Konstantinos Karetsas

Technopedia Center

Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science
S1 Informatics S1 Information Systems S1 Information Technology S1 Computer Engineering S1 Electrical Engineering S1 Civil Engineering

faculty of Economics and Business
S1 Management S1 Accountancy

Faculty of Letters and Educational Sciences
S1 English literature S1 English language education S1 Mathematics education S1 Sports Education

Konstantinos Karetsas - Wikipedia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Konstantinos Karetsas
Personal information
Date of birth	(2007-11-19) 19 November 2007 (age 17)
Place of birth	Genk, Belgium
Height	1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Genk
Number	20
Youth career
0000–2020	Genk
2020–2023	Anderlecht
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2023–	Jong Genk	20	(6)
2024–	Genk	16	(0)
International career^‡
2022	Belgium U15	1	(0)
2022–2023	Belgium U16	13	(3)
2023–2024	Belgium U17	4	(0)
2024–	Belgium U21	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 December 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:36, 30 November 2024 (UTC)

Konstantinos Karetsas (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Καρέτσας) (born 19 November 2007) is a Belgian footballer who also has the Greek nationality (since 2024) and plays for Racing Genk in the Belgian Pro League.^[1]

Career

Karetsas came through the system at his home town club Genk before spending three years at Anderlecht. He then returned to Genk in January 2023.^[2]

He made his professional debut as a fifteen year-old for Jong Genk in the opening game of the 2023-24 season. He scored three goals in his first seven league games.^[3] When he scored his first professional goal on 1 September 2023, in the Challenger Pro League against RSCA Futures, he became the youngest goalscorer in Belgian pro-league history.^[4]^[5]

After a few strong months at Jong Genk, Karetsas was promoted to Genk's first team in February 2024 together with teammate Noah Adedeji-Sternberg. He was given his official debut by coach Wouter Vrancken in the league match against Cercle Brugge on 4 May. In the 88th minute, Karetsas came on for Bilal El Khannouss. Two weeks later, interim head coach Domenico Olivieri give him a first-team start for the first time for the league match against Royal Antwerp and in the 28th minute, he provided the assist for the only goal of the game, scored by Andi Zeqiri.

Karetsas continued to impress in the opening weeks of the 2024-25 season, while still 16 years old, and was selected among The Guardian's 60 best young talents in world football selection for 2024.^[6]

International career

Karetsas was born in Belgium to Greek parents.^[7] He is eligible to represent Greece and Belgium international teams. He is a Belgian youth international.^[8]

Sounded out by the Greek Football Association to play for them, Karetsas was selected by the Belgian Under-21s for European qualifiers against Scotland and Hungary in October 2024, coming on as substitute in the latter match for this debut at that level.^[9]

Career statistics

As of match played 4 December 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			Cup		Europe		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Jong Genk	2023–24	Challenger Pro League	20	6	—		—		—		20	6
Genk	2023–24	Belgian Pro League	4	0	0	0	—		—		4	0
	2024–25	Belgian Pro League	12	0	2	0	—		—		14	0
	Total		16	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	18	0
Career total			36	6	2	0	0	0	0	0	38	6

References

^ Konstantinos Karetsas at Soccerway
^ "Anderlecht: the great talent Konstantinos Karetsas heads to Genk" (in French). 10 January 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
^ "KONSTANTINOS KARETSAS: THE 15-YEAR-OLD 'WONDERKID' LIGHTING UP THE BELGIAN SECOND TIER". Onefootball.com. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
^ "VIDEO: 15-year-old wonderkid Konstantinos Karetsas scores a screamer, becoming the youngest scorer in Belgian football history". Nogomania.com. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
^ "RSC ANDERLECHT II VS. KRC GENK II 1 - 1". Soccerway. 1 September 2023.
^ "Next Generation 2024: 60 of the best young talents in world football". Guardian. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
^ "Κωνσταντίνος Καρέτσας, Ελληνόπουλο το μεγαλύτερο ταλέντο στο Βέλγιο".
^ "Big blow for Anderlecht: the great talent Konstantinos Karetsas goes to Genk". Sudinfo.be. 10 January 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
^ "Belgium U21 vs. Hungary U21 - 15 October 2024 - Soccerway". Soccerway. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.

v t e K.R.C. Genk – current squad
1 Van Crombrugge 2 Pierre 3 Mujaid 6 Smets 8 Heynen 9 Oh 11 Oyen 14 Sor 15 Claes 17 Hrošovský 18 Kayembe 20 Karetsas 21 Bangoura 22 Manguelle 23 Steuckers 24 Sattlberger 27 Nkuba 32 Adedeji-Sternberg 34 Palacios 39 Penders 44 Kongolo 46 Cuesta 77 El Ouahdi 90 Bonsu Baah 99 Arokodare Manager: Fink

Categories:

Hidden categories: