Jan Paul van Hecke

Jan Paul van Hecke (born 8 June 2000) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a defender for Championship side Blackburn Rovers on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion of the Premier League.

In this Dutch name, the surname is van Hecke, not Hecke.
Jan Paul van Hecke
Personal information
Full name Jan Paul van Hecke[1]
Date of birth (2000-06-08) 8 June 2000
Place of birth Arnemuiden, Netherlands
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Blackburn Rovers
(on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion)
Number 25
Youth career
0000–2018 VV Goes
2018–2019 NAC Breda
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2020 NAC Breda 11 (3)
2020– Brighton & Hove Albion 0 (0)
2020–2021 → Heerenveen (loan) 28 (1)
2021– → Blackburn Rovers (loan) 31 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:37, 30 April 2022

Career

Early career

Born in Arnemuiden,[2] Van Hecke is a youth product of VV Goes, but signed for NAC Breda in 2018.[3] He made his professional debut with NAC Breda in a 5–1 Eerste Divisie win over Helmond Sport on 16 August 2019.[4]

Brighton & Hove Albion

On 10 September 2020, van Hecke joined Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion on a three-year contract.[3][5]

Loans

On 18 September 2020, he returned to the Netherlands on a season-long loan with Eredivisie side Heerenveen.[6][7] He made his debut for Heeerenveen in a 3–1 Eredivisie win away to Fortuna Sittard on 19 September 2020.[8]

On 29 August 2021, he joined Blackburn Rovers of the Championship on loan for the 2021–22 season.[9] He made his debut on 16 October, playing the whole match of the 2–2 home draw against Coventry City.[10] He was sent off for a reckless challenge on Harry Wilson on his fifth appearance with Rovers already 2–0 down in an eventual 7–0 thumping at home to Fulham on 3 November.[11] Van Hecke scored his first goal for Blackburn and in English football, doubling Rovers lead with a powerful header in the 2–0 away win at second placed Bournemouth on 11 December, closing the gap to four points to their promotion rivals.[12] He was named as the club's Player of the Season for 2021–22, becoming the first loanee to achieve the accolade.[13]

International career

Van Hecke was called up to the Netherlands under-21 squad for the first time in March 2022,[14] but was an unused substitute in a 0–0 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying draw against Bulgaria.[15]

Personal life

Van Hecke is the nephew of the Dutch retired footballer Jan Poortvliet.[16]

Career statistics
As of 30 April 2022
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Domestic Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
NAC Breda 2019–20 Eerste Divisie 11351——164
Brighton & Hove Albion 2020–21 Premier League —
2021–22 Premier League —
Total 0000000000
SC Heerenveen (loan) 2020–21 Eredivisie 28110——291
Blackburn Rovers (loan) 2021–22 Championship 31110——321
Career total 705710000776

Honours

Individual

References
  1. "2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed". premierleague.com. Premier League. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  2. "Jan Paul van Hecke". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  3. "Volgende Heerenveen-deal krijgt vorm: Van Hecke verlaat NAC Breda". voetbalprimeur.nl (in Dutch). 10 September 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  4. "NAC Breda vs. Helmond Sport - 16 August 2019 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com.
  5. Owen, Brian (10 September 2020). "Albion confirm deal - and line up a loan - for rising Dutch defender van Hecke". The Argus. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  6. Camillin, Paul (18 September 2020). "Van Hecke loaned to Heerenveen". www.brightonandhovealbion.com. Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  7. "Heerenveen huurt Van Hecke van Brighton, nieuwe spelverdeler voor ADO". Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (in Dutch). 18 September 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  8. Owen, Brian (20 September 2020). "'Powerful' young Albion defender is off to great start on loan". The Argus. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  9. "Rovers swoop for Seagulls star". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  10. "Blackburn Rovers 2-2 Coventry City: Sky Blues fight back from two goals down - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 16 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  11. "Blackburn Rovers 0-7 Fulham: Free-scoring Cottagers hit seven at Ewood Park - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 3 November 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  12. "Bournemouth 0-2 Blackburn". BBC Sport. 11 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  13. Sharpe, Rich. "Jan Paul van Hecke thanks fans as he is named player of the year". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
  14. "Who's on international duty this break?". Brighton & Hove Albion. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  15. "Bulgaria U21 vs. Netherlands U21 - Football Match Line-Ups - March 25, 2022 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
  16. Boogert, Rudy (2 November 2020). "Jan Paul van Hecke kan niet tippen aan ome Jan". Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 March 2021.
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