Kjell Knops

Early career

Knops spent his youth with Roda JC Kerkrade. He made his first-team debut in professional football in the Eredivisie (first tier) as a late substitute for Marcel de Jong in a 3–0 win over NEC at the Parkstad Limburg Stadion on 15 November 2008. This would prove his only appearance for the club, and he was one of 11 players released by general manager Martin van Geel in April 2010. He played on trial at RKC Waalwijk in May 2010. He then spent the 2010–11 season in the Topklasse (third tier) with amateur side EVV. He made 28 league and cup appearances as the club posted a ninth-place finish in the Sunday league. He scored two goals for the club, in victories over AFC and Dijkse Boys.

MVV Maastricht

Knops returned to professional football when he signed with René Trost's MVV in the Eerste Divisie (second tier) for the 2011–12 campaign. He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 win over Telstar at the Rabobank IJmond Stadion on 21 October. Four days later he received the first red card of his career after he committed a professional foul in a 1–0 defeat to Achilles '29 in the KNVB Cup. He was sent off for the second and final time of his MVV career on 20 January, after receiving two yellow cards in a 2–2 draw with Helmond Sport at the Stadion De Braak. He featured in a total of 36 games, including both legs of the play-off round one defeat to Cambuur, after the club qualified for the play-offs with an eighth-place finish. He again played 36…

Knops enjoys playing tennis in his spare time.