Genk starlet Maarten Vandevoordt set to make Champions League history by becoming the youngest goalkeeper to play in the competition at just 17 years old… putting him ahead of David de Gea, Iker Casillas and Co
- Maarten Vandevoordt could face Napoli in the Champions League on Tuesday
- The 17-year-old goalkeeper has impressed against Antwerp and Cercle Brugge
- He would become the competition’s youngster ever keeper ahead of Mile Svilar
- Iker Casillas, David de Gea, Petr Cech and Pepe Reina all feature in the top 10
A Genk teenager is set to make history as the Champions League’s youngest ever goalkeeper on Tuesday night.
Maarten Vandevoordt, who is only 17 years old, is in line to face Napoli in the Belgian club’s final group game at Stadio San Paolo.
And if he pulls on his gloves and gets on the pitch as expected, he will jump ahead of Benfica’s Mile Svilar and break the competition’s record.
Genk goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt in action for the club’s Under 19s against Liverpool
Vandevoordt is set to beat the Champions League record of compatriot Mile Svilar (right)
Svilar, who is also from Belgium, was 18 years, one month and 21 days old when he lined up against Manchester United for the Portuguese giants in October, 2017.
But Vandevoordt, who has impressed in recent league outings against Antwerp and Cercle Brugge, is only 17 years, nine months and 10 days old.
The talented teen would also eclipse a number of big names if he is given the nod to face Carlo Ancelotti’s men in Naples.
Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas is second on the list, having faced Olympiacos in 1999 when he was 18 years, three months and 26 days old.
David de Gea (18 years, 10 months and 23 days) and Petr Cech (19 years, three months and 29 days) also feature in a top 10 which includes Russian stopper Igor Akinfeev and Pepe Reina, who was only 19 when he turned out for Barcelona.
Vandevoordt is highly-rated after progressing through the youth ranks at Genk, who are bottom of Group E and have no chance of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League or dropping into the Europa League.
Speaking about his friend and team-mate, youngster Jay-Dee Geusens told HLN: ‘It soon became clear that Maarten had a lot of talent, even though he always wanted to play on the pitch himself.’
Iker Casillas (left) and David de Gea (right) were both 18 when they first played in Europe
Genk keeper Vandevoordt is in line to face Napoli in the Champions League on Tuesday night