Verheyen delays retirement date
Monday, December 19, 2005
Article summary
Club Brugge KV forward Gert Verheyen has reversed his decision to retire at the end of the season and has signed a one-year contract extension.
Article body
Captaincy lift
The 35-year-old, who scored ten goals in 50 appearances for Belgium, had initially planned to hang up his boots next summer, but changed his mind after being reappointed captain by coach Jan Ceulemans having lost the armband under his predecessor Trond Sollied. Verheyen reached an agreement with the Belgian First Division club's sporting director Marc Degryse on a 12-month extension and will have spent 15 years with the Bruges side by the time his new deal expires.
Glittering career
Verheyen joined Club Brugge in 1992 from RSC Anderlecht, having started his career with Hoogstraten and K. Lierse SK. Since then, he has scored 152 goals in 399 league games while appearing 34 times in the UEFA Champions League. He registered his 22nd goal in UEFA competition in the 3-2 victory against SK Rapid Wien on 2 November, equalling the club record set by Raoul Lambert.
Trophy collection
In addition, Verheyen has helped Club Brugge to four Belgian titles, four cups and four Belgian Super Cups. Club Brugge will face AS Roma in the UEFA Cup Round of 32 having finished third in UEFA Champions League Group A.