Nico Claesen

Nicolaas "Nico" Pieter Claesen (born 1 October 1962) is a former Belgian football player who works as head coach of RFC Liège.

Career

Claesen was signed by Tottenham Hotspur in October 1986 by David Pleat who bought him from Standard Liège for £600,000. He made his debut against Liverpool at Anfield. In August 1988, when Terry Venables arrived, Claesen fell out of favour and was sold for £550,000 to Antwerp FC.

International career

Claesen earned 36 caps and scored 12 goals from 1983 to 1990 for the Belgium national team, and was in the squad for three major tournaments: UEFA Euro 1984, the 1986 FIFA World Cup, where he scored three goals as Belgium finished in fourth, and the 1990 FIFA World Cup.

Honours Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup runner-up: 1986–87

Antwerp Belgian Cup: 1991–92

Individual Belgian First Division top scorer: 1983–84 (27 goals)

International goals No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 17 October 1984 Brussels, Belgium 1–0 3–1 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification 2. 19 May 1986 1–3 1–3 Friendly 3. 8 June 1986 Toluca, Mexico 2–0 2–1 1986 FIFA World Cup 4. 15 June 1986 León, Mexico 4–2 4–3 5. 28 June 1986 Puebla, Mexico 2–2 2–4 6. 10 September 1986 Brussels, Belgium 1–0 2–2 UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying 7. 14 October 1986 Luxembourg City, Luxembourg 2–0 6–0 8. 4–0 9. 6–0 10. 1 April 1987 Anderlecht, Belgium 1–0 4–1 11. 2–1 12. 4–1