Bryan Heynen celebrated remarkable achievement during Genk’s victory over Dender | OneFootball

Genk captain Bryan Heynen was given a standing ovation on Sunday afternoon when he was subbed off in the 81st minute by head coach Thorsten Fink. While Heynen would always be given a big ovation from a crowd that adores him, this was a special moment for the 27-year-old. Heynen celebrated his 300th appearance for Genk, the only club he has ever played for.

Prior to the match with Dender, the fans of Genk unveiled a special tifo to honor the achievement of their favourite midfielder.

Since making his senior debut as a teenager during the 2015/2016 season, Heynen has gone on to have a fantastic career with Genk. He has become the clubs captain and leader on the pitch, with Fink even describing him as the heartbeat of the side. During those 300 appearances he has scored 35 goals and grabbed 32 assists for the side. Heynen has played in all three of Europes major competitions and was capped at youth level by Belgium. For many, he is one of what might be termed a lost generation, not quite good enough to break into the golden generation and now being surpassed by the next one coming through.

However, Heynen has had plenty of success during his time at Genk. He was part of the title winning side in 2018/2019 and lifted the Super Cup the following year. In 2021 he also helped the side to win the Belgian Cup. In an era where it is very rare for a player to spend their entire career with one club, Heynen may well defy that. It is hard to imagine that the midfielder, who is still under contract until 2026, would play for anyone else in the coming years.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson