Joachim Van Damme’s late-career move: from Standard to P1’s bottom side

At 34, Joachim Van Damme has swapped Hamme for KFC Vrasene, the bottom side in East Flanders’ P1 last season. The move marks another chapter in a career defined by comebacks, suspensions and lower-league stints.

Van Damme leaves Hamme after two seasons in D2 VV, having joined the club in January 2024. His departure follows a six-month spell without a club after his release by Hamme in the summer.

The midfielder’s CV includes time at Mechelen, where he won the Challenger Pro League, and a brief, troubled spell at Standard Liège. In January 2022, six months after arriving at Standard, he was loaned to SK Beveren before returning to Standard a year later.

His suspension in 2016 for cocaine use, which carried a two-year ban, remains a defining episode. After serving the ban, he rebuilt his career in Belgium’s second and third tiers, including spells at Beveren and Zelzate.

At KFC Vrasene, Van Damme arrives as a proven leader in the dugout’s eyes. “For a team like Vrasene, this is obviously a major transfer, likely the biggest in years,” said head coach Bryan Bultheel in an interview with local outlet Kantine11.

Bultheel added that KSK Beveren, also in P1, had also taken an interest in the player. The race for Van Damme’s signature underlines the competition for experienced profiles in Belgium’s amateur elite.

Vrasene finished bottom of East Flanders’ P1 last season, leaving them in the relegation zone. The club now faces an uphill battle to retain their place in the division.

Van Damme’s arrival is framed as both a sporting and motivational boost. “Joachim is determined to prove himself again, and the club can only benefit,” Bultheel said.

The midfielder’s experience across multiple leagues and clubs is now focused on helping Vrasene avoid the drop. His presence could be decisive in a league where survival is the immediate target.