Belgium's Mr Consistency

By John Baete

Consistency is one of the hallmarks of a great side, and in Belgium, there has been no side more predictably effective than Club Brugge KV this season. Sixteen points clear at the top of the Belgian First Division, they have dropped just four points in 22 league games.

Incredible run
And within the Brugge camp, there is no individual who represents that unflappable spirit more than midfield player Timmy Simons. The Belgian international has now played 101 consecutive league games for the runaway leaders. Like his club, he seems unstoppable.

Solid core
Having joined Brugge from KFC Lommelse SK in 2000, Simons' willingness and enthusiasm have helped bring a solid core to coach Trond Sollied's side. He has to think back the best part of a decade to remember his last major absence from football. "I was 15 or 16 and I twisted my ankle badly," he told uefa.com. "Of course, I take good care of myself, but if you are not really hurt in matches, then you must be lucky too."

Training effort
If Simons is lucky, then he has deserved his good fortune. Rumours persist that he never misses training - rumours that Simons is happy to confirm. "That's true - that never happens," he said. "I am always willing to give 100 per cent effort and I always go out with pleasure."

Faith in Sollied
The 26-year-old believes that the sensible coaching policies of Sollied have helped him to stay in top shape. "The only practice I do apart from the mandatory programme is running if I feel I need it," said Simons. "Our coach knows exactly when we have to rest. I am still very fresh and willing to go."

Free time
Having been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup and, rather more surprisingly, the Belgian Cup, Brugge have had fewer demands on their time in recent months, but Simons is convinced that bitter memories of missing out on the league title last season have kept his side motivated.

Nervous wobble
Leading the table in January, a sudden goal drought opened the way for KRC Genk to steal the glory. "Last season, we got more and more nervous because we could not score," said Simons. "We lost the title because we started to be negative. But now, we are calm. "We know what to expect because we know how much better we are than a year ago.

Total concentration
"We are not going to get sloppy because we want to win the championship. We are not complaining about the Champions League any more. That's history. We have no excuse to slack. We still have big games against [SC Exelscior] Mouscron, [RSC] Anderlecht, and Genk to play. For a Belgian pro, those are very important games."

Dual role
In his other role as a central defender for Belgium, Simons also has important games to come in Belgium's UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying campaign. That he plays in one position for his club and another for his country has led many to speculate on where his true strengths lie, but Simons is unconcerned. "I do whatever the coach asks me to do, really whether it is Trond at Brugge or Aimé Anthuenis with the Red Devils," he said. "People can think what they want."

True strengths
Perhaps his true strengths are his work rate, his ability to adapt, his passion for the game and his desire to achieve with his club. Consistency may be the sign of a great side, but those attributes are the hallmarks of a champion.