023 | → MVV (loan) | 33 | (2) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:33, 6 January 2024 (UTC) |
Rein Van Helden (born 24 July 2002) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Belgian Pro League club Sint-Truiden.
Van Helden joined the Genk youth academy in 2011 from his childhood club Genker VV. Five years later he moved to the Sint-Truiden academy. He signed his first professional contract with the club in May 2021,[2] after having torn the anterior cruciate ligament on his right knee a few months earlier in February 2021.[3]
On 13 August 2022, Van Helden joined Eerste Divisie club MVV on a one-season loan deal.[4] There, he made his professional debut on 19 August 2022, replacing Mart Remans in injury time of a 3–1 league win over ADO Den Haag.[5][6] After a difficult start, where he was mainly a substitute, he made his first start for MVV on 16 September in a 4–1 win over Jong Ajax as a replacement for the injured Matteo Waem.[7] He put in a strong performance during the game, and would remain a starter in central defense from then on.[8][9] On 30 September in a home game against Willem II, Van Helden scored his first professional goal, heading home the 3–2 winner for MVV in the 95th minute to complete a comeback from 2–0 down.[10][11]
Van Helden returned to Sint-Truiden at the end of the season, and stated that he was determined to compete for playing time in the new season.[12]
Van Helden is the son of Koen Van Helden, who played professional football for Patro Eisden Maasmechelen, but had to retire prematurely due to a skull fracture.[13][14] He would later go on to coach Bilzerse Waltwilder VV, Eendracht Mechelen-aan-de-Maas and KFC Park Houthalen.[14][15]
Club | Season | League | National cup | Other | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Sint-Truiden | 2023–24 | Belgian Pro League | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 21 | 0 | |
MVV (loan) | 2022–23 | Eerste Divisie | 33 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 36 | 2 |
Career total | 53 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 57 | 2 |