To compensate for the upcoming departure of Brice Samba, RC Lens is thinking of Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Jean Butez. Trained at Losc, the 29-year-old goalkeeper has never had his chance as a professional in France and would return to try to win with the rival.
He too is a local kid, but he was never number 1. The start of Jean Butez's career can be reminiscent of that of Lucas Chevalier. Born and trained in Lille where he obtained his first professional contract in 2015, he tiptoed into the Lille locker room. “He was a little introverted and in his corner but was always smiling,” remembers Farès Bahlouli who worked with him in Lille during the 2016/2017 season. A few months after his first signing with the professionals, a certain Mike Maignan arrived at Losc, which complicated Butez's task. “It was difficult for him. When Mike arrived, he wasn't even a starter, it was Enyeama so with the two in front of him, despite all his qualities, it was complicated”, regrets the former Lille midfielder.
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So off to the other side of the border, to Mouscron in Belgium for a loan in 2017 then a permanent transfer in 2018 and performances that caught the eye of Royal Antwerp two years later. There, he established himself, progressed, until becoming the best goalkeeper in Belgium during the 2022/2023 season with 27 clean sheets in all competitions and at the end of the road, a historic cup-championship double for the Antwerp club. The discovery of the Champions League the following year with a prestigious victory against Barça.
Butez, the first attacker
If among others, the profile of Jean Butez stood out, it is certainly thanks to a great quality of footwork, so dear to Will Still. “I remember, it was impressive. Right foot, left foot it was precise. His kick clearances were tense, it was a delight”, says Farès Bahlouli. An ability to restart clearly noticed from the training center and further improved in Mouscron then in Antwerp.
His other great quality is his confidence on his line. During the title season, he also developed his liveliness on the line with impressive reflex saves. But this season, Butez did not play a single championship match, relegated number 2 to Royal Antwerp, behind the young Senne Lammens (22 years old), to end an idyllic adventure. In Belgium, he gained confidence and experience with 228 professional matches, two titles and today the desire to finally win in his country, in his region even if it is in blood and gold, rather than in red and blue.
