Elias Sierra
Sierra in 2023
Personal information
Full name Elias Sierra-Cappelleti
Date of birth (2001-08-25) 25 August 2001
Place of birth Hasselt, Belgium
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 VVV-Venlo
Number 8
Youth career
2007–2008 Melosport Zonhoven
2008–2009 Sporting Hasselt
2009–2020 Genk
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2021 Genk 1 (0)
2021–2023 Heracles Almelo 38 (0)
2023– VVV-Venlo 19 (1)
International career‡
2015–2016 Belgium U15 6 (1)
2017–2018 Belgium U17 12 (0)
2018–2019 Belgium U18 7 (0)
2020 Belgium U19 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 08:52, 17 December 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 8 September 2020

Elias Sierra-Cappelleti (born 25 August 2001) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Eerste Divisie club VVV-Venlo.

Club career

Genk

Early years

Sierra, with a Spanish grandfather and an Italian grandmother on his father's side, was born in Hasselt, Belgium, and spent his early years in Zonhoven.[1] He started playing football at local club Melosport Zonhoven and later moved to Sporting Hasselt, following in the footsteps of his older brother.[1] While at Sporting Hasselt, scouts from Genk noticed his talent, and he joined Genk's under-8 team after just one season.[2]

Sierra continued his development through Genk's youth teams and signed his first professional contract in August 2017, at the age of sixteen.[3] In the 2019–20 season, he played with Genk's youth team in the UEFA Youth League.[4]

First team

During the 2019–20 season's winter break, first-team coach Hannes Wolf selected Sierra for winter training camp in Benidorm. Sierra's exceptional performance during this period earned him a permanent place in the first team, and his contract was extended until 2023.[5] He was assigned jersey number 16. On 13 February 2020, he appeared on the bench for the first time in the away match against Antwerp. Sierra made his official debut for the first team on 14 September 2020, during the league match against Beerschot, replacing Eboue Kouassi in the 81st minute as Genk were defeated 5–2.[6]

Following the death of former Genk player Anele Ngcongca in November 2020, Genk decided to change Sierra's jersey number to 19, as they opted not to assign the number 16 to any other player out of respect for Ngcongca.[7]

Sierra made only one senior appearance for Genk, before leaving the club in January 2021.[8]

Heracles Almelo

On 1 February 2021, Sierra completed a permanent transfer to Heracles Almelo, signing a contract until 2024.[9] He made his debut for the club on 4 April 2021, replacing Orestis Kiomourtzoglou in the 65th minute of a 3–0 loss to PSV.[10]

Sierra faced challenges in meeting expectations during his time at Heracles. Over one and a half seasons in the Eredivisie, he earned five starts and came on as a substitute in 16 matches. Following the club's relegation in 2022, he made 17 brief substitute appearances in the Eerste Divisie. Despite an ongoing contract, he was told to find a new club.[11]

VVV-Venlo

On 25 July 2023, Sierra signed a two-year contract with VVV-Venlo in Eerste Divisie, with an option for an additional season.[12] He made his debut for the club on the first matchday of the season, starting and playing 65 minute of a 3–1 Limburg derby loss to MVV.[13][14] On 15 December, he scored his first competitive goal for VVV in a 2–1 league loss against TOP Oss.[15]

International career

Born in Belgium, Sierra is of Spanish and Italian descent.[1] He is a youth international for Belgium.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 15 December 2023[8]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Genk 2020–21 Belgian First Division A 1000—10
Heracles Almelo 2020–21 Eredivisie 50——50
2021–22 Eredivisie 160001[lower-alpha 1]0170
2022–23 Eerste Divisie 17021—191
Total 3802110411
VVV-Venlo 2023–24 Eerste Divisie 19110—201
Career total 5813110622
  1. ↑ Appearance in Eredivisie promotion/relegation playoffs

Honours

Heracles Almelo

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Goed genoeg en dus oud genoeg: Elias Sierra". Het Belang van Limburg (in Flemish). 26 August 2020. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  2. ↑ "Elias Sierra | KRC Genk". K.R.C. Genk (in Flemish). Archived from the original on 18 September 2020.
  3. ↑ "Elias Sierra tekent eerste contract". K.R.C. Genk (in Flemish). 25 August 2017. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  4. ↑ "Elias Sierra » Youth Youth League 2019/2020". WorldFootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  5. ↑ "Gezocht: Belgische keeper voor de bank". Het Belang van Limburg (in Flemish). 22 January 2020. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  6. ↑ "Beerschot 5–2 Genk". Soccerway.
  7. ↑ "Anele Ngcongca overleden na ongeval: ex-Genkie zat niet achter het stuur, politie opent onderzoek naar 'dood door schuld'". Het Belang van Limburg (in Flemish). 23 November 2020. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  8. 1 2 Elias Sierra at Soccerway
  9. ↑ "Genkse middenvelder Elias Sierra tekent tot 2024 bij Heracles". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). 1 February 2021. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  10. ↑ "PSV vs. Heracles 3–0: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  11. ↑ Blijlevens, Ralph (25 July 2023). "VVV-Venlo verlost Elias Sierra van Heracles Almelo". Tubantia (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  12. ↑ "VVV-Venlo neemt middenvelder Sierra over van Heracles Almelo" [VVV-Venlo takes over midfielder Sierra from Heracles Almelo] (Press release) (in Dutch). VVV-Venlo. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  13. ↑ "VVV vs. MVV 1–3: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  14. ↑ Haaster, Jonathan (13 August 2023). "MVV slaat na rust genadeloos toe en wint Limburgse derby van VVV". Voetbalzone (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  15. ↑ Kleinen, Jelle (16 December 2023). "VVV-trainer Kruys teleurgesteld: 'We waren onherkenbaar'". 1limburg (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  16. ↑ "Winnend Heracles ziet PEC niet uithalen en is kampioen van eerste divisie". NOS (in Dutch). 19 May 2023. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
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