Erwin Lemmens Explained

Erwin Lemmens
Fullname:Erwin Lemmens
Birth Date:12 May 1976
Birth Place:Berchem, Antwerp, Belgium
Height:1.84 m
Position:Goalkeeper
Years1:1995–1999
Caps1:53
Goals1:0
Years2:1999–2003
Caps2:82
Goals2:0
Years3:2003–2005
Caps3:29
Goals3:0
Years4:2005–2006
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Years5:2007
Caps5:10
Goals5:0
Years6:2007–2008
Caps6:14
Goals6:0
Years7:2009–2010
Caps7:32
Goals7:0
Totalcaps:220
Totalgoals:0
Nationalyears1:2004
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Manageryears1:2010–2015
Managerclubs1:Lokeren (goalkeeping coach)
Manageryears2:2013–
Managerclubs2:Belgium (goalkeeping coach)
Manageryears3:2015–2017
Managerclubs3:Genk (goalkeeping coach)
Manageryears4:2017–2018
Managerclubs4:Lokeren (goalkeeping coach)

Erwin Lemmens (born 12 May 1976) is a Belgian retired professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and is the goalkeeper coach of the Belgium national team.

Lemmens won two caps for Belgium, both in 2004.

On 24 January 2013, Lemmens was named the goalkeeping coach of the Red Devils.

Club career

Born in Brussels, Lemmens started his career at K.S.K. Beveren in 1995, and was a regular in his last two years after which he signed for Racing de Santander in Spain. After four seasons and 49 La Liga matches for the Cantabrians (adding 33 appearances in a 2002 promotion) he joined RCD Espanyol also in the country, being first-choice during the 2003–04 campaign.

The arrival of Cameroon international Carlos Kameni the following season meant Lemmens was confined to bench duty, with just one Copa del Rey match to his tally.[1] Subsequently, he signed with Olympiacos F.C. in the summer of 2005, competing with young Kleopas Giannou for the substitute role behind regular Antonios Nikopolidis.[2]

Lemmens did not manage to play one single game with the Greek side, being demoted to third-choice in 2006–07 upon the signing of Tomislav Butina. On 31 January 2007, he was finally released by the club, quickly joining Dutch club RKC Waalwijk on a free transfer; on 10 February he played his first Eredivisie game, against Heracles Almelo.[3]

Lemmens moved to newly promoted F. C. Verbroedering Dender E.H. for 2007–08, and won the competition for first-choice with former R.S.C. Anderlecht's Jan Van Steenberghe. After a hip injury, however, his season came to an end.

After one year out of football, 33-year-old Lemmens signed with first professional club Beveren, now in the second division. He helped the team finish comfortably in mid-table, but they would be relegated due to financial irregularities and he retired shortly after, going on to work as a goalkeeper coach with K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen[4] and K.R.C. Genk.[5]

International career

Courtesy of his early solid performances for Espanyol, Lemmens won two caps for Belgium, both in 2004. His debut came on 31 March, as he featured 32 minutes in a 3–0 friendly loss in Germany.

On 24 January 2013, Lemmens was named the new goalkeeping coach of the Red Devils, replacing the departed Philippe Vande Walle.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kameni 'dreams' of Man Utd . BBC Sport. 17 March 2005. 12 January 2016.
  2. http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=317675.html Lemmens ripe for Olympiacos
  3. Web site: Netherlands 2006/07 Details. RSSSF. Haisma. Marcel. 19 October 2018.
  4. Web site: Erwin Lemmens entraîneur des gardiens à Lokeren. Erwin Lemmens goalkeeper coach at Lokeren. 7 Sur 7. French. 8 June 2010. 8 December 2015.
  5. Web site: Erwin Lemmens nouvel entraîneur des gardiens de Genk. Erwin Lemmens new Genk goalkeeper coach. RTBF. French. 15 June 2015. 8 December 2015.
  6. News: Erwin Lemmens nouvel entraîneur des gardiens des Diables. Erwin Lemmens new Devils' goalkeeper coach. Le Soir. French. 24 January 2013. 8 December 2015.