Niels Coussement

Niels Coussement
Personal information
Full name Niels Fabunni Coussement[1]
Date of birth (1991-02-02) 2 February 1991
Place of birth Ostend, Belgium
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Right-back
Youth career
1997–2009 Oostende
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2016 Oostende 123 (2)
2015–2016 → Roeselare (loan) 20 (0)
2016–2018 Cercle Brugge 21 (0)
2017–2018 → Knokke (loan) 22 (0)
2018–2022 Zwevezele 55+ (1+)
Total 241+ (3+)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Niels Fabunni Coussement (born 2 February 1991) is a Belgian former professional footballer who played as a wide midfielder or full-back. He spent the majority of his career with Oostende, where he rose from the youth ranks to the first team. Coussement was known for his versatility on both flanks, capable of playing in defense or midfield. He later had spells at Cercle Brugge and amateur side Zwevezele, retiring in 2022 after a 13-year senior career.

Career

Oostende

Coussement joined the Oostende academy at age 6 and progressed through the youth system. He made his senior debut for Oostende on 19 August 2009 in a Belgian Second Division match against RWDM Brussels.[2] On 21 February 2010, he scored his first senior goal, the lone goal in a 1–0 victory over Turnhout.[3] As a regular on the left flank, Coussement became a key player for Oostende in the second tier. He helped the club win promotion to the Belgian Pro League in 2013, playing an integral role as the team became second-division champions.[4]

After Oostende's promotion, Coussement struggled with injuries during the 2013–14 season. He signed a two-year contract extension in March 2014 with an option for a third year despite a "pechjaar" (year of bad luck) in which he spent much time sidelined.[5] Coussement eventually made his top-flight debut on 8 March 2014, coming on as a late substitute in a match against Kortrijk.[6] By 2014–15, Oostende had invested in many new players under chairman Marc Coucke, and Coussement's first-team opportunities became limited. In the final year of his Oostende contract, he acknowledged the increased competition but affirmed his commitment to fight for a place, noting that although he could play as a right midfielder, he primarily focused on the wing-back position.[7]

In August 2015, Oostende decided to loan Coussement out for regular playing time. He was sent to Roeselare in the Belgian Second Division on a season-long loan.[4] Coussement had previously played in that league with Oostende and was returning to familiar ground. He made 20 appearances for Roeselare during the 2015–16 season and, upon the loan's expiry, parted ways with Oostende when his contract ran out in June 2016.[8][9]

Cercle Brugge

Ahead of the 2016–17 season, Coussement signed with Cercle Brugge, then a second-tier club (Belgian First Division B).[9] He joined Cercle on a free transfer in June 2016, agreeing to a two-year contract with an option for an additional year.[10] Cercle Brugge described Coussement as a polyvalent (versatile) player who could be deployed in both defense and midfield, and his signing was seen as part of the club's push for promotion.[9] Coussement became a regular in Cercle's lineup during the 2016–17 season, making 21 league appearances.[8] However, the club fell short of promotion that year.[11]

In the summer of 2017, Cercle decided to loan Coussement out to give him more playing opportunities. On 4 August 2017, he moved to Knokke on a one-year loan.[12] Knokke competed in the First Amateur Division (third tier) at the time. Coussement was a starting defender for Knokke throughout the 2017–18 campaign, helping the team in its debut season at that level.[13] Meanwhile, his parent club Cercle Brugge went on to win the 2017–18 First Division B championship and secure promotion to the top flight, though Coussement was not involved with Cercle's first team that season due to the loan.[14]

After his loan at Knokke, Coussement's contract with Cercle Brugge expired in mid-2018. Having spent two years with Cercle, he left the professional ranks and signed permanently with amateur club Zwevezele ahead of the 2018–19 season.[15]

Later career and retirement

Coussement joined Zwevezele, an ambitious amateur club in West Flanders, in 2018.[15] He became a veteran presence in the team, which competed in the Belgian Provincial Leagues. After several seasons at Zwevezele—who had at that time been promoted to the Belgian Second Amateur Division—he announced that the club would be the final stop of his playing career. In 2022, at age 31, Coussement decided to retire from football, stating, "For me, Zwevezele will be the final station," and reflecting that he could look back on "a beautiful career."[16] His retirement coincided with his growing family responsibilities, as he prepared to become a father for the second time.[16]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[8]
Club Season League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Oostende 2009–10 Belgian Second Division 29 1 0 0 — 29 1
2010–11 Belgian Second Division 22 0 0 0 — 22 0
2011–12 Belgian Second Division 32 1 2 0 5[a] 0 39 0
2012–13 Belgian Second Division 15 0 4 0 — 19 0
2013–14 Belgian Pro League 8 0 0 0 — 8 0
2014–15 Belgian Pro League 17 0 2 0 — 19 0
Total 123 2 8 0 5 0 136 2
Roeselare (loan) 2015–16 Belgian Second Division 20 0 0 0 — 20 0
Cercle Brugge 2016–17 Belgian First Division B 21 0 2 0 — 23 0
Knokke (loan) 2017–18 First Amateur Division 22 0 1 0 — 23 0
Zwevezele 2018–19 Third Amateur Division ? ? ? ? — ? ?
2019–20 Second Amateur Division 23 1 0 0 — 23 1
2020–21[b] Belgian Division 2 2 0 0 0 — 2 0
2021–22 Belgian Division 2 30 0 0 0 — 30 0
Total 55+ 1+ 0 0 — 55+ 1+
Career total 241+ 3+ 11 0 5 0 257+ 3+
  1. ^ Appearances in Belgian Second Division promotion play-offs
  2. ^ Season curtailed due to COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium

Honours

Oostende

References

  1. ^ a b "Niels Coussement Stats, Goals, Records, Assists, Cups and more". FBref.com. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  2. ^ "KV Oostende vs. RWDM Brussels 2–0: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 30 May 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  3. ^ "KV Oostende vs. KFC Turnhout 1–0: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 30 May 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  4. ^ a b Ostyn, Jasper (18 August 2015). "'KV Oostende heeft akkoord over Coussement'". Voetbalnieuws (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 30 May 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  5. ^ Gonzalez, Manuel (24 March 2014). "Geplaagde middenvelder twee extra seizoenen aan de kust". Voetbalkrant.com (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 30 May 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  6. ^ Derauw, Dries (8 March 2014). "HERBELEEF: Het blijft 0-0 na rood De Schutter". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Flemish). Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  7. ^ Ostyn, Jasper (8 July 2015). "Coussement: "Dan was ik misschien al vertrokken"". Voetbalnieuws (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 30 May 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  8. ^ a b c Niels Coussement at Soccerway
  9. ^ a b c "Niels Coussement ruilt KV Oostende voor Cercle Brugge". De Standaard (in Flemish). 21 June 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  10. ^ K., Kobe. "OFFICIEEL: Cercle Brugge gaat met verdediger KV Oostende aan de haal". Voetbalnieuws (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 30 May 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  11. ^ Taecke, Tomas (16 February 2018). "Cercle van bijna failliet naar promotiekandidaat: kassa! Kassa! Maar voor hoelang?". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Flemish). Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  12. ^ "Niels Coussement op uitleenbasis naar Knokke FC". KW.be (in Flemish). 4 August 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  13. ^ "Royal Knokke FC: een West-Vlaams succesverhaal". KW.be (in Flemish). 1 December 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  14. ^ "Cercle Brugge en niet Beerschot promoveert in België". NOS (in Dutch). 10 March 2018. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  15. ^ a b "KSKV Zwevezele A mist zijn start niet in derde amateur". KW.be (in Flemish). 2 September 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  16. ^ a b Bourez, Philippe (3 February 2022). "Niels Coussement trekt met SKV Zwevezele naar Westhoek: "Positieve lijn doortrekken"". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Flemish). Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  17. ^ "KV Oostende is weer eersteklasser". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). 7 April 2013. Archived from the original on 30 May 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
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