# Jens Cools

Jens Cools (born 16 October 1990) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Lierse. He gained two caps for the Belgium under-21 team.

## Career
### Westerlo

In the 2009–10 season, Cools was promoted from the youth academy to the first team of Westerlo, the club from the municipality where he grew up. He made his professional debut one season later. After having played for six seasons in the first team, Cools' contract expired at the end of the 2015–16 season, as a result of which he left Westerlo on a free transfer. A key player of the club during his time there, Cools managed to make 161 appearances for the club, in which he scored 12 goals.

### Waasland-Beveren

On 1 July 2016, Cools moved Waasland-Beveren after having been convinced by their manager Stijn Vreven. Cools signed a two-year contract. He made 51 appearances for the club during his two seasons there, in which he scored two goals.

### Pafos

After two seasons, he chose to accept an offer from Cypriot club Pafos. He experienced a strong season there in which he scored six goals in 25 appearances.

### Eupen

After playing in Cyprus for one season, Cools expressed a wish to return to his home country. On 16 July 2019, Eupen announced that he had signed a three-year contract with them. In his first season there, he made 27 appearances and scored one goal.
In October 2020, he tested positive for SARS‑CoV‑2 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite being sidelined for some time with the disease, Cools made 26 appearances and scored one goal during the 2020–21 season, as Eupen finished mid-table in a disappointing 12th place.

### Al-Riyadh

On 26 July 2022, Cools joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Riyadh. In December 2022, he was released by the club due to repeated injuries.

### Lierse

On 7 January 2023, Cools signed a year-and-a-half contract with Lierse.

## International career

Cools was called into the Belgian under-21 squad in March 2011. He made his debut for the Belgium under-21s on 24 March, replacing Luis Pedro Cavanda in the 82nd minute of a 1–0 win against Scotland.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of 18 May 2019
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Westerlo | 2010–11 | Pro League | 21 | 0 | 5 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 26 | 0 |
| Westerlo | 2011–12 | Pro League | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Westerlo | 2012–13 | Proximus League | 26 | 3 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 28 | 3 |
| Westerlo | 2013–14 | Proximus League | 29 | 3 | 4 | 2 | – | – | – | – | 33 | 5 |
| Westerlo | 2014–15 | Pro League | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 28 | 0 |
| Westerlo | 2015–16 | Pro League | 28 | 4 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 30 | 4 |
| Westerlo | Total | Total | 147 | 10 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 161 | 12 |
| Waasland-Beveren | 2016–17 | First Division A | 36 | 4 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 37 | 4 |
| Waasland-Beveren | 2017–18 | First Division A | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 14 | 1 |
| Waasland-Beveren | Total | Total | 49 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 5 |
| Pafos | 2018–19 | Cypriot First Division | 25 | 6 | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 28 | 7 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 221 | 21 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 240 | 24 |