Matz Sels

Matz Sels is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. He was born on 26th February 1992 in Lint Belgium. He currently plays for Strasbourg.

Background

Sels started playing football Kontich FC in 1997 before joining Lierse SK in 1999. Sels ranked up through the club's youth team, Under-17 and Under-19 team before making his way to the senior side in 2010. But he remained on the bench for the first two seasons at the club.

Debut

After regular custodian E. Kawashima left the club after the end of 2011-12 season, Metz was handed over the gloves as the first-choice goalkeeper. Metz made his professional debut for Lierse in the Belgian Pro League encounter against KAA Gent in July 2012 where he conceded twice.

He represented Belgium side at Under-17, Under-18, Under-19, Under-21 levels. He was also part of the 2011 European Under-17 Championship but did not play any game.

Rise to Glory

Sels attracted limelight with his breakthrough performance in the 2015-16 in the Belgium top-tier League in the 2015-16 season. He played 32 matches for KAA Gent including eight matches UEFA Champions League in that season. He was awarded the ‘Professional Goalkeeper of the Year’ in 2016.

Low Points

Sels got first national side call in October 2015 for an international friendly against Andorra. But he has never achieved the cap over Thibaut Courtois. His depleting performance at the club level also did not help his cause.

Club Career

Metz appeared 30 times in his three-year stint with Lierse SK before penning a contract with another Belgian top-tier side, KAA Gent, in 2013. He played an instrumental role in KAA Gent's first ever Belgian Championships win in the 2014-15 season. The custodian played 96 times for Gent in three years.

In the summer of 2016, Sels joined English side, Newcastle United, at 5.85 million Euro. His first appearance for the Magpies came in the Sky Bet Championship against Fulham in August 2016.

The Belgian conceded a goal in the match. Quickly he was sidelined for his shaky performance. To recuperate his chance for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the Belgian returned to his country to play for RSC Anderlecht on loan in July 2017. He got the opportunities to play in the first team and proved himself to some extent keeping five clean-sheets in 22 league matches.