Captain Yellow Tigers Celine Van Gestel Steps Away from Volleyball Career at 26 to Pursue Work Life Experience

© BELGIUM

Celine Van Gestel says goodbye to volleyball. The 26-year-old captain of the Yellow Tigers, the national team, confirmed the news on Friday in the Tweemansblok podcast.

“It's time for something new in my life,” says the reception corner player from Aachen, Germany. With that club, penultimate in the regular competition, she was eliminated from the play-offs. Then she made the decision.

Van Gestel says she wants to “get a taste of working life” now that she has graduated. “It's time for something new in my life. It will be quite an adjustment, but it is necessary,” she is quoted by Sporza. “The thought about what to do next in my career had been lingering in my head for a few years. I started playing closer to home this year and am now also graduating. So it's the perfect time to stop and get a taste of working life.”

Van Gestel had her breakthrough at Asterix Kieldrecht, with whom she won a number of Belgian titles and cups. In 2019, the Turnhout native moved to Stuttgart, Germany, after which she went to play for Firenze in Italy. She has played for Aachen since 2023. “I really enjoyed my last matches. All my friends and all my family came to watch. Although I will miss it terribly.”

Role as captain

At the Tigers, Van Gestel had become the face of the team. As captain she had an important role. “It is with great pain in my heart that I will no longer be playing for the national team this summer,” she admits. “Playing for the Yellow Tigers was always my favorite moment of the year. But the fact that I came home from a long season and then had to start a busy summer became more and more difficult for me every year.”

Previous Post

Barça President Warns Real Madrid of Potential Dressing Room Disruption Due to Kylian Mbappé’s Salary in Impending Transfer

Next Post

Romelu Lukaku Returns to Manchester United, But Friendly Match Against Ireland Comes Too Soon

Related Posts