Wikipedia

Bob Peeters

Bob Peeters (born 10 January 1974) is a Belgian football executive and former player and manager. He currently serves as sporting director of Challenger Pro League club Beveren.

Bob Peeters
Peeters in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth (1974-01-10) 10 January 1974 (age 50)
Place of birth Lier, Belgium
Height 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Beveren (sporting director)
Youth career
1980–1982 Ternesse VV Wommelgem
1982–1992 Lierse
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992–1997 Lierse 119 (24)
1997–2000 Roda JC 93 (39)
2000–2003 Vitesse 77 (17)
2003–2005 Millwall 25 (3)
2005–2006 Genk 21 (9)
2006–2008 Lierse 25 (5)
Total 360 (97)
International career
1998–2002 Belgium 13 (4)
Managerial career
2009–2010 Gent (youth)
2010–2012 Cercle Brugge
2012–2013 Gent
2013–2014 Waasland-Beveren
2014–2015 Charlton Athletic
2015 Lokeren
2015–2016 Westerlo
2017–2021 Westerlo
2021–2022 TOP Oss
2022–2024 Helmond Sport
2024– Beveren (sporting director)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Lierse

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Noted for his large stature, measuring 1.96 m, Peeters grew up in Wommelgem, Antwerp Province and joined Ternesse VV Wommelgem at a young age. He moved to the Lierse academy at the age of eight, progressing through the youth teams before making his senior debut in 1992 under head coach Herman Helleputte.

In 1994, after the arrival of Eric Gerets as manager, Peeters experienced his breakthrough. The striker scored eight goals and formed a striking duo with Dirk Huysmans, in a Lierse-team counting profiles such as Nico Van Kerckhoven, Philip Haagdoren, Eric Van Meir and David Brocken which won the Belgian First Division A title in the 1996–97 season.[1] In January 1997, Peeters was in contract negotiations with the Lierse board, but chose to leave, according to him because he was seen as a "tall, clumsy" striker.[2]

Roda JC

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After winning the league title with Lierse, Peeters signed with Dutch Eredivisie club Roda JC under the Bosman ruling. There, he was united with fellow countrymen Joos Valgaeren, Gregory Delwarte and Peter Van Houdt.[3] In his first season, the club from Kerkrade finished fourteenth, but after the arrival of manager Sef Vergoossen, Roda returned to mid-table. In 2000, Peeters also reached the KNVB Cup final with the club. In De Kuip in Rotterdam, Roda beat NEC 2–0 to claim their second ever cup win. Peeters opened the score after 18 minutes after heading in a free kick from Eric van der Luer.[4] During the celebrations after the game, Peeters damaged the trophy which caused a dent still visible to this day.[5]

Vitesse

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In August 2000, Peeters signed with Vitesse for a fee of BEF 252 million – around €6.25 million – which made him the second most expensive Belgian transfer ever, only surpassed by Émile Mpenza.[6][7] Earlier, Roda had rejected an offer from Ipswich Town.[8]

Under manager Ronald Koeman, Peeters impressed. Seen in Belgium as a technically limited footballer, was known in the Netherlands as an intelligent player with overview and strength. With Vitesse, he finished above mid-table two consecutive seasons. In the 2002–03 season, Peeters and his teammates dropped far in the rankings. The club was in financial turmoil and many high-earning were allowed to leave.[9]

Millwall

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Peeters signed a three-year contract with English Football League First Division club Millwall on 20 August 2003, where he was set to replace regular target-man Mark McCammon.[10] He struggled with injuries during his spell in England.[11][12]

Genk

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In 2005, Peeters was poised for a return to Belgium,[13] and after negotiating with Westerlo, he eventually signed with Genk after being convinced by technical director Ariël Jacobs.[14] Peeters had to compete with fellow strikers Kevin Vandenbergh, Paul Kpaka and Nenad Stojanović. He scored nine goals for Genk, who finished the season in fifth place.[15]

Return to Lierse

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Peeters was set for a return to childhood club Lierse after one season with Genk. Initially, Genk chairman Jos Vaessen was willing to let him leave on a free transfer, but this offer was withdrawn afterwards. In the end, 32-year-old Peeters was involved in a trade with Oleksandr Yakovenko, who was then playing for Lierse.[16]

Peeters did make many appearances for Lierse. The club finished second to last in the 2006–07 league table and suffered relegation to the Belgian Second Division via the play-offs. In October 2008, he announced his retirement from professional football after suffering an achilles tendon injury.[17][18]

International career

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Peeters made his debut for the Belgium national team on 25 February 1998 in a friendly against the United States, which was won 2–0 thanks to a brace by Nico Van Kerckhoven. Peeters came on as a substitute for Luc Nilis after 84 minutes.[19]

He participated in the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification but did not make the final squad for 2002 FIFA World Cup main tournament. On 28 February 2001, he scored a hat-trick against San Marino at the King Baudouin Stadium.[20]

Managerial career

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He became manager of Gent one week after being released by Cercle Brugge in October 2012 but was fired in January 2013.

Peeters was appointed as manager of English side, Charlton Athletic, in May 2014 on a 12-month contract. In January 2015 after only 25 games in charge he was dismissed. His Senior Professional Development Coach Patrick Van Houdt and Performance Analyst Guy Kiala were also fired. At the time Charlton had won once in the previous 12 games and had slipped to 14th in the Championship table.[21][22]

In 2015, Bob Peeters got a new chance at Lokeren, replacing Peter Maes who left to Genk. After 12 league games, with only 3 victories, he got sacked by the owner of the club, in spite of just winning away at Westerlo.

Westerlo

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On 16 November 2015, Peeters was appointed head coach of Westerlo. He succeeded Harm van Veldhoven who was fired the day before. Peeters' main goal in the 2015–16 season was avoiding relegation, something that he succeeded in on 13 March 2016 by winning 1–0 against Waasland Beveren. OH Leuven had lost their home game against Club Brugge on the same day, making them the relegated club of that season. On 13 September 2016, Peeters was dismissed as head coach of Westerlo.

Return to Westerlo

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In December 2017, Peeters returned as head coach of Westerlo, who had meanwhile been relegated to the First Division B.[23] His first match in charge was a 1–0 win over OH Leuven on 9 December 2017.[24] Westerlo's last victory dated from 30 September that year, after which the club only gained three points out of 30 under Vedran Pelić, who later stayed on as assistant to Peeters, together with Eric Reenaers. Westerlo finished penultimate in the regular season that season. In the play-offs, however, they remained undefeated, after which Westerlo moved up to sixth place.

In November 2018, Peeters was linked to a return to Waasland-Beveren, but in the end he stayed with Westerlo after the club offered him a contract extension until 2023.[25] In the 2018–19 season, Westerlo finished fifth out of eight clubs in both the first and second period, but in the final ranking the club finished fourth, which meant that it qualified for play-offs.[26]

In the 2019–20 season, Westerlo competed for the first period championship, but in the end they finished three points below OH Leuven.[27] The second period championship was also a tight affair – with three match days to go, Westerlo were in the lead together with OH Leuven, Beerschot and Virton –,[28] but with two matchdays to go, Westerlo had their fate in their own hands: with six out of six points they had enough for a final spot in the play-offs.[29] However, on the final matchday, Westerlo lost 3–1 to Union SG, so that Beerschot, not Westerlo, had the opportunity to promoted. Westerlo therefore no longer had a chance to promote, despite the fact that they had achieved the most points in the final ranking.[30]

Westerlo also made a run at promotion in the 2020–21 season, especially considering that the period championships were abolished that season and therefore only the champion and possible vice-champion of the regular season were promoted. Westerlo competed for second place for a while that season, but eventually were surpassed by Seraing.[31][32][33] After a draw against Club NXT on the final matchday, Westerlo ended in fourth place, nine points behind Seraing.[34] On 10 May 2021, it was announced that Peeters and Westerlo parted ways by mutual consent.[35] Peeters later indicated that both parties were keen on moving on, and that he was not interested in returning to another season in the First Division B, where clubs compete against each other four times per season.[36]

TOP Oss

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On 8 June 2021, Eerste Divisie club TOP Oss appointed Peeters as their new head coach.[37] He succeeded Klaas Wels, signing a one-year contract. Peeters started the season with a 1–0 away win over Excelsior.[38]

On 20 May 2022, the club announced that Peeters had been dismissed from his position as head coach, citing "insufficient synergy" between Peeters and newly appointed technical director Klaas Wels.[39]

Helmond Sport

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Peeters was appointed new head coach of Helmond Sport in December 2022, becoming part of a new staff alongside new technical director Jurgen Streppel and head of scouting Dirk Jan Derksen.[40] He was dismissed as head coach on 8 April 2024 after a string of disappointing results.[41]

Executive career

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On 12 June 2024, Peeters was appointed the new sporting director of Challenger Pro League club Beveren.[42][43]

Media career

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During the 2000 UEFA European Football Championship, during which he was injured, he worked as a journalist who interviewed people for VRT. Presenter Mark Uytterhoeven regularly sent him on the road for the program. Peeters' search for a Romanian in particular became a well-known segment.[44] In addition, for a while he was an analyst during UEFA Champions League matches and as color commentator for Belgacom TV.

In 2001 Peeters was a guest in the talk show Men on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown.[45] In 2009, he became the presenter of the Belgian version of Wipeout alongside Walter Grootaers. When he became the youth coach of Gent, he stopped presenting.[46]

Career statistics

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International

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International goals scored by Bob Peeters
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 7 October 2000 Skonto Stadium, Riga   Latvia 0 – 4 Won 2002 World Cup Qualification
2 28 February 2001 Stade Roi Baudouin, Brussels   San Marino 10 – 1 Won 2002 World Cup Qualification
3 28 February 2001 Stade Roi Baudouin, Brussels   San Marino 10 – 1 Won 2002 World Cup Qualification
4 28 February 2001 Stade Roi Baudouin, Brussels   San Marino 10 – 1 Won 2002 World Cup Qualification

Managerial statistics

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As of match played 5 April 2024
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
P W D L Win %
Cercle Brugge 1 July 2010 27 October 2012 103 39 23 41 037.9
Gent 1 November 2012 3 January 2013 11 1 4 6 009.1
Waasland-Beveren 5 November 2013 23 May 2014 23 6 8 9 026.1
Charlton Athletic 27 May 2014 11 January 2015 28 7 13 8 025.0
Lokeren 3 June 2015 25 October 2015 13 4 2 7 030.77
Westerlo 26 November 2015 13 September 2016 22 6 4 12 027.3
Westerlo 5 December 2017 30 June 2021 114 46 33 35 040.4
TOP Oss 1 July 2021 30 June 2022 38 11 8 19 028.9
Helmond Sport 23 December 2022 8 April 2024 54 16 18 20 029.6
Total 406 136 113 157 033.5

Honours

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Player

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Lierse

Roda JC

Manager

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Westerlo

References

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  1. ^ a b "Lierse '97, het mirakel van de Leeuw: "Titel heeft heel veel slecht gedaan"". sporza.be (in Dutch). 25 October 2017.
  2. ^ ""In België kreeg ik het predikaat van 'lange lompe' mee"". Gazet van Antwerpen (in Dutch). 10 March 2000.
  3. ^ "Bob Peeters". rodajckerkrade.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  4. ^ a b "2000: De Cup is voor defensief ijzersterk Roda". totoknvbbeker.nl (in Dutch). 9 March 2018.
  5. ^ Deelstra, Rogier (8 April 2012). "'Mysterie' van deuk in beker opgelost". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch).
  6. ^ "Arnhem snap up Peeters". news.bbc.co.uk. 15 August 2000.
  7. ^ "De Tien: duurste binnenlandse transfers in de Eredivisie". voetbalprimeur.nl (in Dutch). 7 April 2014.
  8. ^ "Interesse voor Peeters neemt toe". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 21 January 2000.
  9. ^ "Bob Peeters tekent bij Millwall". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 19 August 2003.
  10. ^ "Millwall sign Peeters". BBC. 20 August 2003. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  11. ^ Spall, Leo (14 April 2012). "Peeters new injury blow hits Millwall". standard.co.uk.
  12. ^ Fudge, Simon. "Peeters facing foot op". Sky Sports. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  13. ^ "Peeters poised for Belgian move". BBC. 18 August 2005. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  14. ^ "Bob Peeters wordt de nieuwe spits van RC Genk". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). 19 August 2005.
  15. ^ "Belgische Eerste Klasse Voetbal 2005/2006 Regulier Seizoen - Gedetailleerde uitslagen". sportuitslagen.org. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  16. ^ "Bob Peeters en Iakovenko ruilen van club". De Standaard (in Flemish). 3 July 2006.
  17. ^ "Achillespees zorgt voor breuk Lierse SK en Peeters". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 6 October 2008.
  18. ^ "Bob Peeters stopt met voetballen". NU (in Dutch). 6 October 2008.
  19. ^ "Van Kerckhoven scoort twee keer voor België". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 26 February 1998.
  20. ^ Van Lindt, Aernout (6 September 2019). "Zo liep het in het verleden tegen San Marino: moeilijke uitwedstrijden en de hattrick van Bob Peeters (met nostalgische beelden!)". Voetbalkrant.com (in Dutch).
  21. ^ "Bob Peeters sacked as Charlton coach after 25 league games". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  22. ^ "Charlton sack head coach Bob Peeters". Express.co.uk. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  23. ^ "Bob Peeters wordt opnieuw trainer bij Westerlo". Gazet van Antwerpen (in Flemish). 5 December 2017. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  24. ^ "Bob Peeters debuteert bij Westerlo met zege". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). 9 December 2017. Archived from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  25. ^ "Bob Peeters legt avontuur bij Waasland-Beveren naast zich neer en blijft trainer van Westerlo: "Keuze van mijn hart"". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). 13 November 2018. Archived from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  26. ^ "Turkse investeerder neemt tweedeklasser Westerlo over: overname is in kannen en kruiken". De Standaard (in Flemish). 18 June 2019. Archived from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  27. ^ "Lommel redt in slotfase nog punt op het veld van Westerlo". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). 2 November 2019. Archived from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  28. ^ Delvaux, Maarten (13 February 2020). "Spannender kan niet: vier teams aan de leiding in 1B op drie speeldagen van het einde". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). Archived from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  29. ^ Frans, Koen (17 February 2020). "Westerlo, Virton en Beerschot delen de leiding in knotsgekke tweede periode 1B: zelfs testwedstrijden voor de promotiematchen kunnen nog". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). Archived from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  30. ^ "Beerschot plaatst zich voor derde promotiefinale op rij, Westerlo vist achter het net". Sporza (in Dutch). 28 February 2020. Archived from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  31. ^ Vedruye, Koen (11 December 2020). "Westerlo smeert Club NXT negende nederlaag aan en ziet na 9 op 9 tweede plaats dichterbij komen in 1B". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). Archived from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  32. ^ "Westerlo laat tweede plaats liggen door nederlaag op RWDM". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). 20 February 2021. Archived from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  33. ^ "Westerlo en RWDM delen de punten in 't Kuipje". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). 9 April 2021. Archived from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  34. ^ Verdruye, Koen (24 April 2021). "Westerlo speelt opnieuw gelijk tegen Club NXT en moet genoegen nemen met tegenvallende vierde plaats in 1B". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). Archived from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  35. ^ "Westerlo neemt afscheid van trainer Bob Peeters, Glen De Boeck in beeld als opvolger". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). 10 May 2021. Archived from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  36. ^ "Bob Peeters geniet van avontuur bij Nederlandse Top Oss: "Stap elke ochtend met glimlach in mijn wagen"". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). 17 September 2021. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  37. ^ "Bob Peeters gaat aan de slag bij Nederlandse tweedeklasser TOP Oss". Sporza (in Dutch). 8 June 2021. Archived from the original on 27 November 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  38. ^ Doelen, Jaap van der (6 August 2021). "Margaritha loodst TOP Oss met fantastische pegel voorbij Excelsior". Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  39. ^ Van Genechten, Vincent (20 May 2022). "Bob Peeters zit opnieuw zonder job na vertrek bij Nederlandse Top Oss". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  40. ^ "Bob Peeters (hoofdtrainer) en Dirk Jan Derksen (Hoofd Scouting) naar Helmond Sport | Helmond Sport". Helmond Sport (Press release) (in Dutch). 23 December 2022. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  41. ^ "Bob Peeters per direct weg bij Helmond Sport". Helmond Sport (in Dutch). 8 April 2024. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  42. ^ "BOB PEETERS AANGESTELD ALS GENERAL MANAGER VAN SK BEVEREN". SK Beveren (in Dutch). 12 June 2024. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  43. ^ "Bob Peeters wordt general manager van SK Beveren: "Eerste taak is aanstellen van trainer"". sporza (in Dutch). 12 June 2024. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  44. ^ "Retro: Bob Peeters en de Roemeen". voetbalprimeur (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  45. ^ "Mannen op de rand van een zenuwinzinking (TV Series 2001– ) - IMDb". IMDB. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  46. ^ "Bob Peeters: "Wipeout is pure topsport"". De Morgen (in Dutch). 4 March 2009.
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