Jean Butez

Jean Butez

Butez in 2015
Personal information
Date of birth	(1995-06-08) 8 June 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth	Lille, France
Height	1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Antwerp
Number	1
Youth career
2001–2003	FC Merris
2003–2016	Lille
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2013–2018	Lille II	81	(0)
2017–2018	Lille	0	(0)
2017–2018	→ Mouscron (loan)	10	(0)
2018–2020	Mouscron	47	(0)
2020–	Antwerp	135	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:26, 31 March 2024 (UTC)

Jean Butez (born 8 June 1995) is a French professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Belgian Pro League club Antwerp. ^[1]

Butez began his career at Lille, spending five seasons with the club's reserve team without making a first-team appearance. In 2017, he moved to Mouscron on loan and impressed enough to earn a permanent transfer the following year. In 2020, Butez signed with Antwerp, where he quickly became the starting goalkeeper. He played a key role in Antwerp's domestic and European success, contributing to their domestic treble in 2023 with 27 clean sheets, establishing himself as one of Belgium's top goalkeepers.

Career

Early career

Butez started playing football at FC Merris, the club from his home town of Merris. ^[2] Two years later, he made the move to the Lille OSC academy, who had scouted him down during a futsal tournament in which he was named best goalkeeper. ^[3] In the 2012–13 season, he gained his first playing minutes for Lille B in the CFA, the fourth tier in French football. After being relegated from the CFA with the club in 2015, he won the CFA 2 title a year later. In five seasons, he made 81 official appearances for Lille's second team. In the meantime, he occasionally was part of the first team of Lille, but he never made his professional debut. ^[1]

Mouscron

For the 2017–18 season, Butez was sent on a one-season loan to Royal Excel Mouscron, Lille's former cooperation club. On the first match day of the Belgian First Division A, he immediately made a start against Oostende (0–1 win). ^[4] On the second matchday, he received a red card against Charleroi in the 82nd minute for a handball outside of the penalty area. ^[5] Logan Bailly took his place in goal on the third day matchday. Butez would only make eleven appearances for the Hainaut-based club that season. ^[1] After Lille terminated his contract in the summer of 2018, Mouscron permanently signed him. ^[6]

In the 2018–19 season, Butez left a strong impression as Mouscron won 23 out of a possible 27 points in the spring. In the winter of 2019, he was explicitly mentioned as a potential successor to Lovre Kalinić at Gent, and in February 2019, football analyst Stéphane Pauwels had him down as a transfer target at Lyon. ^{[7] [8]} After the regular season, he was also rumoured as a prospect Standard Liège and Anderlecht. ^[9] In the summer of 2019, he seemed like a serious option for Club Brugge, but when Mouscron had an asking price of €6 million and Club could sign Liverpool and Belgium international goalkeeper Simon Mignolet for only one million more, they chose not to continue their pursuit of Butez. ^[10] Later, negotiations with Monaco, who wanted to send him on loan to Cercle Brugge if he signed, also broke down due to the high transfer price. The price had been set high because Mouscron had to share half of the transfer fee with Lille. ^[11]

Antwerp

2020–21 season

On 12 June 2020, it was announced that Butez had signed with Antwerp, where he was set to succeed Sinan Bolat, whose contract was not renewed. The transfer fee was deemed to be around €2 million. Mouscron refused an offer of €1 million not long before. ^{[12] [13]}

Butez made his debut for Antwerp on 8 August 2020 in the league match against his former club Mouscron. ^[14] In January 2021, he was sidelined with an ankle injury, after which he was replaced by first Alireza Beiranvand and since Ortwin De Wolf, who had been loaned during the January transfer window. ^{[15] [16]} At the start of the play-offs, however, manager Frank Vercauteren again opted for Butez as the starter. ^[17]

2021–22 season

Under manager Brian Priske, Butez began the 2021–22 season as Antwerp's first-choice goalkeeper. In August 2021, he played a crucial role in the UEFA Europa League play-off round against Omonia, saving penalties from Jan Lecjaks and Panagiotis Zachariou in the shoot-out, which secured Antwerp's place in the group stage. ^[18] However, the team struggled in the group stage, finishing last in their group with five points from 18 in matches against Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahçe, and Olympiacos.

In the domestic league, Antwerp recovered from a slow start, losing their first two matches, but remained in the top four from the eighth matchday onwards, with Butez's numerous saves contributing significantly to their success. ^{[19] [20] [21]}

2022–23 season

In the 2022–23 season, under new manager Mark van Bommel, Butez remained the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper, playing every minute. Strengthened by the arrival of Toby Alderweireld, Antwerp's defense improved, and Butez had an outstanding season, recording 27 clean sheets in 52 matches across all competitions. ^[22] Antwerp achieved a domestic treble, winning the Belgian Pro League, the Belgian Cup, and the Belgian Super Cup. ^{[23] [24]}

2023–24 season

On 30 March 2024, Butez broke his hand during a match against Anderlecht, requiring surgery that ended his season early. ^[25] Antwerp reportedly planned to sell him, having already signed Senne Lammens as his replacement, but interested clubs, including Ajax and Anderlecht, did not meet the asking price, and Butez remained at the club. ^{[26] [27]}

2024–25 season

Under new head coach Jonas De Roeck, Butez lost his starting position to Senne Lammens. ^[28] Despite his efforts to secure a transfer, no deal was finalized, and he remained at the club. Manager and analyst Hein Vanhaezebrouck described Butez as one of Belgium's top goalkeepers and expressed surprise at his demotion and failure to secure a transfer. ^[29]

Career statistics

As of match played 31 March 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Belgian Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Mouscron (loan)	2017–18	Belgian Pro League	10	0	1	0	—		—		11	0
Mouscron	2018–19	Belgian Pro League	30	0	1	0	—		—		31	0
	2019–20		16	0	0	0	—		—		16	0
	Total		46	0	1	0	—		—		47	0
Antwerp	2020–21	Belgian Pro League	24	0	0	0	5 [lower-alpha 1]	0	—		29	0
	2021–22		40	0	0	0	8 [lower-alpha 1]	0	—		48	0
	2022–23		40	0	6	0	6 [lower-alpha 2]	0	—		52	0
	2023–24		31	0	0	0	7 [lower-alpha 3]	0	1 [lower-alpha 4]	0	39	0
	2024–25		0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		135	0	6	0	26	0	1	0	168	0
Career total			191	0	8	0	26	0	1	0	226	0

1. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
2. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
3. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
4. Appearance in Belgian Super Cup

Honours

Antwerp

• Belgian Pro League: 2022–23 ^[24]
• Belgian Cup: 2022–23 ^[23]
• Belgian Super Cup: 2023 ^[30]

Individual

• Best goalkeeper of the year: 2023 ^[31]

References

1. "France - J. Butez - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". soccerway.com. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
2. farid (25 December 2013). "Interview: Jean Butez, Losc".
3. Deleglise, Thomas (9 May 2020). "Jean Butez : "Je ne regrette pas mon départ"". Le petit Lillois (in French).
4. "KV Oostende vs. Royal Excel Mouscron - 31 July 2016 - Soccerway". soccerway.com. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
5. "Un match de suspension pour Butez". notele.be (in French). 7 August 2017.
6. "Doelman Butez tekent voor 3 seizoenen bij Moeskroen". sporza.be (in Dutch). 18 May 2018.
7. "Moeskroen-speler kon naar AA Gent: "Ik mocht niet weg"". voetbalbelgie.nl (in Dutch). 10 February 2019. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019.
8. "Butez wordt aan Franse topclub getipt: 'Om in het oog te houden'". voetbalprimeur.be (in Dutch). 11 February 2019.
9. "Belgische topclubs openen jacht op Moeskroen-keeper Butez". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). 30 March 2019.
10. "Club Brugge maakt werk van doelman Jean Butez". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). 18 June 2019.
11. "Moeskroen vraagt vijf miljoen voor doelman Jean Butez". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). 14 January 2020.
12. "Moeskroen vraagt Antwerp twee miljoen voor doelman Jean Butez". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). 28 May 2020.
13. "Antwerp heeft nieuwe doelman officieel beet met Jean Butez". Gazet van Antwerpen (in Flemish). 12 June 2020.
14. "Bekerkater voor Antwerp: Moeskroen graait puntje mee op de Bosuil". Gazet van Antwerpen (in Flemish). 8 August 2020.
15. "Brute pech voor Antwerp: eerste doelman Butez lange tijd out, dus Beiranvand komt in doel". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). 7 January 2021.
16. "Goed nieuws voor Jean Butez: Antwerp-doelman moet niet onder het mes". Gazet van Antwerpen (in Flemish). 14 January 2021.
17. "Vercauteren over keuze voor Butez: "Niet met een geweer wachten tot een keeper een fout maakt"". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). 3 May 2021.
18. Van Den Broeck, David (26 August 2021). "Butez doet Bosuil ontploffen! Sterk Antwerp plaatst zich alsnog voor poules Europa League na (penalty)thriller". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
19. Geypen, Diederik (25 July 2021). "Meteen spektakel Achter de Kazerne: KV Mechelen in dolle tweede helft op en over Antwerp". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). Archived from the original on 22 June 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
20. Van Den Broeck, David (1 August 2021). "Selemani bezorgt Kortrijk met late treffer zege tegen Antwerp, dat seizoenstart helemaal mist". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
21. Beeckman, Yanko (4 April 2022). "Butez, zweet en tranen: Antwerp heeft Champions' Play-offsticket te pakken, met dank aan zijn doelman". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
22. Walckiers, Johan (4 May 2023). "De recordman van Antwerp mag er weer eentje aan toevoegen: "Blijven aandikken"". Voetbalkrant.com (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
23. "Geen schoonheidsprijs, wel een vierde beker: Antwerp maakt favorietenrol waar tegen KV Mechelen" (in Dutch). Sporza. 30 April 2023.
24. "Antwerp win Belgian title on dramatic final day". BBC Sport. 4 June 2023. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
25. De Vré, Bart (1 April 2024). "Jean Butez speelde mogelijk zijn allerlaatste wedstrijd ooit voor Antwerp". Voetbalkrant.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 October 2024.
26. Grinsven, Luuk van (19 August 2024). "Opvallend: 'Ajax blijft jagen op een keeper: 29-jarige Fransman voert gesprekken'". FCUpdate.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 October 2024.
27. "Enorme paniek: Butez houdt Antwerp FC in wurggreep". Voetbalnieuws (in Dutch). 8 September 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
28. Dekeyser, Frank (14 September 2024). "Geen transfer en in de schaduw van nieuwe nummer één Senne Lammens: hoe zou het nog zijn met Antwerp-doelman Jean Butez?". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Flemish). Retrieved 15 October 2024.
29. "Hein Vanhaezebrouck komt met straf statement over Jean Butez". Voetbalkrant.com (in Dutch). 26 August 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
30. "Antwerp wint nu ook de Supercup! KV Mechelen plooit pas na strafschoppen" (in Dutch). Sporza. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
31. "Toby Alderweireld zet kroon op Antwerpse feestavond met Gouden Schoen, Tessa Wullaert wint vierde bij de vrouwen" (in Dutch). Sporza. 18 January 2024.

External links

• Jean Butez at WorldFootball.net