Nico Claesen

• Full name: Nico Claesen
• Date of birth: 14 August 1962
• Place of birth: Mopertingen, Limburg, Belgium
• Nationality: Belgian
• Position: Striker (forward)

Club career (highlights)

• K.S.K. Tongeren – early career club (youth / professional breakthrough)
• K.F.C. Winterslag / Racing Genk era – played in Belgian domestic leagues in the early 1980s
• Standard Liège – notable Belgian top-flight club where Claesen made an impact
• FC Mulhouse – brief spell in France
• Tenure at K.V. Oostende (Oostende) – Nico Claesen spent part of his playing career at K.V. Oostende (often referred to as Oostende). He played as a forward for the club during his later domestic career after spells with larger Belgian clubs and abroad.
• Tottenham Hotspur – played in the English First Division (now Premier League) in the mid-1980s; remembered for scoring important goals
• Rotherham United – later played in England for brief periods

International career

• Belgium national team – Claesen was capped by Belgium and featured in major tournaments, including UEFA Euro 1984 and the 1986 FIFA World Cup (where Belgium finished fourth). He contributed important goals for the national side during the 1980s.

Playing style and legacy

• Claesen was known as a clinical finisher and penalty-taker, with good positional sense in the box.
• He is remembered in Belgium for his goal-scoring record domestically and his role in Belgium’s strong 1980s national team.

Post-playing career

• After retiring as a player, Nico Claesen remained involved in football in various capacities, including coaching and youth development in Belgium.

Note: Club rosters and historical records sometimes list spells and dates differently. The summary above highlights Claesen’s connection to Oostende (K.V. Oostende) among his several clubs during a long professional career.