John Chapman Bio


I focus on the Belgian national team, the Belgian (JPL) league and on Belgian footballers, plying their trade abroad in the Premier League, Spain, the Bundesliga, Serie A and the Eeredivisie as well as those playing domestically. This doesn’t, of course, mean that I ignore those players in the Jupiler league who don’t have Belgian passports, such as Ruud Vormer, Marvelous Nakamba and Sofiane Hanni.

If you need an experienced journalist to write about, or discuss, Belgian football in an expert manner, or conduct interviews then you need to click here – contact me. Otherwise, if you want to know more about the work I do, and have done in the past, then keep reading.

I maintain a Twitter account – @Belgofoot – that currently attracts over 15,000 followers. As well as micro-blogging (and this blog of course) I have spoken about Belgian football on numerous radio talk shows, appeared on internet television and have been published in a wide variety of magazines and newspapers.

Ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, I covered Belgium for World Soccer, the Telegraph, Unibet and ‘When Saturday Comes‘ (see below)’. I will be covering the 2018 World Cup in Russia for World Soccer magazine and Unibet. Over the years, I have also been a contributor to FourFourTwo‘, Sports Illustrated, Australia’s Soccer International and several UK nationals. I regularly contributed to the Manchester Evening News, particularly when Manchester United’s link with Belgian club side Royal Antwerp was in rude health. I also worked extensively for now defunct football site onefootball.com as their ‘man in Belgium’.

I have spoken many times on the radio and online on the subject of Belgian football, on BBC FiveLive, BBC Radio Wales, CNN, Talksport, Sports Tonight TV, Sky Sports News Radio and ColourFul Radio amongst others. I have also taken part in various podcasts and provided information to the Russian, Swedish, Finnish and American media.

Born in Manchester, lived in Brussels for many years, now dividing time between Brussels and Bologna.

Sports Illustrated

Genk’s De Bruyne considers his options Back in 2011, it was time to talk about Kevin Nov 2011

The BBC

Wilmots tells of ref’s apology Belgium were left to reflect on a disallowed first-half “goal” after their defeat to Brazil Jun 2002

The Telegraph

Belgium’s rebirth Belgium have a top-class squad but where did they come from? Jun 2014

The Guardian

Preview off-the-pitch of Belgium-Argentina Based on an interview with Jan Ceulemans as Belgium went World Cup crazy 2014

When Saturday Comes

Looking ahead to Duchatelet’s reign at The Valley A look at how Standard Liege were managed by Roland Duchatelet at the time he bought Charlton Athletic 2014
Meet the Pfaffs Flemish TV’s answer to The Osbournes was big back in 2002 2002

Chelsea Index

Here’s me answering questions about Chelsea’s Belgian contingent Luckily I seemed to get most of it right 2014

Beyond The Pitch

Here’s me talking about Life, Death, the Whole Damn thing – well not really! But I do talk about a lot of things on this Podcast 2013

World Soccer

A look at young Belgians coming through A piece for World Soccer on the next generation of Belgians 2013

Belgofoot

Where did they come from? Here’s me analysing what made the Belgian team what it is today; back in May 2012 2012

If you want to get in touch regarding anything you have read here then feel free to contact me.

7 thoughts on “John Chapman Bio

  1. belwingback

    Wow John, nice to know you were the Belgium correspondent for onefootball.com which I thought was a brilliant football site. No other site since has carried as much local news from the smaller football countries.

    Reply
  2. Belgofoot

    Yes, I worked for about four years at one football.com (freelance) as their man in Belgium. It was indeed a great site and there were some super people there. Sadly they never managed to develop a sustainable business model and it’s tough when sites like the BBC are free.

    Reply
  3. belwingback

    What was the business model at onefootball? Can’t remember whether there was an online store or subscriber content…

    Reply
  4. Mabel snail

    Great site. I love footie from Max and Mabel jiggle jiggle jiggle yeah hi nonno

    Reply
  5. Mabel snail

    I miss you very much nonno. Hopefully see you soon. And to anyone reading this, he has great football knowledge and is very kind!!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *