Koen Casteels is a Belgian professional footballer born in 1992, known for his role as a goalkeeper.
He began his professional career at K.R.C. Genk, where he played from 2009 to 2011.
Casteels moved to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in 2011, marking the start of his international club career.
Biography
Early Life
Koen Casteels was born in 1992 in Belgium and has made a name for himself as a professional footballer, primarily playing as a goalkeeper. His football journey began at K.R.C. Genk, where he developed his skills and was once considered a promising talent, even regarded as better than his teammate Thibaut Courtois at one point. However, injuries hindered his progress, allowing Courtois to break into the first team.
Career
Casteels' professional career took off when he joined TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in 2011 after his time at Genk. He later moved to VfL Wolfsburg in 2015, initially spending time on loan at Werder Bremen. At Wolfsburg, he made a significant impact, notably saving a penalty from Xabi Alonso in the 2015 DFL-Supercup, helping his team secure the title. Casteels became the first-choice goalkeeper for Wolfsburg, especially after signing a new contract in 2017, and he played every match in the 2017-18 Bundesliga season.
In 2024, Casteels transitioned to Al Qadsiah FC in the Saudi Pro League, where he quickly made his mark by winning the league's Golden Glove in his first season, keeping 14 clean sheets.
International Career
Casteels has represented Belgium at various youth levels and made his senior debut in 2020. He was part of the squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2022 edition, although he did not play in the latter. His performances earned him a spot as the first-choice goalkeeper for UEFA Euro 2024, where he impressed with crucial saves and even provided an assist. However, in March 2025, he announced his retirement from international football due to frustrations over team selections.
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Gallery
Career & Clubs
Casteels was developed at K.R.C. Genk where he was a teammate of fellow goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. He was initially regarded as better than Courtois, but while he and several of the club's other goalkeepers were injured, Courtois broke into the team. Casteels was signed by VfL Wolfsburg from TSG Hoffenheim in January 2015, but spent the first six months of the three-and-a-half-year contract on loan at Werder Bremen. He played for Wolfsburg in the 2015 DFL-Supercup, saving from Xabi Alonso in the penalty shoot-out as his team won after a 1–1 draw. When Diego Benaglio left Wolfsburg in June 2017, Casteels signed a new three-year contract with the club and was given the number 1 shirt. He appeared in all of the club's 34 Bundesliga matches during the 2017−18 season.
On 2 September 2023, Casteels announced that he would leave Wolfsburg at the end of the 2023−24 Bundesliga season. On 10 June 2024, Casteels joined newly promoted Saudi Pro League club Al-Qadsiah on a three-year contract. He won the league's Golden Glove in his first season, having kept 14 clean sheets.
Casteels was first called up to the senior Belgium team in May 2013. He was going to be part of Belgium's 2014 FIFA World Cup squad but failed to recover from an injury and was replaced by Silvio Proto and then Sammy Bossut. Manager Roberto Martínez often chose four goalkeepers in his international selections, and as the 2018 FIFA World Cup only permitted three, Casteels battled with Matz Sels for the final space behind Thibaut Courtois and Simon Mignolet. He was eventually chosen for the final 23-man squad to go to Russia. Casteels made his full international debut on 8 September 2020, in a 5–1 win over Iceland for the UEFA Nations League. Casteels was part of the Belgium squad at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but again did not play a minute. After Courtois fell out with national team coach Domenico Tedesco, Casteels was chosen as first choice, with Tedesco describing him as one of the best in the world. Casteels played in all of Belgium's games at UEFA Euro 2024 and impressed, making important saves and also recording an assist in their 2–0 win over Romania. On 10 March 2025, Casteels announced that he had quit the national team in frustration over the decision to bring Courtois back into the squad.
Club
As of match played 14 September 2026
International
As of match played 17 November 2024
- Club
- K.R.C. Genk (2009–2011)
- Club
- TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (2011–2015)
- Club
- VfL Wolfsburg (2015–2024)
- Club
- SV Werder Bremen (2015–2015)
- Club
- Belgium national under-15 association football team (2007–2007)
- Club
- Belgium national under-17 association football team (2008–2009)
- Club
- Belgium national under-19 football team (2009–2011)
- Club
- Belgium national under-21 football team (2011–2013)
- Club
- Belgium national under-16 association football team (2008–2008)
- Club
- Al Qadsiah FC (2024–)
- League
- Bundesliga
- National team
- Belgium
- Club
- Belgium men's national football team (2020–2024)
Legacy
Genk
Belgian First Division: 2010–11 Belgian Cup: 2008–09 VfL Wolfsburg
DFL-Supercup: 2015 Belgium
FIFA World Cup third place: 2018 Individual
kicker Best Goalkeeper of the Bundesliga: 2017–18 Saudi Pro League Golden Glove: 2024–25
Clubs
- Al Qadsiah FC2024current
- Belgium national under-15 association football team2007–2007
- Belgium national under-16 association football team2008–2008
- Belgium national under-17 association football team2008–2009
- Belgium national under-19 football team2009–2011
- K.R.C. Genk2009–2011
- Belgium national under-21 football team2011–2013
- TSG 1899 Hoffenheim2011–2015
- SV Werder Bremen2015–2015
- VfL Wolfsburg2015–2024
- Belgium men's national football team2020–2024
Played together with
Aaron HuntSV Werder Bremen · 2004–2014- Aaron HuntVfL Wolfsburg · 2014–2015
Aaron MokoenaK.R.C. Genk · 2003–2005- Abdulla Baba FatadiAl Qadsiah FC · 2011–2011
- Abdullaziz Al-DosariAl Qadsiah FC · 2018–2018
Abdulmalek Al-KhaibriAl Qadsiah FC · 2006–2008- Abdulwahab Al SafiAl Qadsiah FC · 2011
Adam HložekTSG 1899 Hoffenheim · 2024
Adam NemecK.R.C. Genk · 2008–2009- Adaílson Pereira CoelhoVfL Wolfsburg · 2005–2006
Admir MehmediVfL Wolfsburg · 2018–2022
Adrie van KraayK.R.C. Genk · 1982–1984
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Koen Casteels is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Saudi Pro League club Al-Qadsiah.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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