Dirk Mertens

Career
Dirk was in the youth set-up at Valencia and signed his professional contract in the 24/25 season. He was placed into the reserves but never played a single game for the 2 years he was there. At the end of the 25/26 season, Valencia decided not to renew his contract and Gateshead came in with a bosman deal for the young Belgian. For the 26/27 season, he was loaned out to Bolton to gain some game time with Mirko Valtorta being the number one at the time. He played 46 games and conceded 59 goals helping them to a secure 13th place in League One. His season out on loan impressed Luke Ireland and for the 27/28 he was kept on as a back-up to Mirko. After some impressive performances at training and a poor run from Valtorta, it saw him gain a chance to play in the first team. Throughout the season Valtorta and Mertens changed in and out as number one. He caught the attention from the Belgian U21 squad and he became a regular in the squad looking to represent his country later in his career. By the end of the season it was obvious that he was the better goalkeeper of the two and he ended up playing 27 games and only conceding 19. He gained Gateshead's Young Player of the Season Award at the end of the year and some interest from high rolling clubs including Napoli placing a £18,000,000 bid for the youngster which was rejected by Ireland. He looks to improve and hopefully help get Gateshead into the Premiership in the near future. Valtorta was sold at the start of the 28/29 season, so Mertens was easily the best goalkeeper at the club, possibly in the league. He managed to only concede 39 goals in 51 appearances that year. In the summer he also gained his first 3 caps for the Belgium first team after impressing in the under 21 team. The 29/30 season saw him perform excellently, eventually helping the club to league victory in the Championship and only conceding 19 in 39 appearances. The next season saw the now Belgian first choice keeper in the Premiership. He played 37 games and only conceded 32 which contributed to the leagues best defensive record for any team, he even provided an assist. The pushed there way into the Europa League places for the next season. The 31/32 season was a very good one for Dirk, he came away with only conceding 29 goals in 46 games (most of any player that season) and the eventual Europa League title against Liverpool. After his first sucess in a major trophy, it spurred Dirk to gain more and more medals. He helped the team to Premier League victory the following season, only conceding 29 in 53. The 33/34 season came, and there was one goal to complete, the Champions League trophy. Again, Mertens performed incredibly well through the season, eventually getting "Player of the Season, only letting in 15 goals over 47 games. Unfortunately Gateshead missed out on a successive 1st Division title on goal difference, but this was made up with the FA Cup and Champions League trophies coming back to the newly expanded Angel of the North Arena. Over the 15 seasons in the YouTube series, Dirk just made it into the 300 appearance club on the last game of the season where (as said previously) he lifted the Champions League Trophy.