Matz Sels
Updated: Wikipedia source
Matz Willy Els Sels (born 26 February 1992) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Nottingham Forest and the Belgium national team.
Infobox
2009
Belgium U17
Full name
Matz Willy Els Sels
Date of birth
(1992-02-26) 26 February 1992 (age 33)
Place of birth
Lint, Belgium
Height
1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position
Goalkeeper
Current team
Nottingham Forest
Number
26
Years
Team
2010–2014
Lierse
2014–2016
Gent
2016–2018
Newcastle United
2017–2018
→ Anderlecht (loan)
2018–2024
Strasbourg
2024–
Nottingham Forest
2009–2010
Belgium U18
2010–2011
Belgium U19
2012–2014
Belgium U21
2021–
Belgium
Tables
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition · Career statistics › Club
Division
Division
Club
Division
Season
Apps
League
Goals
League
Apps
League
Goals
National cup
Apps
National cup
Goals
League cup
Apps
League cup
Goals
Europe
Apps
Europe
Goals
Other
Apps
Other
Goals
Lierse
Lierse
Club
Lierse
Season
2010–11
League
Belgian Pro League
League
0
League
0
National cup
0
National cup
0
League cup
—
League cup
—
Europe
—
Europe
0
Other
0
2011–12
2011–12
Club
2011–12
Season
Belgian Pro League
League
0
League
0
League
0
National cup
0
National cup
—
League cup
—
League cup
—
Europe
0
Europe
0
2012–13
2012–13
Club
2012–13
Season
Belgian Pro League
League
30
League
0
League
1
National cup
0
National cup
—
League cup
—
League cup
—
Europe
31
Europe
0
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
30
League
0
League
1
League
0
National cup
—
National cup
—
League cup
—
League cup
31
Europe
0
Gent
Gent
Club
Gent
Season
2013–14
League
Belgian Pro League
League
9
League
0
National cup
3
National cup
0
League cup
—
League cup
—
Europe
6
Europe
0
Other
18
Other
0
2014–15
2014–15
Club
2014–15
Season
Belgian Pro League
League
30
League
0
League
6
National cup
0
National cup
—
League cup
—
League cup
9
Europe
0
Europe
45
Other
0
2015–16
2015–16
Club
2015–16
Season
Belgian Pro League
League
30
League
0
League
4
National cup
0
National cup
—
League cup
8
League cup
0
Europe
11
Europe
0
Other
53
Other
0
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
69
League
0
League
13
League
0
National cup
—
National cup
8
League cup
0
League cup
26
Europe
0
Europe
116
Other
0
Newcastle United
Newcastle United
Club
Newcastle United
Season
2016–17
League
Championship
League
9
League
0
National cup
3
National cup
0
League cup
2
League cup
0
Europe
—
Europe
—
Other
14
Other
0
Anderlecht (loan)
Anderlecht (loan)
Club
Anderlecht (loan)
Season
2017–18
League
Belgian Pro League
League
22
League
0
National cup
1
National cup
0
League cup
—
League cup
3
Europe
0
Europe
11
Other
0
Other
37
Total
0
Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Club
Strasbourg
Season
2018–19
League
Ligue 1
League
37
League
0
National cup
1
National cup
0
League cup
0
League cup
0
Europe
—
Europe
—
Other
38
Other
0
2019–20
2019–20
Club
2019–20
Season
Ligue 1
League
27
League
0
League
2
National cup
0
National cup
0
League cup
0
League cup
6
Europe
0
Europe
—
Other
35
Other
0
2020–21
2020–21
Club
2020–21
Season
Ligue 1
League
6
League
0
League
0
National cup
0
National cup
—
League cup
—
League cup
—
Europe
6
Europe
0
2021–22
2021–22
Club
2021–22
Season
Ligue 1
League
37
League
0
League
1
National cup
0
National cup
—
League cup
—
League cup
—
Europe
38
Europe
0
2022–23
2022–23
Club
2022–23
Season
Ligue 1
League
38
League
0
League
1
National cup
0
National cup
—
League cup
—
League cup
—
Europe
39
Europe
0
2023–24
2023–24
Club
2023–24
Season
Ligue 1
League
20
League
0
League
0
National cup
0
National cup
—
League cup
—
League cup
—
Europe
20
Europe
0
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
165
League
0
League
5
League
0
National cup
0
National cup
0
League cup
6
League cup
0
Europe
—
Europe
176
Other
0
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest
Club
Nottingham Forest
Season
2023–24
League
Premier League
League
16
League
0
National cup
0
National cup
0
League cup
—
League cup
—
Europe
—
Europe
16
Other
0
2024–25
2024–25
Club
2024–25
Season
Premier League
League
37
League
0
League
4
National cup
0
National cup
0
League cup
0
League cup
—
Europe
—
Europe
41
Other
0
2025–26
2025–26
Club
2025–26
Season
Premier League
League
15
League
0
League
0
National cup
0
National cup
0
League cup
0
League cup
3
Europe
0
Europe
—
Other
18
Other
0
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
68
League
0
League
4
League
0
National cup
0
National cup
0
League cup
3
League cup
0
Europe
—
Europe
75
Other
0
Career total
Career total
Club
Career total
Season
363
League
0
League
27
League
0
National cup
2
National cup
0
League cup
20
League cup
0
Europe
37
Europe
0
Other
449
Other
0
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Lierse | 2010–11 | Belgian Pro League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2011–12 | Belgian Pro League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2012–13 | Belgian Pro League | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 31 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 31 | 0 | |||||
| Gent | 2013–14 | Belgian Pro League | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15 | Belgian Pro League | 30 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 0 | 45 | 0 | |||
| 2015–16 | Belgian Pro League | 30 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 53 | 0 | ||
| Total | 69 | 0 | 13 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 116 | 0 | |||
| Newcastle United | 2016–17 | Championship | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 0 | ||
| Anderlecht (loan) | 2017–18 | Belgian Pro League | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 37 | 0 | |
| Strasbourg | 2018–19 | Ligue 1 | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20 | Ligue 1 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 35 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | Ligue 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 6 | 0 | ||||
| 2021–22 | Ligue 1 | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 38 | 0 | ||||
| 2022–23 | Ligue 1 | 38 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 39 | 0 | ||||
| 2023–24 | Ligue 1 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 20 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 165 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 176 | 0 | |||
| Nottingham Forest | 2023–24 | Premier League | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 16 | 0 | |||
| 2024–25 | Premier League | 37 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 41 | 0 | |||
| 2025–26 | Premier League | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 18 | 0 | ||
| Total | 68 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 75 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 363 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 449 | 0 | ||
Appearances and goals by national team and year · Career statistics › International
Belgium
Belgium
National team
Belgium
Year
2021
Apps
1
Goals
0
2022
2022
National team
2022
Year
1
Apps
0
2023
2023
National team
2023
Year
4
Apps
0
2024
2024
National team
2024
Year
2
Apps
0
2025
2025
National team
2025
Year
4
Apps
0
Total
Total
National team
Total
Year
12
Apps
0
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Belgium | 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 12 | 0 | |
References
- Includes Belgian Cup, FA Cup, Coupe de France
- Includes EFL Cup
- Appearances in Belgian Pro League play-offs
- Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- Ten appearances in Belgian Pro League play-offs, one appearance in Belgian Super Cup
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- "Latest updated Premier League squad lists for 2023/24"https://www.premierleague.com/news/3886218
- "Matz Sels: Overview"https://www.premierleague.com/players/16723/Matz-Sels/overview
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/sep/16/gent-lyon-champions-league-match-report
- "Matz Sels weer trapje hoger: Beste doelman van 2015"https://www.hln.be/hln/nl/1324/Gouden-Schoen/article/detail/2583539/2016/01/13/Matz-Sels-weer-trapje-hoger-beste-doelman-van-2015.dhtml
- The Shields Gazettehttps://web.archive.org/web/20181211043523/https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/matz-sels-starts-in-goal-for-newcastle-at-fulham-chancel-mbemba-on-bench-1-8054239
- The Maghttp://www.themag.co.uk/2016/09/case-matz-sels-strange-one-newcastle-united/
- Daily Mirrorhttps://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/newcastle-united-goalkeeper-matz-sels-8911140
- "Rafa Benitez backs goalkeeper Matz Sels after error"http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/10595494/rafa-benitez-backs-goalkeeper-matz-sels-after-error
- The Northern Echohttp://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/14770283.TEAM_NEWS__Newcastle_boss_drops_Matz_Sels_for_Norwich_game/
- Evening Chroniclehttp://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/matz-sels-down-not-out-11978430
- Het Nieuwsbladhttp://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20161026_02540893
- "Sels makes Anderlecht loan move"https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/sels-makes-anderlecht-loan-move
- Sky Sportshttp://www.skysports.com/football/news/12969/11450010/newcastle-confirm-departure-of-matz-sels-to-strasbourg
- RC Strasbourg Alsacehttps://www.rcstrasbourgalsace.fr/matz-sels-elu-meilleur-joueur-de-la-saison-18-19/
- "FOREST COMPLETE MATZ SELS SIGNING"https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2024/february/01/forest-complete-matz-sels-signing/
- BBC Sporthttps://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68120825
- "Sels makes history with Castrol Save of the Month award"https://www.premierleague.com/news/3961410
- "Raya and Sels share Premier League Golden Glove award"https://www.premierleague.com/news/4316253
- "Belgium make sweeping changes for Euro 2016 double-header"http://www.skysports.com/football/news/29908/10014350/belgium-make-sweeping-changes-for-euro-2016-double-header
- Yahoohttps://web.archive.org/web/20190729091029/https://sports.yahoo.com/limbombe-gets-first-belgium-call-122606185.html
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/belgium-world-cup-squad-confirmed-russia-2018-nainggolan-hazard-de-bruyne-lukaku-a8361241.html
- BBC Sporthttps://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44353673
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/sports/soccer/uefa-euro-2020-rosters.html
- "Belgium v Greece game report"https://www.espn.com/soccer/lineups?gameId=600144
- WorldFootball.nethttps://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe162312/matz-sels/club-matches/
- Matz Sels at Soccerway. Retrieved 9 October 2017.https://int.soccerway.com/players/matz-sels/89739/
- EU-Football.infohttps://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=31506
- Goal (website)https://www.goal.com/en-cm/match/gent-v-club-brugge/lineups/edi5ulnpoaydk03x0w6ejd78p
- "Le Strasbourg de Matz Sels remporte la Coupe de la Ligue pour la 3e fois de son histoire"https://www.rtl.be/sport/football/football-etranger/le-strasbourg-de-matz-sels-remporte-la-coupe-de-la-ligue-pour-la-3e-fois-de-son-histoire-video--1112428.aspx
- "Matz Sels (Strasbourg) meilleur gardien de la saison en L1 pour les entraîneurs des gardiens"https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Matz-sels-strasbourg-meilleur-gardien-de-la-saison-en-l1-pour-les-entraineurs-des-gardiens/1335145
- "Sels makes history with Castrol Save of the Month award"https://www.premierleague.com/news/3961410
- "Premier League Team of the Season – EA SPORTS FC™ 25 Ultimate Team™ – EA SPORTS Official"https://www.ea.com/games/ea-sports-fc/fc-25/tots/premier-league
- "REVEALED: 2024/25 Fan Team of the Season"https://www.premierleague.com/news/4322522
- The Athletic'shttps://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6336642/2025/05/20/athletic-end-of-season-awards-2024-25-men/
- BBC Sporthttps://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/czxy7y4nwdpo