Rein Van Helden

Rein Van Helden

Personal information
Date of birth	(2002-07-24) 24 July 2002 (age 21)
Place of birth	Genk, Belgium
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) [1]
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Sint-Truiden
Number	20
Youth career
2007–2011	Genker VV
2011–2016	KRC Genk
2016–	Sint-Truiden
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–	Sint-Truiden	36	(0)
2022–2023	→ MVV (loan)	35	(3)
International career
2024-	Belgium U21	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 July 2024

Rein Van Helden (born 24 July 2002) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Belgian Pro League club Sint-Truiden.

Career

Sint-Truiden

Van Helden joined the Genk youth academy in 2011 from his childhood club Genker VV. Five years later he moved to the Sint-Truiden academy. He signed his first professional contract with the club in May 2021, ^[2] after having torn the anterior cruciate ligament on his right knee a few months earlier in February 2021. ^[3]

Loan to MVV

On 13 August 2022, Van Helden joined Eerste Divisie club MVV on a one-season loan deal. ^[4] There, he made his professional debut on 19 August 2022, replacing Mart Remans in injury time of a 3–1 league win over ADO Den Haag. ^{[5] [6]} After a difficult start, where he was mainly a substitute, he made his first start for MVV on 16 September in a 4–1 win over Jong Ajax as a replacement for the injured Matteo Waem. ^[7] He put in a strong performance during the game, and would remain a starter in central defense from then on. ^{[8] [9]} On 30 September in a home game against Willem II, Van Helden scored his first professional goal, heading home the 3–2 winner for MVV in the 95th minute to complete a comeback from 2–0 down. ^{[10] [11]}

Return to Sint-Truiden

Van Helden returned to Sint-Truiden at the end of the season, and stated that he was determined to compete for playing time in the new season. ^[12]

Personal life

Van Helden is the son of Koen Van Helden, who played professional football for Patro Eisden Maasmechelen, but had to retire prematurely due to a skull fracture. ^{[13] [14]} He would later go on to coach Bilzerse Waltwilder VV, Eendracht Mechelen-aan-de-Maas and KFC Park Houthalen. ^{[14] [15]}

Career statistics

As of match played 27 December 2023 ^[16]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Sint-Truiden	2023–24	Belgian Pro League	20	0	1	0	—		21	0
MVV (loan)	2022–23	Eerste Divisie	33	2	1	0	2 [lower-alpha 1]	0	36	2
Career total			53	2	2	0	2	0	57	2

1. Appearances in Eredivisie promotion/relegation playoffs

References

1. "R. Van Helden – Profiel". Voetbal International. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
2. "Proficiat Rein Van Helden!". STVV (in Flemish). 14 May 2021. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
3. Vanlommel, Pieter; Schoofs, Gunter (24 February 2021). "Van Helden (STVV) zes maanden out met kruisbandletsel". Het Belang van Limburg (in Flemish). Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
4. "Rein van Helden naar MVV". MVV (in Dutch). 13 August 2022. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
5. "ADO Den Haag verliest met 3–1 in Maastricht". ADO Den Haag (in Dutch). 19 August 2022. Archived from the original on 30 October 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
6. "MVV – ADO Den Haag 3:1 (Eerste Divisie 2022/2023, 3. Round)". WorldFootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
7. Caelen, Sem (15 September 2022). "MVV mist aanvoerder Waem in thuisduel tegen Ajax-beloften". 1limburg (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 February 2023.
8. "MVV TV | Een foutloos basisdebuut voor Rein van Helden tegen Jong #Ajax. Hoe kijkt hij terug? #MVV" (Video). YouTube (in Dutch). 17 September 2022. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
9. Visser, Emil (21 October 2022). "Rein Van Helden voelt zich na frustrerende tijd goed bij MVV: Het moeilijk om te zien dat andere spelers doorbreken, terwijl je zelf stilstaat". De Limburger (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
10. Vanlommel, Pieter (2 October 2022). "Genkenaar Rein Van Helden matchwinnaar voor MVV". Het Belang van Limburg (in Flemish). Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
11. Bouwens, Jaj (30 September 2022). "Knappe comeback MVV tegen Willem II". 1limburg (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
12. Vanlommel, Pieter (20 June 2023). "Terug van uitleenbeurt en gegroeid als voetballer: STVV'er Rein Van Helden is klaar om te bikkelen voor zijn plek". Het Belang van Limburg (in Flemish). Archived from the original on 28 June 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
13. Vanlommel, Pieter (26 June 2022). "Youngster Rein Van Helden charmeert Hollerbach bij STVV: "Hij kan de stap naar eerste elftal maken"". Het Belang van Limburg (in Flemish). Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
14. ""Wie zich verstopt, krijgt meer kilometers"". Het Belang van Limburg (in Flemish). 16 November 2019. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
15. Claessens, Lucien (26 May 2022). "Park Houthalen wint thriller tegen Lindelhoeven en promoveert naar eerste provinciale: "Nipte, maar verdiende zege en promotie"". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Flemish). Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
16. Rein Van Helden at Soccerway. Retrieved 15 January 2023.

External links

• Rein Van Helden at Soccerway.com
• Rein Van Helden at WorldFootball.net