Mats Rits

Mats Rits (born 18 July 1993) is a Belgian professional footballer, who currently plays for Club Brugge. He came through the famed Ajax academy system before moving back to his native Belgium to play in the Belgian First Division A.

Mats Rits
Personal information
Full name Mats Rits
Date of birth (1993-07-18) 18 July 1993
Place of birth Antwerp, Belgium
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Central midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Club Brugge
Number 26
Youth career
1999–2001 FC Walen
2001–2004 Lierse
2004–2009 Germinal Beerschot
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2011 Germinal Beerschot 23 (2)
2011–2013 Ajax 0 (0)
2013–2018 Mechelen 155 (16)
2018– Club Brugge 56 (7)
National team‡
2008 Belgium U15 7 (3)
2008–2009 Belgium U16 12 (3)
2008–2009 Belgium U17 5 (1)
2011–2012 Belgium U19 6 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 February 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11:12, 4 October 2018 (UTC)

Career

K.F.C. Germinal Beerschot

Rits made his debut at the highest level of Belgian football in a 3–1 win over VC Westerlo. He came on the pitch in the 30th minute as a replacement for the injured Daniel Cruz. Mats Rits scored the equalizer and the last goal of the match.

During his youth career, several bigger clubs showed interest in the Belgium youth international, who had captained his country at the Under-17 level. RSC Anderlecht, Real Madrid, and Ajax were all clubs that expressed an interest in Rits.[1]

AFC Ajax

On the 28th of June 2011, Rits would go on to sign a contract with Ajax.[2] He scored his first goal for Ajax in a friendly match against VV Buitenpost on 2 July 2011 in the '75 minute, with the match ending in a 0–4 away win for Ajax. Four days later on 6 July 2011, Mats Rits scored an additional two goals in the '64 and '70 minute in a friendly fixture against AZSV Aalten. The match ended in a 0–11 away win for the Amsterdam side. Suffering a back injury during practice, Mats Rits was sidelined for the entire 2011–12 season, and for the first half of the 2012–13 season. He appeared in a couple more friendly fixtures for Ajax while recuperating, but was unable to find his way back into the A-Selection. On 9 October 2012, Mats Rits scored the only goal for Ajax in a 1–1 draw at home, in the '76 minute, in a friendly match against AS Trenčín from Slovakia.

KV Mechelen

Unable to break through into the first team in Amsterdam following his injury, Mats Rits returned to Belgium, signing a 2,5 year contract with KV Mechelen during the Winter transfer window, on 6 January 2013.[3]

Club Brugge

In the 2018 Summer transfer window, Rits was transferred to Club Brugge.[4]

Statistics
As of 14 March 2013
Club performance League Cup Continental Total
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Belgium League Belgian Cup Europe Total
2009–10Germinal BeerschotPro League122----122
2010–11110----110
Netherlands League KNVB Cup Europe Total
2011–12AFC AjaxEredivisie00----00
2012–1300----00
Belgium League Belgian Cup Europe Total
2012–13KV MechelenPro League60----60
2013–1421120--231
2014–1522230--252
2015–1622330--253
2016–1728510--295
2017–1829420--312
2018–19Club Brugge91102091
Career total 160181102017117

Honours

Club
Ajax
Club Brugge

References
  1. "Toptalent Mats Rits blijft bij Germinal Beerschot". Gazet van Antwerpen. 2 April 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  2. Ajax contracteert Mats Rits Archived 30 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Mats Rits ruilt Ajax voor KV Mechelen
  5. "Club Brugge awarded Belgian Pro League title as season ended early". Sky Sports. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.

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