Born in 2004, Matte Smets is a centre-back who has quietly established himself as one of the most promising young defenders in the Belgian Pro League. At just 21 years old, the Belgian has already completed two full seasons as a starter, one for STVV and one for KRC Genk, logging significant minutes and demonstrating loads of maturity. Smets represents the modern breed of centre-back—comfortable on the ball, intelligent in his positioning, and versatile in his application.
In the summer of the 24/25 season, Matte Smets followed his coach Thorsten Fink, both joining KRC Genk from STVV. Here, the German coach displayed the same philosophy of football, allowing Smets to keep evolving in a well-known style. In the matches observed, both Sint-Truiden and Genk predominantly operated in a 3-4-3 formation when in possession, with Smets playing as one of the three centre-backs. Off the ball, STVV kept a 3-4-3 formation, while Genk is now using a 4-2-3-1 formation. This system demands high tactical intelligence from its defenders, as they must seamlessly transition between defensive solidity and progressive ball-playing. The young Belgian thrives in this setup, often dropping low during build-up phases to offer an additional passing option while maintaining his responsibilities as the last line of defence.
Physically, Smets presents an unusual profile for his position. Standing at 1.84 m, he lacks the imposing stature typically associated with centre-backs, making it difficult to dominate aerial duels even with good timing, commitment, and elevation. His jumping ability still allows him to compete with much taller opponents—notably when he outduelled the imposing Tiago of Club Brugge in direct aerial confrontations last season. What truly sets him apart physically is his combination of speed and agility. He possesses good acceleration over the first few steps and demonstrates impressive turning speed, crucial assets that allow him to recover from occasional positional errors. His lower body strength is evident in his ability to shield the ball and maintain balance under pressure, though he lacks the raw physical dominance of more imposing defenders.
Where Smets truly excels is in his technical application and game intelligence. On the ball, he displays remarkable composure and rarely appears flustered under pressure. Matte Smets shows great abilities with both foots, using them almost equally. While he tends to favor shorter, safer lateral passes during build-up play, he demonstrates excellent long passing range when the situation demands it, particularly when switching play to the left flank. His ball-carrying ability is perhaps his most valuable asset: the young Belgian is able to cover long distances with the ball in order to make the play move forward. Defensively, his tackling technique is exemplary, showing excellent timing whether executing standing tackles, with the capacity to pin his opponent along the touchlines or when committing to sliding challenges. His anticipation and positioning are generally sound, though there are occasional lapses that his recovery pace usually compensates for.
Tactically, Smets embodies versatility. In Thorsten Fink’s system, he seamlessly transitions between defensive anchor and progressive playmaker, dropping deeper to collect the ball from the goalkeeper or pushing higher to support midfield combinations. His movement without the ball is intelligent—he understands when to provide width, when to offer central support, and crucially, when to maintain defensive shape. However, his positional awareness is not infallible, and he occasionally finds himself caught between two minds, leading to moments where quicker, more experienced attackers can exploit the space behind him.
Cognitively, the young Belgian demonstrates impressive game reading abilities. His scanning of the field is frequent and purposeful, allowing him to make informed decisions both in and out of possession. He positions himself well relative to both teammates and opponents, showing a mature understanding of defensive geometry and space management. His intelligence shines through in his ability to adapt his positioning based on the flow of the game and his team’s tactical needs.
Mentally, Smets displays the characteristics of a natural leader despite his young age. Communication is constant and purposeful—he organises his defensive line through vocal commands and clear gesturing, particularly important in a three-defender system that requires constant coordination. His concentration levels remain consistently high throughout matches, and he demonstrates resilience when facing setbacks or individual errors. The Belgian maintains his composure even in high-pressure situations, rarely allowing frustration to affect his decision-making.
Smets represents a fascinating prospect whose development trajectory suggests significant upside. His technical shortcomings are minimal and largely stem from conservative decision-making rather than inability. The tactical aspects of his game require refinement through experience, but his foundation is exceptionally solid for a 21-year-old.
After two solid years, Smets is set to discover European competition thanks to KRC Genk finishing third last year; they will be playing in the Europa League. Based on his profile and development needs, La Liga and Serie A appear to offer the most suitable next step. The ceiling of Smets is very high, and I would not be surprised if the young diable rouge were to ever play for a potential UCL winner and get a huge number of caps with the Belgium A team.
Target Scouting 