Zenia Mertens
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | [1] | 27 February 2001||
Place of birth | Belgium | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder, Defender | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | OH Leuven | ||
Number | 6 | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2017– | OH Leuven | 100 | (10) |
International career‡ | |||
2021– | Belgium | 4 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 September 2021 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 December 2024[2][3] |
Zenia Mertens (born 27 February 2001) is a Belgian footballer who plays as a defender and midfielder for OH Leuven and the Belgium national team.[4]
Club career
[edit]Mertens made her debut for Oud-Heverlee Leuven in a 3-0 home loss to Gent on 30 August 2020.[5] Mertens finished runners-up in the Belgian Women's Super League three seasons in a row with OH Leuven, in 2020-21, 2021–22 and 2022-23. Leuven went on to finish top of the regular season for the 2023-24 campaign, but finished third in the title play-offs as Anderlecht came from behind to take the crown for a seventh season in a row.[6][7]
Mertens is contracted to OH Leuven until 2026.[8]
International career
[edit]Mertens made her debut for the Belgium national team on 10 June 2021, coming on as a substitute for Chloë Vande Velde against Spain.[9][10]
At the start of 2022, Mertens helped Belgium win the Pinatar Cup in Spain for the first time, beating Russia on penalties in the final after a 0-0 draw.[11]
Mertens went on to contribute to Belgium's successful qualification for UEFA Women's Euro 2025 via the play-offs, and was selected in the squad for both legs of the play-off final against Ukraine.[12][13]
Honours
[edit]Belgium
References
[edit]- ^ Zenia Mertens at Soccerway. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ "Al onze Red Flames" [All our Red Flames]. RBFA (in Dutch). Retrieved 5 December 2024.
- ^ "Royal Belgian FA".
- ^ "Zenia Mertens". Playmaker Stats. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ "Match Report of Oud-Heverlee Leuven Women vs KAA Gent - 2020-08-30". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
- ^ "Anderlecht verkoopt OH Leuven nu ook titeltik dankzij gouden wissels en doelpunt in 90e minuut" [Anderlecht deals title blow to OH Leuven thanks to golden substitutions and goal in the 90th minute]. Sporza (in Dutch). 4 May 2024.
- ^ "Standard knikkert OHL uit titelstrijd met felbevochten zege en komt virtueel aan de leiding" [Standard knocks OHL out of title race with hard-fought win and takes virtual lead]. Sporza (in Dutch). 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Zenia Mertens tekent bij tot 2026" [Zenia Mertens signs until 2026]. OHLeuven.com (in Dutch). 24 April 2024.
- ^ "Spain vs Belgium". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ "Zenia Mertens". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ (in French) Les Red Flames remportent la Pinatar Cup face à la Russie, le tout premier trophée de leur histoire
- ^ "Red Flames dansen, zingen en glunderen na EK-kwalificatie: "Zeer belangrijk voor ons vrouwenvoetbal"" [Red Flames dance, sing and beam after European Championship qualification: "Very important for our women's football"]. Sporza (in Dutch). 5 December 2024.
- ^ "Het EK is binnen! Red Flames klaren ook laatste klus tegen Oekraïne na knappe goal en assist van Tessa Wullaert" [The European Championship is here! Red Flames complete final task against Ukraine after a great goal and assist from Tessa Wullaert]. Sporza (in Dutch). 5 December 2024.
External links
[edit]- Zenia Mertens at the Royal Belgian Football Association
- Zenia Mertens at Soccerway
- Zenia Mertens at Global Sports Archive
- 2001 births
- Living people
- Women's association football midfielders
- Women's association football defenders
- Belgian women's footballers
- Belgium women's international footballers
- Oud-Heverlee Leuven (women) players
- Super League Vrouwenvoetbal players
- 21st-century Belgian sportswomen
- Belgian women's football biography stubs