Dion Cools

Early years

Cools started his career with Tempo Overijse, but soon moved to OH Leuven as a 9-year-old. In 2010, he joined the Anderlecht youth team. After a season, he returned to the OH Leuven youth academy in 2013. He signed his first professional contract with the club in July 2014 after completing secondary school.

OH Leuven

On 3 August 2014, Cools made his debut in the first team of OH Leuven, competing in the Belgian Second Division. He was in the starting lineup for the away match against Racing Mechelen. In May 2015, he participated with OH Leuven in the final round for promotion. Cools did not miss a single minute of the final round and won promotion to the Belgian First Division A again with the club.

Club Brugge

On 23 June 2015, Cools signed a four-year contract with Club Brugge. He won two Belgian national titles and twice the Belgian Super Cup. Cools became a starter under head coach Michel Preud'homme in the 2016–17 season due to poor performances by former Dutch international Ricardo van Rhijn, who had initially become the starter after the departure of regular right-back Thomas Meunier to Paris-Saint Germain. Cools also remained a starter under new coach Ivan Leko, with whom he was reunited after his time with OH Leuven. Cools would, however, later become benched after the emergence of Clinton Mata at the position.

Midtjylland

On 31 January 2020, Cools signed a three-year contract with Midtjylland in the Danish Superliga.…

Being born in Belgium to a Belgian father and Malaysian mother, he was eligible to represent either Belgium or Malaysia. Additionally, due to her mother's ancestry which can be traced to Guangdong, China, at one time, Cools was in discussions with Jiangsu Suning about the possibility of naturalizing to play for the China national team. However, the complex nature of the naturalization process led to the abandonment of those discussions.

Youth

Cools was called up for 2015 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification by the Belgian under-19 national team coach, Gert Verheyen.

Senior

On 1 June 2021, Cools was announced as the newest addition to Malaysia's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers match against UAE, after paperwork for his eligibility was completed with FIFA and the AFC. He debuted for Malaysia in a 4–0 loss to the UAE on 3 June 2021. Cools scored his first international goal in Malaysia's final AFC 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers match against Bangladesh, helping Malaysia secure a 4–1 win, which confirmed Malaysia's AFC Asian Cup qualification for the first time by merit in 42 years. Cools was named as the 'Man of the Match'. Cools also represent the nation at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup where he captained them. On 16 November 2023 during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Kyrgyzstan, Cools scored the opening goal and the equalising goal when Malaysia were 3–1 down to level the score at 3–3,…

Cools was born in Kuching, Sarawak to a Belgian father, Hans Cools and a Malaysian Chinese mother, Xylina Chai. The couple had relocated to Belgium following their marriage in the mid-1990s but were living there at the time of his birth. They traveled back to Kuching so his mother could be with her family during the delivery, and the family returned to Belgium shortly afterward. Dion was named by his parents after Johan Cruyff and Dion Dublin, the latter being a former player for Coventry City and Manchester United.

Cools is married to Melissa Schelfhout, whom he wed in a civil ceremony on 6 May 2022. They have two children: a son, Liam-Zayn (born May 2021), and a daughter, Lina-Sophia (born 20 August 2024). Cools has stated that his footballing idol is Club Brugge legend, Gert Verheyen.