| Nico Claesen | |
| Full Name: | Nicolaas Pieter Claesen |
| Birth Date: | 1962 10, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Maasmechelen, Belgium |
| Height: | 1.71 m |
| Position: | Striker |
| Years1: | 1977–1978 |
| Clubs1: | K. Patro Eisden Maasmechelen |
| Years2: | 1978–1984 |
| Clubs2: | R.F.C. Seraing |
| Caps2: | 85 |
| Goals2: | 43 |
| Years3: | 1984–1985 |
| Clubs3: | VfB Stuttgart |
| Caps3: | 29 |
| Goals3: | 11 |
| Years4: | 1985–1986 |
| Clubs4: | Standard de Liège |
| Caps4: | 28 |
| Goals4: | 10 |
| Years5: | 1986–1988 |
| Clubs5: | Tottenham Hotspur |
| Caps5: | 50 |
| Goals5: | 18 |
| Years6: | 1988–1992 |
| Clubs6: | Antwerp |
| Caps6: | 119 |
| Goals6: | 39 |
| Years7: | 1992–1993 |
| Clubs7: | Germinal Ekeren |
| Caps7: | 29 |
| Goals7: | 15 |
| Years8: | 1993–1994 |
| Clubs8: | Antwerp |
| Caps8: | 31 |
| Goals8: | 2 |
| Years9: | 1994–1996 |
| Clubs9: | KV Oostende |
| Caps9: | 57 |
| Goals9: | 33 |
| Years10: | 1996–1998 |
| Clubs10: | K. Sint-Niklase S.K.E. |
| Caps10: | 55 |
| Goals10: | 19 |
| Years11: | 1998–2000 |
| Clubs11: | K. Beringen |
| Totalcaps: | 473 |
| Totalgoals: | 190 |
| Nationalyears1: | 1983–1990 |
| Nationalteam1: | Belgium |
| Nationalcaps1: | 36 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 12 |
| Manageryears1: | 2005–2008 |
| Managerclubs1: | Patro Eisden MM |
| Manageryears2: | 2010 |
| Managerclubs2: | RFC Liège |
Nicolaas "Nico" Pieter Claesen (born 1 October 1962) is a former Belgian football player who works as head coach of RFC Liège.[1]
Claesen was signed by Tottenham Hotspur in October 1986 by David Pleat who bought him from Standard Liège for £600,000. He made his debut against Liverpool at Anfield.[2] In August 1988, when Terry Venables arrived, Claesen fell out of favour and was sold for £550,000 to Antwerp FC. He also played for VfB Stuttgart.[3]
Claesen earned 36 caps and scored 12 goals from 1983 to 1990 for the Belgium national team, and was in the squad for three major tournaments: UEFA Euro 1984, the 1986 FIFA World Cup, where he scored three goals as Belgium finished in fourth, and the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
Antwerp
Belgium
Individual
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 17 October 1984 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||
| 2. | 19 May 1986 | 1–3 | 1–3 | Friendly | ||
| 3. | 8 June 1986 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1986 FIFA World Cup | ||
| 4. | 15 June 1986 | León, Mexico | 4–2 | 4–3 | ||
| 5. | 28 June 1986 | Puebla, Mexico | 2–2 | 2–4 | ||
| 6. | 10 September 1986 | Brussels, Belgium | 1–0 | 2–2 | UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying | |
| 7. | 14 October 1986 | 2–0 | 6–0 | |||
| 8. | 4–0 | |||||
| 9. | 6–0 | |||||
| 10. | 1 April 1987 | Anderlecht, Belgium | 1–0 | 4–1 | ||
| 11. | 2–1 | |||||
| 12. | 4–1 | |||||