Dion dazzles in J-League
The J-League posted a clip of Cools in action for Cerezo Osaka on its official X account this week, praising the 29-year-old's adaptability and potential.
"As a versatile utility player who can cover multiple positions, we're excited to see what kind of performances he'll deliver in the future," read the caption, which accompanied a short video montage of his recent outings.
Cools joined Cerezo Osaka in early July and has so far featured in two J1 League matches, including the Osaka derby against Gamba Osaka on July 20, which ended in a 1-0 defeat.
Though the J-League referred to that match as his debut, the former Club Brugge youth product had already made his first appearance for Cerezo shortly after joining the club mid-season.
The move to Japan marked another step forward in Cools' globe-trotting career. Before landing in the J1 League, he spent the 2023-24 season with Thai champions Buriram United, playing a key role in their title-winning campaign.
He previously turned out for Slavia Prague in the Czech Republic, FC Midtjylland in Denmark and Belgian sides Zulte Waregem and Club Brugge.
Born in Kuching to a Malaysian mother and Belgian father, Cools represented Belgium at youth level before switching allegiance to Malaysia in 2021.
Since then, he has earned over 20 caps for Harimau Malaya and was part of the squad that helped Malaysia qualify for the 2023 Asian Cup.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Malaysia lose 16-0 to Japan in football
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Under-20 Women's Asian Cup qualifying campaign came to an embarrassing end after suffering a 16-0 defeat to reigning champions Japan in their Group F match at the KLFA Stadium on Friday. It was one of the most lopsided results in recent tournament history as the Young Tigress were completely outplayed in every department, conceding once every six minutes on average. Japan made their intentions clear from the start, with Anon Tsuda opening the scoring in the fourth minute after finishing off a low cross from the right. Mao Itamura doubled the lead in the 14th minute after finding herself unmarked in the box, and two minutes later, she added her second with another easy finish as Malaysia's defence failed to reorganise. Tsuda showed her class again in the 23rd minute, beating five defenders before coolly slotting home, and completed her hat-trick on the half-hour mark with a simple left-foot tap-in. Itamura then completed her own treble in the 34th minute, extending Japan's lead to 6-0. Asako Furuta got on the scoresheet in first-half added time, sidestepping Malaysia's backline to make it 7-0 at the break. But Japan weren't done. Just 30 seconds after the restart, Furuta capitalised on a defensive lapse to add her second. Kojima joined the act in the 53rd minute with a composed finish, before scoring again six minutes later. Tsuda returned to the spotlight with her fourth goal in the 60th minute as Japan hit double digits, and Sawa Tsuge made it 12-0 just four minutes later with a header. Yuka Kurimoto struck twice in the 69th and 78th minutes, punishing Malaysia's tired legs and static defending. Kojima completed her hat-trick in the 89th minute, and deep into stoppage time, Furuta added her third and Japan's 16th with a close-range finish, sealing the rout. The defeat leaves Malaysia with two losses, having earlier gone down 0-3 to Iran, and a staggering 19 goals conceded without reply in the tournament so far.
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Malaysia's U-20 women's team faces defeat in AFC qualifiers
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's women's football team endured a humiliating night as they were thrashed 0-16 by Asian giants Japan in their Group F match of the AFC U-20 Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers at the Cheras Football Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Friday (Aug 8). Japan's dominance was clear from the opening whistle. Anon Tsuda opened the floodgates in the fourth minute, and what followed was a relentless attacking display that left Malaysia's defence scrambling throughout. Tsuda went on to score three more goals (23rd, 30th and 60th minutes) in a sensational individual performance that epitomised Japan's clinical finishing. Mao Itamura added a hat-trick of her own (14th, 16th and 34th) while Asako Furuta joined the scoring spree with a superb treble as well, netting just before and after half-time (45th, 46th and 94th). So Kijoma also found the net three times (53rd, 59th and 89th) while Sawa Tsuge (64th) and Yuka Kurimoto (69th and 78th) piled on the misery for the home side, taking the tally to an eye-watering 16 goals. The young Malayan Tigress squad, still developing and gaining international exposure, struggled to create any good chances going forward and were pinned back for the majority of the match. This result marks one of the heaviest defeats in recent memory for the Malaysian women's youth team. Malaysia earlier lost to Iran 3-0 on Tuesday. The team led by Cameron Ng would complete their group fixture by taking on Guam at the Cheras Football Stadium on Sunday.
Barnama
4 hours ago
- Barnama
JDT Trounce Selangor 3-0, To Lift Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Cup For The 10th Time
SPORTS ISKANDAR PUTERI, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) continue to excel in a class of their own after defending the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Cup champion title for the eighth consecutive time by defeating Selangor FC 3-0 in the Charity Shield match here, tonight. The victory in the opening match of the Malaysia League (M-League) at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Iskandar Puteri also gave JDT three points, thus enabling the Southern Tigers to get the perfect start in their mission to win the Super League for the 12th time in a row. In JDT's first competitive match under their new Spanish coach, Xisco Munoz tonight, new striker Jairo Da Silva from Brazil, defender Eddy Israfilov and agile winger Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi each made their name as scorers in each half. Da Silva, a former striker for Cyprus club Pafos FC, punished the negligence of Selangor's defence as early as the first minute when he quickly found space to finish off Jonathan Silva's cross from the left, putting JDT ahead 1-0. Selangor under coach Kinoshi Katsuhito, who rarely create dangerous moves, wasted a golden opportunity to equalise in the 42nd minute when striker Chrigor Moraes failed to beat goalkeeper Ahmad Syihan Hazmi Mohamed in a one on one situation. Continuing the second half, Selangor goalkeeper Kalamullah Al Hafiz Mat Rowi performed brilliantly when denying two close-range attempts by JDT, each by Jaoa Figuiredo in the 51st minute and substitute striker Bergson Da Silva in the 62nd minute. However, he was beaten for the second time when Israfilov jumped high to head in Arif Aiman's corner kick for JDT's second goal in the 64th minute, which delighted about 32,777 spectators in the stadium. Arif Aiman completed JDT's stylish victory with a third goal after he, who was not well guarded, made a run into the penalty box and fired a powerful shot that Kalamullah failed to save in the 73rd minute. The 3-0 score remained until the final whistle and was enough to allow JDT to win the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Cup for the 10th time since the 2015 season.
