| Jens Cools | |
| Height: | 1.89 m |
| Birth Date: | 16 October 1990 |
| Birth Place: | Westerlo, Belgium |
| Currentclub: | Lierse |
| Clubnumber: | 26 |
| Position: | Defensive midfielder |
| Youthyears1: | 1997–2010 |
| Youthclubs1: | Westerlo |
| Years1: | 2010–2016 |
| Clubs1: | Westerlo |
| Caps1: | 147 |
| Goals1: | 10 |
| Years2: | 2016–2018 |
| Clubs2: | Waasland-Beveren |
| Caps2: | 49 |
| Goals2: | 5 |
| Years3: | 2018–2019 |
| Clubs3: | Pafos |
| Caps3: | 25 |
| Goals3: | 6 |
| Years4: | 2019–2022 |
| Clubs4: | Eupen |
| Caps4: | 73 |
| Goals4: | 3 |
| Years5: | 2022 |
| Clubs5: | Al-Riyadh |
| Caps5: | 7 |
| Goals5: | 1 |
| Years6: | 2023– |
| Clubs6: | Lierse |
| Caps6: | 26 |
| Goals6: | 1 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2011 |
| Nationalteam1: | Belgium U21 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Pcupdate: | 12 May 2024 |
Jens Cools (born 16 October 1990) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Lierse. He gained two caps for the Belgium under-21 team.
In the 2009–10 season, Cools was promoted from the youth academy to the first team of Westerlo, the club from the municipality where he grew up. He made his professional debut one season later. After having played for six seasons in the first team, Cools' contract expired at the end of the 2015–16 season, as a result of which he left Westerlo on a free transfer.[1] A key player of the club during his time there, Cools managed to make 161 appearances for the club, in which he scored 12 goals.
On 1 July 2016, Cools moved Waasland-Beveren after having been convinced by their manager Stijn Vreven. Cools signed a two-year contract.[2] He made 51 appearances for the club during his two seasons there, in which he scored two goals.
After two seasons, he chose to accept an offer from Cypriot club Pafos.[3] He experienced a strong season there in which he scored six goals in 25 appearances.
After playing in Cyprus for one season, Cools expressed a wish to return to his home country.[4] On 16 July 2019, Eupen announced that he had signed a three-year contract with them.[5] In his first season there, he made 27 appearances and scored one goal.
In October 2020, he tested positive for SARS‑CoV‑2 during the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] Despite being sidelined for some time with the disease, Cools made 26 appearances and scored one goal during the 2020–21 season, as Eupen finished mid-table in a disappointing 12th place.[7]
On 26 July 2022, Cools joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Riyadh.[8] [9] In December 2022, he was released by the club due to repeated injuries.[10]
On 7 January 2023, Cools signed a year-and-a-half contract with Lierse.[11]
Cools was called into the Belgian under-21 squad in March 2011. He made his debut for the Belgium under-21s on 24 March, replacing Luis Pedro Cavanda in the 82nd minute of a 1–0 win against Scotland.[12] [13]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Westerlo | 2010–11 | Pro League | 21 | 0 | 5 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 26 | 0 | |
| 2011–12 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 | |||
| 2012–13 | Proximus League | 26 | 3 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 28 | 3 | ||
| 2013–14 | 29 | 3 | 4 | 2 | – | – | – | – | 33 | 5 | |||
| 2014–15 | Pro League | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 28 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16 | 28 | 4 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 30 | 4 | |||
| Total | 147 | 10 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 161 | 12 | |||
| Waasland-Beveren | 2016–17 | First Division A | 36 | 4 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 37 | 4 | |
| 2017–18 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 14 | 1 | |||
| Total | 49 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 5 | |||
| Pafos | 2018–19 | Cypriot First Division | 25 | 6 | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 28 | 7 | |
| Career total | 221 | 21 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 240 | 24 | |||