Impressive ? Yes, but not as much as another observation: the Limburg club currently has the keeper of each age category in the national team. Among the U15s (Debusschere), the U16s (Kiaba Mounganga), the U17s (Van Ingelgom), the U18s (Pieklak), the U19s (Penders) and the U21s (Vandevoordt), there is a Racing goalkeeper.
In short, the lineage of the Genko school will, theoretically, continue for a long time in the Devils' cage. A cage occupied by Casteels since Courtois refused to comethe two most beautiful flagships with Racing gloves.
Vandevoordt arrived for testing as an outfield player at 10 years old. In 10 minutes, we understood that he would be a great goalkeeper.
How does Genk manage to produce so many good goalkeepers? “It is the result of long-term workreplies Koen Witters, goalkeeper manager of the Limburg academy. We have our ambitious philosophy and we stick to it, while remaining at the forefront of what can improve the training of a keeper.”
Racing scouts the best goalkeepers in its province up to 12 years old. Then he extends his search to the whole country if the two goalkeepers in the age category are not promising enough. “But Courtois was already there in U9 and Vandevoordt arrived in U10. When you have two boys like that, you don’t need to look anywhere else.”
Detection is one of the greatest strengths of goalkeepers. Genko's eyes have become sharper over the years. The example of Vandevoordt is striking: “He arrived during a U10 test day. He was playing in the field at the time, in Brustem near Sint-Truiden where he was born. During these tests, players are rotated in each position. When Maarten went on goal, we only needed ten minutes to know that his future was there.”
Size is only checked from 14 years old
What Genk looks at first in a goalkeeper is not his hands but his head. “We want to see if the mind is therespecifies Witters, who arrived at Racing in 2009 as goalkeeper coach for the U10-U12 section. We need boys who are willing to make mistakes and who have the talent to understand. Afterwards, we obviously also look at whether they know how to catch a ball but that is far from enough. Foot qualities have also taken on a lot of importance. We want proactive goalkeepers in the game.”
Despite what one might believe when looking at Courtois (2m), Casteels (1m97) and Vandevoordt (1m92), height is not an absolute criterion in research. “Being over 1m90 helps but that’s not everything. You can be 1m82 tall and have all the qualities necessary to become a pro. Bone tests are done to determine height from the age of 14. Before that, the margin for error is too great. If we learn that a boy will not exceed 1.80 meters but that he is very good, we keep him. Afterwards, it is clear that the size will make the job of a goalkeeper easier. A smaller one will have to be even more exceptional to continue to stay with us.”
Once the talents have been identified, Genk works on all possible aspects, with a goalkeeper academy created in addition to the traditional training center. “They are not independent entities but they are something more. This allows us to have specific and individualized work with all our young people. In the academy, I have six goalkeeping coaches.”
Some parents are sometimes afraid when they see the number of talents on goal but they won't be better off anywhere else.
With a goalkeeper on each youth national team, Genk is ready. Maybe even… a little too much. The density could discourage or block some boys. “But we don't see things like thatcontinues Witters. Courtois and Casteels have always played together. They were pulling each other upwards. We currently have the case with Penders (18 years old) and Pieklak (17) among our U23s. You sometimes play a little less because of that but the match only represents a small part of the work over a week. When you train with the best, you progress naturally. Some parents are sometimes afraid when they see the number of great talents in front of their child, but you have to tell yourself that they will not be better off anywhere else in Belgium.”
The flight of talent that we observe among minors in Belgium, between top clubs or abroad, does not exist among Genko goalkeepers. “We are not losing our young people, even if some are courted before signing a professional contract. We don't offer crazy salaries but we take the time to sit down and explain the project we have for each keeper. For now, it convinces everyone.”
Genk is proud to have become a reference among goalkeepers. A reference that goes far beyond our borders. “When you arrive with the “KRC Genk” business card to speak to a young goalkeeper or his parents, it makes a direct impression. Everyone knows how hard we try to work well at home. We train many future professionals. Sometimes for Genk, sometimes for other clubs.”
24 million touched since 2009 with the guards
When we give him the list of Genk goalkeepers in the national youth team, Koen Witters is not afraid to get wet: “They will all become pros, I am sure of it. It is not possible to say precisely at what level, but they already have everything they need to have a future as a footballer. We are very happy to have one of our elements from the U15s to the U21s.”
The question burns on the lips: is there a future Courtois in the lot? “I must be asked this question several times a monthlaughs Witters. I don't know if we will one day bring out a goalkeeper as strong as Thibaut. What is important is to regularly train good goalkeepers. Guards who we see have passed through our school.”
The management of Racing has also set an ambitious objective: of the four goalkeepers in core A, to have at least three from the academy. “But that doesn't mean Genk will never have to buy a goalkeeper elsewhere again. Already because you have to know that we have two professional teams with our U23s and that it is not easy to have six or seven goalkeepers of our young people at the same time. And also because a doorman from outside can bring something different. We are very happy to have Hendrik Van Crombrugge (Editor's note: bought 1.3 million from Anderlecht last summer). He guides our young people by offering another vision and with the experience of the professional world.”
Purchases that management can afford. Since Bailly's departure to Mönchengladbach in January 2009Genk received 24 million by selling its academy-trained goalkeepers.
At Anderlecht, we are no longer looking for excuses and are banking on two promising teenagers
Davy Roef often feels alone. In the 21st century, he is the only goalkeeper from the Anderlecht school to have broken through at a high level. Boys like Silvio Proto and Bart Verbruggen arrived very young but without having been trained at Neerpede. How does such a prolific academy have so much trouble releasing goalkeepers?
For a long time, Anderlecht responded that the quality of its young people was the main answer. The outfield players were so good that the goalkeeper didn't have a job. And therefore did not progress or looked elsewhere. An excuse that obviously doesn't hold since it's in training that the kids work the most. The weekend meeting is only a small part of the weekly job.
At the RSCA, we are well aware of the problem. Jean Kindermans had the dream of training a great goalkeeper but he would not have succeeded before his departure to Antwerp. His successors hope to achieve this. More specific work has been put in place in recent years, even if it is not as extensive as in Genk.
Timon Vanhoutte is a great promise but his short-term future is blocked even though he is already 20 years old. Hopes rest more on Michel Haentjens (18 years old and found in Lokeren in 2017) and Mattis Seghers (15 years old and arrived from Ninove three seasons ago). These two boys also compete with the Genkois in their respective national teams (U18 and U15).
