On 22 August 1990 Lierse SK manager Barry Hulshoff gave Serneels his debut in a match at Lokeren.

After making 245 appearances in all competitions and scoring ten goals for Lierse he joined Westerlo in 1999.

He then wound down his playing career with short spells at Denderleeuw and KFC Dessel Sport.

In March 2011 Serneels was appointed coach of the Belgium women's national football team, nicknamed the "Red Flames".

This biographical article related to association football in Belgium, about a defender, is a stub.