The Sun 5th April 2008
CARL HOEFKENS is a howling success in the West Brom dressing room — because he looks like Wolverine from the X-Men.
The Belgian defender may speak five languages but it is his remarkable resemblance to a fantasy super hero which impresses his team-mates.
Hoefkens, 29, does not see it himself. Then again he has recently made a quickfire trip to the barber to trim the shaggy mop and sideburns. Hair today, gone tomorrow.
He said: “I didn’t have it cut because of the Wolverine thing — really!
"The guys said I looked like him but I haven’t steel claws for a start.
Hoefkens: I don't look like Wolverine
"I’ve seen the X-Men and Hugh Jackman, who plays Wolverine, is a great actor. But I don’t think I look like that.”
Hoefkens left Germinal Beerschot of Antwerp in 2005 for Stoke before joining the Baggies last summer in a £1million deal.
Now the right-back is on the brink of becoming only the third Belgian to reach the final of the FA Cup.
And Albion are still on course to make it to the Premier League too. First there is Saturday’s Wembley date with Portsmouth.
As far as Hoefkens is concerned the magic of the Cup started to rub off on him 17 years ago.
He revealed: “I can remember the first game I ever saw on TV was with my dad on a Saturday afternoon.
“Stuart Pearce scored a free-kick and it was Nottingham Forest v Tottenham.
"I can’t remember much else. It was the first thing I saw in English football. It is a massive thing and it would be amazing to be part of that.
“Nico Claesen with Tottenham and Philippe Albert I think have reached the final. I would be the third Belgian.
“If we beat Portsmouth and went on to win then I would be the first to do that.”
Hoefkens is a Belgian international and wears his LUCKY No13 shirt for his country.
He has not been allowed to do the same at Stoke or Albion but said: “Thirteen has always been my lucky number.
"I played a few games as a kid with No 13 and scored loads of goals. I wanted it at Stoke but they said it was unlucky for the club.”
Hoefkens believes there is a glorious chapter ahead for him at West Brom whatever happens.
He said: “I’d seen everything in Belgium and needed another challenge.
“I saw going to Stoke as a nice challenge and an opportunity to see another lifestyle.
“Now I want to get as far as possible. We’ve done well all season and have to finish it off.
"I’d rather not go back to Wembley for a third time in the play-offs. But a second would be fantastic. It’s a nice challenge to beat Portsmouth.”
Not much of one for a genetically mutated comic book character, though.
www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1000757.ece
