Who will be the number 1 goalkeeper next season in Zulte-Waregem?
Updated: Jul 20
You have voted again on my Sorare Twitter poll @elbelga and you made it difficult this time, as there were two clubs you wanted articles with the exact same amount of votes, Zulte-Waregem and Utrecht. This is the 1st one, about Zulte-Waregem and with this completing the Belgian Jupiler Pro League (not going to make one about Beerschot, but Westerlo still an option).
Zulte-Waregem have four goalkeepers under contract:
Louis Bostyn
28 years (contract till 2024)
Marketvalue: € 500.000
Sammy Bossut
36 years (contract till 2023)
Marketvalue: € 150.000
Martijn Beernaert
19 years (contract till 2024)
Marketvalue: € 50.000 (U23 till 2027)
Sef Van Damme
19 years (contract till 2024)
Marketvalue: € 50.000 (U23 till 2027)
no cards minted yet
Writing about the goalkeepers in Zulte-Waregem, my first thing that comes in mind is the big amount of goals conceded this season. The full 69, almost three goals a game, luckily there was Beerschot to do it even worse, conceding 76. Fair to say for both teams, defenders and goalkeepers didn't have their best season in the league.
Number 1 goalkeeper wasn't that clear at all in the beginning of the season. Before the season started there were a lot of opinions, but it was Bostyn who got his chance after playing a very decent season before. But after dramatic start from the team in the beginning of the season, not necessarily from Bostyn himself but the manager changed their goalkeeper, bringing in very experienced Bossut, who would play for almost the rest of the season.
You would think, "a 36year old goalkeeper with a massive career, should be an interesting write-up"... Not for Sammy Bossut.
I am sure he is not unique, but in current professional football within the 10-20 topleagues in the world, you don't see it very often that a goalkeeper played his full career for the same team, respect.
I asked the question on Twitter, if there are more examples like him. A goalkeeper over 30, still active, playing his whole career for the same club. Until now i only got three genuine answers: A. Lopes, Akinfeev and Shunin. If you do know more, please drop an answer on my Twitter: @elbelga
Bossut played his first pro match for Zulte-Waregem at the age of 20, but it would take until the season 2008/2009 until he took the 1st keeper spot and never lost it in all those years until season 20/21. That's more then 12 seasons in a row as the undisputed goalie of Zulte -Waregem, well done.
It would take until he had a serious injury two seasons ago to lose his spot (to Bansen and Bostyn). Before that, all the 2nd goalkeepers only played when Bossut got injured or suspended. Besides playing for a decent team in Belgium (they were even once very close on winning the title, where everything got decided on the last match of the season), but i might assume his personal highlight of his career, was when he was in the squad as third goalkeeper for Belgium during the World Cup in Brazil 2014.
With a contract until 2023, it looks like it will be the last season of Bossut next season. He stated more then once, he wants to finish his career playing, not as a benchwarmer. Lets hope for him he can achieve that the next season.
What are the odds on that?
There is new manager, Leye, who managed Standard the first half of this season until he got sacked after bad results. Leye did play for Zulte-Waregem, and therefore knows the club, and he played together with Bossut in the team and knows his abilities very well.
Bossut this season, although conceding quiet a lot of goals, did play an ok season. We can say the same from Bostyn, also playing ok the matches he had the chance. But neither of them was exceptional, winning points for their team. So it's not that weird that rumours came up in signing a new goalkeeper. The name that appeared most in the media is Desmas from Clermont foot (starter the first half of the season in the Ligue 1, but lost his spot). Now that rumour was mainly in April, before they appointed Leye as their new manager. Leye didn't mention his opinion yet about the goalkeeper situation.
Louis Bostyn made his pro debut for 2nd division (at that time) team Roeselare. Being a back-up in Roeselare he moved to Zulte-Waregem in the same role, or even 3rd gk at the age of 20. It took him more then 5 seasons within the club to actually become number 1. It didnt look like that would ever happen as he was the 3rd gk for a while.
He took his chance after a serious head injury from Bossut and bad performances from Eike Bansen (playing in the 4.bundesliga now), the 2nd gk at that time. Played quite well, taking his chances and stayed in goal for almost a full season. Bansen left last summer, so at least it would be 1st or 2nd gk. As mentioned above, Bostyn played the first 10 matches of this season, but Bossut took over again. Bostyn got his chance for 1 match again, in February against Kortrijk, losing 5-0, with Bossut benched. After that match he got injured, finishing his season, so we would never know if he would have played the other matches as well.
The battle for the 1st goalkeeper spot is open next season.
If they would sign an extra goalkeeper, i think the decision is made within the club, especially if they would bring in someone with the level of Desmas. On the other hand all goalkeepers are still under contract. So they might focus on other positions within the club and signing a goalkeeper will be for the season after, and let the two guys fight it out in between them who will be number 1 this season.
Besides the two guys mentioned before, there are two youngsters under contract as well within the club. They will fight it out who will be the goalkeeper in the Belgian 4th division (2nd amateur league), where Zulte-Waregem B will play his games next season. Van Damme and Beernaert both have the same age (19) and have contracts until 2024, does indicate the club has confidence in them, let's see what they can achieve.
Disclaimer: this is not any Sorare or financial advice, i am just expressing my own ideas. Do your own research if you would want to buy or sell one of their cards.