Glenn Loovens (born 22 September 1983) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. He represented his national team twice at senior level, and also played abroad for football clubs in England, Wales, Scotland and Spain.
Club career Early career Loovens is the son of Hans Loovens, who played for FC Twente. He also has a brother called Ivo. He signed for the Feyenoord youth academy when he was twelve years old, where his teammates included Robin van Persie and Said Boutahar. In 2001, manager Bert van Marwijk promoted him to the first team.
Netherlands Loovens came through the Feyenoord youth system and made his debut against PSV Eindhoven in the 2001–02 season in the Feyenoord team that later won the UEFA Cup, alongside van Persie, Civard Sprockel and Ferne Snoyl. In the later seasons, he failed to make good on his promising start as he quickly lost his position in defence to Patrick Paauwe again. He made his European debut at 19 years old, in a 2–0 defeat to Dynamo Kyiv at the Olympic Stadium in Kyiv on 23 October 2002.
Cardiff City Loovens spent the 2005–06 season on loan at Championship side Cardiff City and impressed enough so that they signed the promising young defender on a permanent deal after several months of negotiations for a reported fee of £250,000.Cardiff City look to the Loovenator Western Mail, 20 March 2008; Retrieved 12 April 2008 He originally formed a defensive partnership with club captain Darren Purse but the 2007–08 season saw Purse lose his place in the side to Roger Johnson and the pair went on to form a vital base for the team to build on, including playing alongside each other in all six matches during the club's run to the 2008 FA Cup Final. Loovens found the back of the net in the final against Portsmouth but it was disallowed for an earlier infringement. The 2007–08 season also saw Loovens make his 100th appearance in all competitions for Cardiff by playing against Hull City on 12 March.
Celtic Loovens was the subject of transfer interest for most of summer 2008, with Old Firm rivals Celtic and Rangers emerging as leading candidates to secure his signing. Walter Smith, manager of Rangers, declared his interest in Loovens and made an offer for his services but their valuation of the defender was rejected by Cardiff. On 16 August 2008, Loovens joined Scottish champions Celtic on a four-year contract for a fee of around £2.1 million. Loovens stated that Parkhead was his preferred destination as he would get the chance to play in the Champions League.Glenn Loovens spells out reasons for choosing Celtic ahead of Rangers Telegraph, 19 August 2008 He made his Celtic debut on 23 August 2008, in a 3–0 win over Falkirk at Celtic Park.Glenn Loovens Profile Celtic FCAssociated Foreign Press Samaras double lifts Celtic as Dons hold Rangers Soccerway, 23 August 2008Derby debutants at the ready BBC Sport, 28 August 2008 His first goal came on 23 September 2008 in a Co-op Insurance League Cup tie, also at Celtic Park, as Celtic beat Livingston 4–0.TUESDAY NIGHT CLOCKWATCH Sporting Life, 23 September 2008
Loovens scored the winning goal against Hearts in injury time on 20 September 2009, to send Celtic top of the table.Glenn Loovens sinks Hearts to relieve Celtic manager Tony Mowbray guardian.co.uk, 20 September 2009 He scored an own goal in a 1–3 defeat against Rangers in October 2010Celtic 1 – 3 Rangers BBC Sport, 24 October 2010 and was criticised for his performance in Celtic's next game, a League Cup win over St Johnstone.Anthony Stokes strikes twice before Celtic resist St Johnstone comeback guardian.co.uk, 27 October 2010Glenn Loovens running the gauntlet of Old Firm three-strike policy as Celtic head back to Perth The Scotsman, 30 October 2010Glenn will get stick for errors but we have competition if I want to change things, says Celtic boss Neil Lennon Daily Record, 30 October 2010 Loovens paid for his poor form, as he was dropped for the following match, also against St Johnstone.Live – Scottish football BBC Sport, 30 October 2008St Johnstone 0 – 3 Celtic BBC Sport, 30 October 2010
Sheffield Wednesday Loovens signed a short-term deal in December 2013 for Sheffield Wednesday after impressing during a short training stint. He then decided to extend his contract with the club until May 2014.
Towards the end of that summer, on 13 July 2014, Loovens then extended for a further year after reportedly rejecting several contract offers from other clubs, both in England and abroad. He was also then promptly announced as club captain for the 2014–15 season by head coach Stuart Gray.
With one game to play in the 2017–18 season, it was announced that his contract wouldn't be renewed and he would be leaving at the end of the season.
Sunderland In July 2018, Loovens signed a two-year contract with Sunderland. On 22 August 2019, it was announced Loovens would leave Sunderland after having only served a year of his two-year contract.
International career Loovens received his first senior cap for the Netherlands when he started the Oranjes 3–0 friendly win over Japan, on 5 September 2009. He had previously been capped twice for the under-21 side. and he represented the Netherlands at the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsFeyenoord2001–02Eredivisie80—301102002–03Eredivisie120—101302003–04Eredivisie10——102004–05Eredivisie60——60Total270—40310Excelsior (loan)2003–04Eerste Divisie242——242De Graafschap (loan)2004–05Eredivisie110——110Cardiff City (loan)2005–06Championship3321020—362Cardiff City2006–07Championship3012000—3212007–08Championship3606010—4302008–09Championship100010—20Total6718020—771Celtic2008–09Scottish Premier League1731031202342009–10Scottish Premier League2032000803032010–11Scottish Premier League1312030302112011–12Scottish Premier League111100040151Total6186061170909Real Zaragoza2012–13La Liga21030——240Sheffield Wednesday2013–14Championship2204000—2602014–15Championship2601010—2802015–16Championship3101030303802016–17Championship3211000203512017–18Championship200300000230Total131110040501501Sunderland2018–19League One110000020130Career total3861428012128045415
HonoursFeyenoordUEFA Cup: 2001–02Cardiff CityFA Cup runner-up: 2007–08Celtic' Scottish Premier League: 2011–12 Scottish Cup: 2010–11 Scottish League Cup: 2008–09
References
External links
Netherlands U21 stats at Ons Oranje