Jos Van Riel

Jozef "Jos" Van Riel (16 November 1943 – 19 January 2023) was a Belgian footballer who played as a right-back defender.

Jos Van Riel

Personal information
Full name	Jozef Van Riel
Date of birth	(1943-11-16)16 November 1943
Place of birth	Ekeren, Belgium
Date of death	19 January 2023(2023-01-19) (aged 79)
Playing position	Defender
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1967–1970	Sportkring Sint-Niklaas
1970–1973	K.F.C. Diest
1973–1976	Royal Antwerp F.C.	99	(8)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Biography

Van Riel started playing football in Ekeren Donk. He later played in Kalmthout and afterwards at Sportkring Sint-Niklaas in Sint-Niklaas and at K.F.C. Diest in Diest. In 1973 he signed a contract with Royal Antwerp F.C.. He played for the team 99 matches in the Belgian Pro League, the Belgian Cup and in UEFA Europa League matches. Playing as a defender he had shirt number one and still scored eight league goals. In his first two seasons, he became vice champion of Belgium at the 1973–74 Belgian First Division and 1974–75 Belgian First Division. In its third and last year he finished with the team eleventh at the 1975–76 Belgian First Division. In 1975 he was on the team during the 1974-75 Belgian Cup where they lost from R.S.C. Anderlecht with 1-0.

Van Riel died on 19 January 2023, at the age of 79.