the Champions League. He made his Celtic debut on 23 August 2008, in a 3–0 win over Falkirk at Celtic Park. His first goal came on 23 September 2008 in a Co-op Insurance League Cup tie, also at Celtic Park, as Celtic beat Livingston 4–0. Loovens scored the winning goal against Hearts in injury time on 20 September 2009, to send Celtic top of the table. He scored an own goal in a 1–3 defeat against Rangers in October 2010 and was criticised for his performance in Celtic's next game, a League Cup win over St Johnstone. Loovens paid for his poor form, as he was dropped for the following match, also against St Johnstone. Sheffield Wednesday Loovens signed a short-term deal in December 2013 for Sheffield Wednesday after impressing during a short training stint. He then decided to extend his contract with the club until May 2014. Towards the end of that summer, on 13 July 2014, Loovens then extended for a further year after reportedly rejecting several contract offers from other clubs, both in England and abroad. He was also then promptly announced as club captain for the 2014–15 season by head coach Stuart Gray. With one game to play in the 2017–18 season, it was announced that his contract wouldn't be renewed and he would be leaving at the end of the season. Sunderland In July 2018, Loovens signed a two-year contract with Sunderland. On 22 August 2019, it was announced Loovens would leave Sunderland after having only served a year of his two-year contract. International career Loovens received his first senior cap for the Netherlands when he started the Oranjes 3–0 friendly win over Japan, on 5 September 2009. He had previously been capped twice for the under-21 side. and he represented the Netherlands at the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship. Career statistics HonoursFeyenoordUEFA Cup: 2001–02Cardiff CityFA Cup runner-up: 2007–08Celtic' Scottish Premier League: 2011–12 Scottish Cup: 2010–11 Scottish League Cup: 2008–09 References External links Netherlands U21 stats at Ons Oranje 1983 births Living people People from Doetinchem Footballers from Gelderland Association football defenders Dutch footballers Dutch expatriate footballers Dutch expatriate sportspeople in Spain Dutch expatriate sportspeople in Wales Netherlands international footballers Netherlands under-21 international footballers Netherlands youth international footballers Eredivisie players Eerste Divisie players English Football League players Scottish Premier League players Feyenoord players Excelsior Rotterdam players De Graafschap players Cardiff City F.C. players Celtic F.C.