Jupiler League
Encyclopedia
The Belgian Pro League is the top league competition for association football clubs in Belgium
. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation
with the Belgian Second Division
. Seasons run from late July to early May, with teams playing 30 matches each in the regular season, and then entering play-offs 1, play-offs 2 or the relegation play-off according to their position in the regular season. Play-offs 1 are contested by the top 6 clubs in the regular season, with each club playing each other twice. Play-offs 2 are contested by teams ranked 7 to 14 in the regular season, divided in two groups of 4 teams playing each other twice. The relegation play-off consists of 5 matches between the 15th and the 16th-placed team in the regular season. The league is sponsored by AB InBev, the brewers of the Jupiler
beer, and is therefore officially known as Jupiler Pro League.
The competition was created in 1895 by the Royal Belgian Football Association and was first won by FC Liégeois
. Of the 74 clubs to have competed in the first division since its creation, 15 have been crowned champions of Belgium. RSC Anderlecht
is the most successful league club with 30 titles, followed by Club Brugge KV (13), Union Saint-Gilloise
(11) and Standard Liège
(10). It is currently ranked 14th in the UEFA rankings of leagues based on performances in European competitions over the last five-years. The competition was ranked 3rd when the UEFA first published their ranking in 1979 and also the next year in 1980, which is the best ranking the Belgian First Division has ever achieved.
as a round-robin tournament
with 7 teams: Antwerp FC, FC Brugeois
, FC Liégeois
, RC de Bruxelles
, Léopold Club de Bruxelles
, SC de Bruxelles and Union d'Ixelles. FC Liégeois became the first champion of Belgium. The first 8 titles in Belgian football were all won by FC Liégeois or RC de Bruxelles. There was no promotion and relegation system at the time but the last two clubs of the league (being FC Brugeois and Union d'Ixelles) withdrew and a new club entered the competition (Athletic and Running Club de Bruxelles
). During the 1896-97
season, SC de Bruxelles withdrew so the 1897-98
season was played among 5 clubs only. In the seasons 1898-99
and 1899-1900
, the football association introduced a new format with two leagues at the top level and then a final game in two legs. The format though changed back to one league with 9 clubs in 1900-01
and then again to two leagues from 1901-02
to 1903-04
, this time with a final round among the top 2 teams of each league. In 1904-05
the championship was organised with one league of 11 teams. Athletic and Running Club de Bruxelles withdrew during the season and, from the 1906 season
on, a system of promotion and relegation was introduced with the winner of the second division replacing the last-placed team of the first division.
In 1906-07
, Union Saint-Gilloise
won their 4th consecutive title as RC de Bruxelles had from 1899-1900 to 1902-03. Both clubs claimed the next 3 titles before CS Brugeois
won their first title, finishing one point ahead their rival of FC Brugeois. At the end of the 1907-08 season, the number of teams in the first division was increased from 10 to 12 clubs, with Promotion champion RC de Gand
and runner-up ESC Forest
being promoted while no first division was relegated. As World War I
approached, Daring Club de Bruxelles confirmed its status of challenger, even winning the title in 1911-12
and 1913-14
. Only Union Saint-Gilloise could face them in that period, winning the 1912-13
championship with a better goal difference. Since 1911-12, two clubs are relegated each year to the Promotion and two clubs from the Promotion are promoted.
with FC Brugeois claiming their first title after 5 second places, among which were 2 lost final games and one lost test-match. At the end of the 1920-21 season
, the number of teams was increased from 12 to 14, with only Uccle Sport
, the last-placed team of the first division, being relegated, and the first 3 teams from the Promotion being promoted (Standard Club Liégeois
, FC Malinois and RSC Anderlechtois
). From 1921-22
to 1931-32
, the decade was dominated by teams from the province of Antwerp
: Beerschot AC, with Raymond Braine
, won their first 5 titles, Antwerp FC their first 2 and the small club of Liersche SK
(led by striker Bernard Voorhoof
) won their first one in 1931-32. The challengers at the time were CS Brugeois (two titles in that period), Union Saint-Gilloise (one title), Daring Club de Bruxelles and Standard Club Liégeois. Starting December 25, 1932, Union Saint-Gilloise had a record 60 games unbeaten run in the championship (spanning 3 seasons), winning the 1932-33
, 1933-34
and 1934-35
titles. The rival of Union during this period was Daring Club de Bruxelles. They claimed the next two championships. Following the come-back of player Raymond Braine
to Beerschot, the Antwerp club won the last two titles before World War II
.
On May 10, 1940 German troops invaded Belgium and the seasons 1939-40 and 1940-41 were suspended. The competition resumed in September 1941 and Liersche SK won their second title. At the end of the season, no club was relegated and the number of clubs was increased from 14 to 16. The next season, Liersche SK lost three key players (two of them in a bomb attack and the other one due to a heavy injury sustained on the pitch) and they ended at 3rd place while the neighbours of KV Mechelen became champion for the first time in their history. In 1943-44, Antwerp FC won the title. The league was suspended again in 1944-45 because of World War II.
as the key striker and they dominated the Belgian football over the next 9 years with 6 more titles, with KV Mechelen (in 1947-48) and FC Liégeois (in 1951-52 and 1952-53
) claiming the remaining titles. The Belgian Golden Shoe
award was introduced in 1954, rewarding the best player in the first division for the past calendar year, thus over two half seasons.
In the late 1950s Standard lifted the trophy for the first time in 1957-58
and they eventually became one of Anderlecht's biggest rivals in the league (until their 8th title in 1982-83
). The other titles in the late 1950s were won by Antwerp FC and Anderlecht. In the 1960s, the Anderlecht team of Paul Van Himst
claimed 6 titles (with the Belgian record of 5 consecutives titles between 1963-64
and 1967-68
), while Standard claimed 3 and Lierse 1. Standard, with key player Wilfried Van Moer
, then won the first 2 titles of the 1970s, which gave them their only treble so far (together with the 1968-69
title). 1974-75
was the only season with as many as 20 clubs in the league's history. Belgian clubs started to perform well in European Cups in the 1970s, with Anderlecht winning the 1975-76 European Cup Winners' Cup and Club Brugge losing to Liverpool FC in the 1975-76 UEFA Cup final
. The following season, Anderlecht lost to Hamburger SV
in the Cup Winners' Cup final and, in 1977-78, they won for the second time, while Club Brugge lost the European Cup to Liverpool FC. In the Belgian First Division, Club Brugge claimed 4 titles in the decade, while Anderlecht claimed 2 and R White Daring Molenbeek
(the successor of Daring Club de Bruxelles), with Johan Boskamp
, and KSK Beveren
, with goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff
, each claimed their first Belgian championship.
, which was also the 4th of the decade. Club Brugge and Standard each won 2 titles in the 1980s and KSK Beveren and KV Mechelen one each.
In the 1990s, Belgium's teams performances were diminished in European competitions, with only RSC Anderlecht and FC Antwerp reaching the European Cup Winners' Cup final, respectively in 1989-90 and in 1992-93. In the home league, RSC Anderlecht took 4 titles during the decade, while Club Brugge cemented their status as main contender with 4 titles. The remaining two titles went to Lierse SK and newcomer Racing Genk
. The 2000s brought a bright European start, with Anderlecht reaching the second group stage in the 2000-01 UEFA Champions League, but the rest of the decade Belgian clubs were again not very successful in European competitions. In the league, RSC Anderlecht won 5 titles in the decade, with Club Brugge claming two titles and Racing Genk taking their second title. At the end of the decade, Standard Liège
returned as a title contender with two consecutive titles, 25 years after their 1982-83
title. At the end of the 2000s, the highest level in Belgian football was reshaped, with a play-off round after the regular season. RSC Anderlecht won the first championship in this new format, which was their 30th title.
where the playoffs are not being played anymore. RSC Anderlecht won the first championship in this new format, the Belgian Pro League 2009-10, which was their 30th Belgian championship.
A play-off phase is then played from March to May. The top 6 teams from the regular season enter the play-offs 1, with each team playing their opponents twice. The point system in the play-offs 1 is the same as during the regular season, except that each team starts with half of the points they won in the regular season. Points are rounded up to the nearest integer. At the end of the play-offs 1, the first-placed team becomes the champion of Belgium. If some teams are level in the ranking, any points added due to rounding are first withdrawn from their total points if applicable, before other criteria are taken into account. Teams ranked 7 to 14 after the regular season enter the play-offs 2, with teams ranked 7th, 9th, 12th and 14th entering the group A and teams ranked 8th, 10th, 11th and 13th entering the group B. In each group, each team plays each of its 3 opponents twice. The winner of each group plays the final game in two legs, to determine the winner of the play-offs 2. The winner of the play-offs 2 then plays a home and away game against either the fourth-placed or fifth-placed team from the play-offs 1 for the final Europa League ticket, with the opponent depending on the fact if the Belgian Cup winner ended in the top four of the play-off 1 or not.
Teams ranked 15th and 16th after the regular season enter the relegation play-off. It consists of 5 games between the 2 teams. The 15th-placed team starts the play-offs with 3 points whereas the 16th-placed team starts from zero. The loser of the relegation play-off is relegated to the second division. The winner of that play-off enters the Belgian Second Division Final Round
with 3 teams from the second division. The winner of this Final Round plays in the First Division the season thereafter.
Matches are usually played on Saturdays at 20.00. Some matchdays are played on Wednesdays, however. Furthermore, in recent years, some games are played either on Fridays or during the weekend at different times (e.g. Saturday at 18.00 or Sunday at 13.00 or 20.00), as decided by the owner of television rights. Each team playing the Pro League must have been granted the Belgian professional football license
guaranteeing the club has no excessive debts, has a secure stadium, etc. This was introduced in season 2001-02 to decrease the number of teams in the division and ensure a higher level of professionalism in the clubs playing in the top flight of Belgian football. Originally, clubs that could not get the license were supposed not to be replaced (and sent to the third division
). However, it is still not effective as, for example, KSK Beveren
finished 18th (last) in 2001-2002 but were saved as KSC Eendracht Aalst (17th) and RWD Molenbeek
(10th) were refused their license.
qualifying round (on 4). The Belgian Cup
winner (or the Cup finalist if the Cup winner finished first or second in the league) qualifies for the play-off of the UEFA Europa League. The third-placed team (or the fourth-placed team if the Cup winner finished 3rd in the league) qualifies for the 3rd and last qualifying round and the winner of the game between the play-offs 2 winner and the fourth-placed team (or the fifth-placed team if the Cup winner finished fourth) qualifies for the 2nd qualifying round.
bought the TV rights for a record amount of €36 million per season. In May 2008, the rights were again sold to Belgacom TV in association with public sector TV channels RTBF
and VRT
for an amount of €45.7 million per season. RTBF and VRT thus received the rights to show summaries of first division games, as well as rights to a weekly magazine on the competition. Belgacom TV received the rights to show each game in the competition.
awards, the highest awards a player can receive in Belgian competitions, but also for Belgian professional football awards
. Players with African descent, origin or nationality can claim a Belgian Ebony Shoe
award. Players compete also every season for the Belgian First Division top scorer, since the 1945-46 season.
Erwin Vandenbergh
is the only player to have claimed the top scorer title 4 consecutive times, between 1979–80 and 1982-83 (the first three times while at Lierse SK and the last time while at RSC Anderlecht
). He is also the player to have claimed the most Belgian First Division top scorer titles in his career (6 times with 3 different clubs: 3 times with Lierse SK, twice with RSC Anderlecht and once with KAA Gent). Victor Wegria
and Josip Weber
won the title 3 consecutive times (resp. between 1958–59 and 1960-61 while at RFC Liégeois and between 1991–92 and 1993-94 while at Cercle Brugge KSV
). Wegria eventually finished top scorer a 4th time in 1962-63 still with RFC Liégeois, making him the second player with the most top scorer titles in the history of Belgian First Division top scorers.
The introduction of this title of honour in 1945 was maybe a little too late for first winner Bert De Cleyn as this player has scored the most goals in the history of the Belgian First Division since 1895 (350 goals in 395 games between 1932 and 1954 with KV Mechelen), though he won the top scorer title only once. Other players in the top ten of the all-time top scorer ranking in the Belgian First Division include Joseph Mermans
(3 times top scorer, 339 goals overall in 382 games with RSC Anderlecht), Bernard Voorhoof
(Belgium national football team top scorer, 281 goals in 473 matches with Lierse SK), Rik Coppens (3 times top scorer), Erwin Vandenbergh and Paul Van Himst
(Belgium top scorer with Bernard Voorhoof, 3 times top scorer).
The first foreign player to claim the title was Dutchman Jan Mulder
in 1966-67 with RSC Anderlecht. Since then, 24 foreign players have finished top scorer. Only two foreign players claimed the trophy more than once: Josip Weber (twice as a Croat and once as a Belgian) and Austrian Alfred Riedl
.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
with the Belgian Second Division
Belgian Second Division
The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,...
. Seasons run from late July to early May, with teams playing 30 matches each in the regular season, and then entering play-offs 1, play-offs 2 or the relegation play-off according to their position in the regular season. Play-offs 1 are contested by the top 6 clubs in the regular season, with each club playing each other twice. Play-offs 2 are contested by teams ranked 7 to 14 in the regular season, divided in two groups of 4 teams playing each other twice. The relegation play-off consists of 5 matches between the 15th and the 16th-placed team in the regular season. The league is sponsored by AB InBev, the brewers of the Jupiler
Jupiler
Piedboeuf Brewery is a brewery based in Jupille-sur-Meuse, Belgium. It is owned by Anheuser–Busch InBev. The main brand is Jupiler, the most popular beer and best selling beer in Belgium.-Variety:...
beer, and is therefore officially known as Jupiler Pro League.
The competition was created in 1895 by the Royal Belgian Football Association and was first won by FC Liégeois
R.F.C. de Liège
Royal Football Club de Liège is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège. It currently plays in the Belgian Third Division. Its matricule is 4, meaning that it was the fourth club to register with the country's national federation, and the club was the first Belgian champion in history...
. Of the 74 clubs to have competed in the first division since its creation, 15 have been crowned champions of Belgium. RSC Anderlecht
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
is the most successful league club with 30 titles, followed by Club Brugge KV (13), Union Saint-Gilloise
R. Union Saint-Gilloise
R. Union Saint-Gilloise is a Belgian football club located in the municipality of Forest, though it is named after the neighbour municipality of Saint-Gilles, Brussels. It had been in the second division in 2004-05, but was subsequently relegated to third division. Its matricule is the n°10...
(11) and Standard Liège
Standard Liège
Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège....
(10). It is currently ranked 14th in the UEFA rankings of leagues based on performances in European competitions over the last five-years. The competition was ranked 3rd when the UEFA first published their ranking in 1979 and also the next year in 1980, which is the best ranking the Belgian First Division has ever achieved.
Origins (1895-1914)
The first league in Belgian football was held in 1895-96Belgian First Division 1895-96
-Overview:It was contested by 7 teams, and F.C. Liégeois won the championship.-League standings:-References:...
as a round-robin tournament
Round-robin tournament
A round-robin tournament is a competition "in which each contestant meets all other contestants in turn".-Terminology:...
with 7 teams: Antwerp FC, FC Brugeois
Club Brugge
Club Brugge Koninklijke Voetbalvereniging is a football club from Bruges in Belgium. It was founded in 1891 and is one of the top clubs in Belgium. Its home ground is the Jan Breydel Stadium, which has a capacity of 29,472....
, FC Liégeois
R.F.C. de Liège
Royal Football Club de Liège is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège. It currently plays in the Belgian Third Division. Its matricule is 4, meaning that it was the fourth club to register with the country's national federation, and the club was the first Belgian champion in history...
, RC de Bruxelles
K.F.C. Rhodienne-Verrewinkel
Koninklijke Football Club Rhodienne-Verrewinkel is a Belgian association football club created in 1894 as Racing Football Club. It became a member of the Belgian Football Association in 1895 as Racing Club de Bruxelles and later received the matricule n°6...
, Léopold Club de Bruxelles
R. Léopold Uccle Forestoise
Royal Léopold Uccle Forestoise is a Belgian football club from the city of Brussels. It was founded in 1893 as Léopold Football Club and encountered many name changes in its history, the last of them following a string of merges to keep the matricule n°5 alive. It now plays in the Promotion B ,...
, SC de Bruxelles and Union d'Ixelles. FC Liégeois became the first champion of Belgium. The first 8 titles in Belgian football were all won by FC Liégeois or RC de Bruxelles. There was no promotion and relegation system at the time but the last two clubs of the league (being FC Brugeois and Union d'Ixelles) withdrew and a new club entered the competition (Athletic and Running Club de Bruxelles
Athletic and Running Club de Bruxelles
Athletic & Running Club de Bruxelles was a Belgian football club created in 1883. It was the only club admitted to the first division after the first season in Belgian football, in 1896. It stayed at this level until 1905 when it withdrew. The club achieved its best ranking in 1900 finishing 3rd...
). During the 1896-97
Belgian First Division 1896-97
-League standings:*the team withdrew during the season-References:...
season, SC de Bruxelles withdrew so the 1897-98
Belgian First Division 1897-98
-Overview:It was contested by 5 teams, and F.C. Liégeois won the championship.-League standings:-References:...
season was played among 5 clubs only. In the seasons 1898-99
Belgian First Division 1898-99
-Overview:It was contested by 9 teams, and F.C. Liégeois won the championship.-Championship Cup A:-Championship Cup B:-References:...
and 1899-1900
Belgian First Division 1899-00
-Championship Cup A:Playoff: Racing de Bruxelles beat Antwerp F.C. .-Championship Cup B:-Final:*Racing de Bruxelles beat F.C. Brugeois by 8-1 at home after they already won 0-3 in Bruges.-References:...
, the football association introduced a new format with two leagues at the top level and then a final game in two legs. The format though changed back to one league with 9 clubs in 1900-01
Belgian First Division 1900-01
-Locations of teams:-League standings:-References:...
and then again to two leagues from 1901-02
Belgian First Division 1901-02
-Championship Cup A:-Championship Cup B:-Final round:Racing Club beat Léopold Club by 4-3 in the test-match.-References:...
to 1903-04
Belgian First Division 1903-04
-Overview:It was contested by 12 teams, and Union Saint-Gilloise won the championship.-Championship Cup A:-Championship Cup B:-Final round:-References:...
, this time with a final round among the top 2 teams of each league. In 1904-05
Belgian First Division 1904-05
-Overview:It was contested by 11 teams, and Union Saint-Gilloise won the championship.-League standings:...
the championship was organised with one league of 11 teams. Athletic and Running Club de Bruxelles withdrew during the season and, from the 1906 season
Belgian First Division 1905-06
-Overview:It was contested by 10 teams, and Union Saint-Gilloise won the championship.-League standings:...
on, a system of promotion and relegation was introduced with the winner of the second division replacing the last-placed team of the first division.
In 1906-07
Belgian First Division 1906-07
-Overview:It was contested by 10 teams, and Union Saint-Gilloise won the championship.-League standings:...
, Union Saint-Gilloise
R. Union Saint-Gilloise
R. Union Saint-Gilloise is a Belgian football club located in the municipality of Forest, though it is named after the neighbour municipality of Saint-Gilles, Brussels. It had been in the second division in 2004-05, but was subsequently relegated to third division. Its matricule is the n°10...
won their 4th consecutive title as RC de Bruxelles had from 1899-1900 to 1902-03. Both clubs claimed the next 3 titles before CS Brugeois
Cercle Brugge K.S.V.
Cercle Brugge Koninklijke Sportvereniging is a Belgian football team from Bruges. Cercle have played in the Belgian Pro League since the 2003-04 season, having previously spent several years in the Belgian Second Division following relegation in 1997. Their matricule is the n°12. The club play...
won their first title, finishing one point ahead their rival of FC Brugeois. At the end of the 1907-08 season, the number of teams in the first division was increased from 10 to 12 clubs, with Promotion champion RC de Gand
K.R.C. Gent-Zeehaven
Koninklijke Racing Club Gent-Zeehaven is a Belgian association football club from the city of Ghent, East Flanders. It is currently playing in the Promotion A, i.e. the fourth level in the Belgian football league system. The club underwent 5 merges and changed its name many times...
and runner-up ESC Forest
R.E. Sport's Club
Royal Excelsior Sport's Club was a Belgian football club from Brussels that played in the first division from 1908 to 1913.-History:It was founded in 1904 as Excelsior S.C. de Bruxelles and it received the matricule n°20. It achieved its best ranking in 1909 and 1910 with a 7th place on 12. In...
being promoted while no first division was relegated. As World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
approached, Daring Club de Bruxelles confirmed its status of challenger, even winning the title in 1911-12
Belgian First Division 1911-12
-League standings:...
and 1913-14
Belgian First Division 1913-14
-League standings:...
. Only Union Saint-Gilloise could face them in that period, winning the 1912-13
Belgian First Division 1912-13
-Overview:It was contested by 12 teams, and Union Saint-Gilloise won the championship.-League standings:...
championship with a better goal difference. Since 1911-12, two clubs are relegated each year to the Promotion and two clubs from the Promotion are promoted.
After World War I (1919-1945)
During World War I, the football championship was suspended. It resumed in 1919-20Belgian First Division 1919-20
-League standings:...
with FC Brugeois claiming their first title after 5 second places, among which were 2 lost final games and one lost test-match. At the end of the 1920-21 season
Belgian First Division 1920-21
-Overview:It was contested by 12 teams, and Daring Club Bruxelles won the championship.-League standings:...
, the number of teams was increased from 12 to 14, with only Uccle Sport
R. Uccle Sport
Royale Uccle Sport was a Belgian football club from the municipality of Uccle, Brussels. It was created in 1901 as Uccle Sport and it registered to the Belgian Football Association in 1905 to receive the matricule n°15.-History:...
, the last-placed team of the first division, being relegated, and the first 3 teams from the Promotion being promoted (Standard Club Liégeois
Standard Liège
Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège....
, FC Malinois and RSC Anderlechtois
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
). From 1921-22
Belgian First Division 1921-22
-Overview:It was contested by 14 teams, and Beerschot won the championship.-League standings:...
to 1931-32
Belgian First Division 1931-32
-League standings:...
, the decade was dominated by teams from the province of Antwerp
Antwerp (province)
Antwerp is the northernmost province both of the Flemish Region, also called Flanders, and of Belgium. It borders on the Netherlands and the Belgian provinces of Limburg, Flemish Brabant and East Flanders. Its capital is Antwerp which comprises the Port of Antwerp...
: Beerschot AC, with Raymond Braine
Raymond Braine
Raymond Ernest Michel Braine was one of the most talented and respected Belgian football strikers. He was also the first Belgian professional player, when he obtained a transfer to Sparta Prague in 1930....
, won their first 5 titles, Antwerp FC their first 2 and the small club of Liersche SK
Lierse S.K.
Koninklijke Lierse Sportkring is a Belgian professional football club, from the city of Lier in the Antwerp province. Lierse has been playing in the Belgian Pro League since the 2010-11 season and they have already won the competition 4 times. They also have won 2 Belgian Cups...
(led by striker Bernard Voorhoof
Bernard Voorhoof
Bernard Voorhoof was a Belgian footballer, the Belgium national team top scorer since 1940 with 30 goals in 61 matches. He was joined by Paul Van Himst in 1974 who needed 81 matches to score the same number of goals....
) won their first one in 1931-32. The challengers at the time were CS Brugeois (two titles in that period), Union Saint-Gilloise (one title), Daring Club de Bruxelles and Standard Club Liégeois. Starting December 25, 1932, Union Saint-Gilloise had a record 60 games unbeaten run in the championship (spanning 3 seasons), winning the 1932-33
Belgian First Division 1932-33
-Overview:It was contested by 14 teams, and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise won the championship.-League standings:...
, 1933-34
Belgian First Division 1933-34
-Overview:It was contested by 14 teams, and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise won the championship.-League standings:...
and 1934-35
Belgian First Division 1934-35
Statistics of Belgian First Division in the 1934/1935 season.-Overview:It was contested by 14 teams, and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise won the championship.-League standings:...
titles. The rival of Union during this period was Daring Club de Bruxelles. They claimed the next two championships. Following the come-back of player Raymond Braine
Raymond Braine
Raymond Ernest Michel Braine was one of the most talented and respected Belgian football strikers. He was also the first Belgian professional player, when he obtained a transfer to Sparta Prague in 1930....
to Beerschot, the Antwerp club won the last two titles before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
On May 10, 1940 German troops invaded Belgium and the seasons 1939-40 and 1940-41 were suspended. The competition resumed in September 1941 and Liersche SK won their second title. At the end of the season, no club was relegated and the number of clubs was increased from 14 to 16. The next season, Liersche SK lost three key players (two of them in a bomb attack and the other one due to a heavy injury sustained on the pitch) and they ended at 3rd place while the neighbours of KV Mechelen became champion for the first time in their history. In 1943-44, Antwerp FC won the title. The league was suspended again in 1944-45 because of World War II.
After World War II (1945-1980)
The league resumed play in 1945-46 with a title for KV Mechelen. At the start of that season, the First Division went from 16 to 19 clubs, with 3 clubs promoted from the First Division and no team being relegated. The top scorer award was also introduced that season, won by Bert De Cleyn from KV Mechelen. Two seasons later, 5 clubs were relegated and two promoted. In 1946-47, RSC Anderlechtois won their first championship with Jef MermansJoseph Mermans
Joseph Mermans , usually referred to as Jef Mermans was a football striker from Belgium, who played much of his career at Anderlecht, with whom he won 7 Belgian Championship titles and finished top scorer of this competition 3 times.Mermans played 56 matches with the Belgium national football team,...
as the key striker and they dominated the Belgian football over the next 9 years with 6 more titles, with KV Mechelen (in 1947-48) and FC Liégeois (in 1951-52 and 1952-53
Belgian First Division 1952-53
-League standings:...
) claiming the remaining titles. The Belgian Golden Shoe
Belgian Golden Shoe
In association football, the Belgian Golden Shoe is an award given in Belgium at the beginning of each civil year to the best footballer of the Belgian First Division for the past year. The trophy is sponsored by the Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws....
award was introduced in 1954, rewarding the best player in the first division for the past calendar year, thus over two half seasons.
In the late 1950s Standard lifted the trophy for the first time in 1957-58
Belgian First Division 1957-58
-League standings:...
and they eventually became one of Anderlecht's biggest rivals in the league (until their 8th title in 1982-83
Belgian First Division 1982-83
-League standings:...
). The other titles in the late 1950s were won by Antwerp FC and Anderlecht. In the 1960s, the Anderlecht team of Paul Van Himst
Paul Van Himst
Paul van Himst is a former talented Belgian football midfielder and a football manager. Now retired, he still supports R.S.C. Anderlecht, his former team. He was nicknamed Polle Gazon due to the large number of fouls committed on him...
claimed 6 titles (with the Belgian record of 5 consecutives titles between 1963-64
Belgian First Division 1963-64
-League standings:...
and 1967-68
Belgian First Division 1967-68
-League standings:...
), while Standard claimed 3 and Lierse 1. Standard, with key player Wilfried Van Moer
Wilfried Van Moer
Wilfried van Moer is a former Belgian football player who won the Belgian Golden Shoe three times, first in 1966 while at Antwerp then in 1969 and in 1970 while at Standard Liège....
, then won the first 2 titles of the 1970s, which gave them their only treble so far (together with the 1968-69
Belgian First Division 1968-69
-League standings:...
title). 1974-75
Belgian First Division 1974-75
-League standings:...
was the only season with as many as 20 clubs in the league's history. Belgian clubs started to perform well in European Cups in the 1970s, with Anderlecht winning the 1975-76 European Cup Winners' Cup and Club Brugge losing to Liverpool FC in the 1975-76 UEFA Cup final
1976 UEFA Cup Final
The 1976 UEFA Cup Final was played on April 28, 1976 and May 19, 1976 between Liverpool F.C. of England and Club Brugge K.V. of Belgium. Liverpool won 4-3 on aggregate.-First Leg:-Second Leg:-External links:**...
. The following season, Anderlecht lost to Hamburger SV
Hamburger SV
Hamburger Sport-Verein, usually referred to as HSV in Germany and Hamburg in international parlance, is a German multi-sport club based in Hamburg, its largest branch being its football department...
in the Cup Winners' Cup final and, in 1977-78, they won for the second time, while Club Brugge lost the European Cup to Liverpool FC. In the Belgian First Division, Club Brugge claimed 4 titles in the decade, while Anderlecht claimed 2 and R White Daring Molenbeek
R.W.D. Molenbeek
Racing White Daring Molenbeek was a Belgian football club founded in 1909 as White Star Club de Bruxelles. It then became a member of the Belgian Football Association later the same year as White Star Athletic Club and received the matricule n°47....
(the successor of Daring Club de Bruxelles), with Johan Boskamp
Johan Boskamp
Johannes Boskamp is a Dutch football manager, his most recent job was in Belgium managing KSK Beveren, but he was dismissed in late December 2009-Career:...
, and KSK Beveren
K.S.K. Beveren
Koninklijke Sportkring Beveren was a Belgian association football club from the town of Beveren in East Flanders. It was famous for its goalkeeping school that has produced such players as Jean-Marie Pfaff, Filip De Wilde, Geert De Vlieger, Erwin Lemmens, and Tristan Peersman, all of whom have...
, with goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff
Jean-Marie Pfaff
Jean-Marie Pfaff is a Belgian former football goalkeeper.-Biography:At the age of 16, Pfaff joined K.S.K. Beveren with whom he won a Belgian champions title and a Belgian Cup . The same year, he received the Belgian Golden Shoe...
, each claimed their first Belgian championship.
Recent years (1980-present)
In the 1980s, the European successes continued for Belgian clubs with Standard losing the 1981-82 European Cup Winners' Cup final, Anderlecht winning the 1982-83 UEFA Cup and losing the next UEFA Cup final and KV Mechelen winning the 1987-88 European Cup Winners' Cup. In the domestic league, Anderlecht won their 20th title in 1986-87Belgian First Division 1986-87
The 1986–87 edition of the Belgian League was the 84th since its establishment: it was disputed by 18 teams, and R.S.C. Anderlecht won the championship, while RFC Sérésien and K. Berchem Sport were relegated.-League standings:-Topscorers:...
, which was also the 4th of the decade. Club Brugge and Standard each won 2 titles in the 1980s and KSK Beveren and KV Mechelen one each.
In the 1990s, Belgium's teams performances were diminished in European competitions, with only RSC Anderlecht and FC Antwerp reaching the European Cup Winners' Cup final, respectively in 1989-90 and in 1992-93. In the home league, RSC Anderlecht took 4 titles during the decade, while Club Brugge cemented their status as main contender with 4 titles. The remaining two titles went to Lierse SK and newcomer Racing Genk
K.R.C. Genk
Koninklijke Racing Club Genk , usually referred to as Racing Genk or simply Genk, is a Belgian professional football club based in the city of Genk in Belgian Limburg. Racing Genk plays in the Belgian Pro League and they have won 3 Belgian champion titles in 1998–99, in 2001–02 and in 2010–11 as...
. The 2000s brought a bright European start, with Anderlecht reaching the second group stage in the 2000-01 UEFA Champions League, but the rest of the decade Belgian clubs were again not very successful in European competitions. In the league, RSC Anderlecht won 5 titles in the decade, with Club Brugge claming two titles and Racing Genk taking their second title. At the end of the decade, Standard Liège
Standard Liège
Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège....
returned as a title contender with two consecutive titles, 25 years after their 1982-83
Belgian First Division 1982-83
-League standings:...
title. At the end of the 2000s, the highest level in Belgian football was reshaped, with a play-off round after the regular season. RSC Anderlecht won the first championship in this new format, which was their 30th title.
Competition format and naming
Starting with the 2009-10 season the format of the Pro League has been drastically changed. Play-offs were introduced after the regular season, the number of teams was decreased from 18 to 16 and the calendar has also been modified, with matches being played during the Christmas holiday. Many already criticized the format and point out the Dutch EredivisieEredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
where the playoffs are not being played anymore. RSC Anderlecht won the first championship in this new format, the Belgian Pro League 2009-10, which was their 30th Belgian championship.
Competition
Each of the 16 competitors in the Pro League plays each of its 15 opponents twice in the regular season, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents. The regular season thus comprises 30 matchdays of 8 matches each, played between July and March. A win earns three points since the 1995-96 season and a draw earns one point (no points are awarded for a loss). Teams are ranked by total points, then by total wins and finally by goal difference, number of scored goals, number of away goals and number of away wins. If teams are still level, a test-match is played in two legs to determine the final order in the standings.A play-off phase is then played from March to May. The top 6 teams from the regular season enter the play-offs 1, with each team playing their opponents twice. The point system in the play-offs 1 is the same as during the regular season, except that each team starts with half of the points they won in the regular season. Points are rounded up to the nearest integer. At the end of the play-offs 1, the first-placed team becomes the champion of Belgium. If some teams are level in the ranking, any points added due to rounding are first withdrawn from their total points if applicable, before other criteria are taken into account. Teams ranked 7 to 14 after the regular season enter the play-offs 2, with teams ranked 7th, 9th, 12th and 14th entering the group A and teams ranked 8th, 10th, 11th and 13th entering the group B. In each group, each team plays each of its 3 opponents twice. The winner of each group plays the final game in two legs, to determine the winner of the play-offs 2. The winner of the play-offs 2 then plays a home and away game against either the fourth-placed or fifth-placed team from the play-offs 1 for the final Europa League ticket, with the opponent depending on the fact if the Belgian Cup winner ended in the top four of the play-off 1 or not.
Teams ranked 15th and 16th after the regular season enter the relegation play-off. It consists of 5 games between the 2 teams. The 15th-placed team starts the play-offs with 3 points whereas the 16th-placed team starts from zero. The loser of the relegation play-off is relegated to the second division. The winner of that play-off enters the Belgian Second Division Final Round
Belgian Second Division Final Round
The Belgian Second Division Final Round is the playoff part of the Belgian Second Division. It is a contested by four teams, the winner being promoted to the first division.-Eligibility:...
with 3 teams from the second division. The winner of this Final Round plays in the First Division the season thereafter.
Matches are usually played on Saturdays at 20.00. Some matchdays are played on Wednesdays, however. Furthermore, in recent years, some games are played either on Fridays or during the weekend at different times (e.g. Saturday at 18.00 or Sunday at 13.00 or 20.00), as decided by the owner of television rights. Each team playing the Pro League must have been granted the Belgian professional football license
Belgian professional football license
The Belgian professional football license is a license that any team qualified to play the Belgian Pro League must have obtained. If a qualified team does not obtain the license, it is relegated to the third division. When the license was introduced, it was decided that a team without the license...
guaranteeing the club has no excessive debts, has a secure stadium, etc. This was introduced in season 2001-02 to decrease the number of teams in the division and ensure a higher level of professionalism in the clubs playing in the top flight of Belgian football. Originally, clubs that could not get the license were supposed not to be replaced (and sent to the third division
Belgian Third Division
The Belgian Third Division is the third highest level in Belgian football. It has two leagues of 18 teams each at the same level. This competition, known as the Belgian Promotion was first played in the 1926-27 season with three leagues, then with four leagues between 1931 and 1952. From 1952...
). However, it is still not effective as, for example, KSK Beveren
K.S.K. Beveren
Koninklijke Sportkring Beveren was a Belgian association football club from the town of Beveren in East Flanders. It was famous for its goalkeeping school that has produced such players as Jean-Marie Pfaff, Filip De Wilde, Geert De Vlieger, Erwin Lemmens, and Tristan Peersman, all of whom have...
finished 18th (last) in 2001-2002 but were saved as KSC Eendracht Aalst (17th) and RWD Molenbeek
R.W.D. Molenbeek
Racing White Daring Molenbeek was a Belgian football club founded in 1909 as White Star Club de Bruxelles. It then became a member of the Belgian Football Association later the same year as White Star Athletic Club and received the matricule n°47....
(10th) were refused their license.
Qualification for European competitions
For the 2010-11 season, the Belgian champion and the runner-up qualify for the 3rd UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
qualifying round (on 4). The Belgian Cup
Belgian Cup
The Belgian Cup is the main knockout football competition in Belgium, run by the Belgian Football Association. The first cup was held in 1911-12. The most successful cup club is Club Brugge KV with 10 titles followed by RSC Anderlecht and R Standard de Liège...
winner (or the Cup finalist if the Cup winner finished first or second in the league) qualifies for the play-off of the UEFA Europa League. The third-placed team (or the fourth-placed team if the Cup winner finished 3rd in the league) qualifies for the 3rd and last qualifying round and the winner of the game between the play-offs 2 winner and the fourth-placed team (or the fifth-placed team if the Cup winner finished fourth) qualifies for the 2nd qualifying round.
Naming
- 1895-1904: Coupe de Championnat (Championship Cup)
- 1904-1926: Division I
- 1926-1952 : Division d'Honneur (Division of Honour)
- 1952-1993: Division I
- 1993-2008: Jupiler League
- 2008–present: Jupiler Pro League
Media coverage
The Belgian Football Association sells the television rights for the Belgian First Division every three years. In 2005, the newly created Belgian TV channel Belgacom TVBelgacom TV
Belgacom TV, subsidiary of the Belgacom Group, provides Digital TV and Video On Demand over its own IPTV System in Belgium. It was launched in the summer of 2005....
bought the TV rights for a record amount of €36 million per season. In May 2008, the rights were again sold to Belgacom TV in association with public sector TV channels RTBF
RTBF
Radio Télévision Belge Francophone is the public broadcasting organization of the French Community of Belgium, the southern, French-speaking part of Belgium...
and VRT
Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep
The Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie , or VRT, is a publicly-funded broadcaster of radio and television in Flanders ....
for an amount of €45.7 million per season. RTBF and VRT thus received the rights to show summaries of first division games, as well as rights to a weekly magazine on the competition. Belgacom TV received the rights to show each game in the competition.
Clubs that played in First Division
A total of 74 clubs have played in the first division since its creation in 1895. Among those 74 clubs, 44 still exist and the 30 other clubs either went into liquidation or merged with another club.Members for 2011-12
For the 2011-12 season, the 16 participating clubs are listed below.| Club name | City | Last season position |
First season of current spell in top division |
Result 09-10 | Result 08-09 | Result 07-08 | Result 06-07 | Result 05-06 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSC Anderlecht R.S.C. Anderlecht Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the... |
Anderlecht Anderlecht Anderlecht is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region.There are several historically and architecturally distinct districts within the Anderlecht municipality.-Pronunciation:* Dutch: * French:... |
3rd | 1935-36 | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 1st |
| K Beerschot AC | Antwerp | 13th | 1989-90 | 10th | 13th | 5th | 7th | 6th |
| Cercle Brugge KSV Cercle Brugge K.S.V. Cercle Brugge Koninklijke Sportvereniging is a Belgian football team from Bruges. Cercle have played in the Belgian Pro League since the 2003-04 season, having previously spent several years in the Belgian Second Division following relegation in 1997. Their matricule is the n°12. The club play... |
Bruges Bruges Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country.... |
9th | 2003-04 | 9th | 9th | 4th | 12th | 14th |
| Club Brugge KV | Bruges Bruges Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country.... |
4th | 1959-60 | 3rd | 3rd | 3rd | 6th | 3rd |
| KRC Genk K.R.C. Genk Koninklijke Racing Club Genk , usually referred to as Racing Genk or simply Genk, is a Belgian professional football club based in the city of Genk in Belgian Limburg. Racing Genk plays in the Belgian Pro League and they have won 3 Belgian champion titles in 1998–99, in 2001–02 and in 2010–11 as... |
Genk Genk Genk is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg near Hasselt. The municipality only comprises the city of Genk itself... |
1st | 1996-97 | 11th | 8th | 10th | 2nd | 5th |
| KAA Gent | Ghent Ghent Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of... |
5th | 1989-90 | 2nd | 4th | 6th | 4th | 4th |
| KV Kortrijk K.V. Kortrijk Koninklijke Voetbalclub Kortrijk is a Belgian professional football club based in Kortrijk, West Flanders. They have been playing in the Belgian Pro League since the 2008-09 season, and they achieved they best ranking ever during the 2009-10 season, finishing 4th after the play-offs... |
Kortrijk Kortrijk Kortrijk ; , ; ) is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province West Flanders... |
10th | 2008-09 | 5th | 14th | 1st (D2 Belgian Second Division The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,... ) |
3rd (D2 Belgian Second Division The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,... ) |
5th (D2 Belgian Second Division The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,... ) |
| Lierse SK Lierse S.K. Koninklijke Lierse Sportkring is a Belgian professional football club, from the city of Lier in the Antwerp province. Lierse has been playing in the Belgian Pro League since the 2010-11 season and they have already won the competition 4 times. They also have won 2 Belgian Cups... |
Lier Lier, Belgium Lier is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Lier proper and the village of Koningshooikt. On January 1, 2010 Lier had a total population of 33,930. The total area is 49.70 km² which gives a population density of 669 inhabitants per... |
14th | 2010-11 | 1st (D2 Belgian Second Division The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,... ) |
2nd (D2 Belgian Second Division The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,... ) |
7th (D2 Belgian Second Division The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,... ) |
17th | 17th |
| KSC Lokeren OV | Lokeren | 6th | 1996-97 | 14th | 7th | 12th | 16th | 8th |
| KV Mechelen | Mechelen Mechelen Mechelen Footnote: Mechelen became known in English as 'Mechlin' from which the adjective 'Mechlinian' is derived... |
7th | 2007-08 | 7th | 10th | 13th | 2nd (D2 Belgian Second Division The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,... ) |
13th (D2 Belgian Second Division The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,... ) |
| Oud-Heverlee Leuven | Leuven Leuven Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium... |
1st (D2 Belgian Second Division The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,... ) |
2011-12 | 9th (D2 Belgian Second Division The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,... ) |
12th (D2 Belgian Second Division The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,... ) |
3rd (D2 Belgian Second Division The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,... ) |
5th (D2 Belgian Second Division The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,... ) |
6th (D2 Belgian Second Division The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,... ) |
| RAEC Mons R.A.E.C. Mons R.A.E.C. Mons is a Belgian football club based in Mons, Belgium. The team was promoted to the Belgian Jupiler League recently on 29 May 2011 after beating Waasland-Beveren in a "Winner-Take-All" Test match of the Final Tour of the Belgian second division and has Re-Joined the Top Belgian League... |
Mons Mons Mons is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut, of which it is the capital. The Mons municipality includes the old communes of Cuesmes, Flénu, Ghlin, Hyon, Nimy, Obourg, Baudour , Jemappes, Ciply, Harmignies, Harveng, Havré, Maisières, Mesvin, Nouvelles,... |
3rd (D2 Belgian Second Division The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,... ) |
2011-12 | 3rd (D2 Belgian Second Division The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,... ) |
18th | 16th | 9th | 1st (D2 Belgian Second Division The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,... ) |
| K Sint-Truidense VV | Sint-Truiden Sint-Truiden Sint-Truiden is a city and municipality located in the province of Limburg, Flemish Region, Belgium, near the towns of Hasselt and Tongeren. The municipality includes the old communes of Aalst, Brustem, Duras, Engelmanshoven, Gelinden, Gorsem, Groot-Gelmen, Halmaal, Kerkom-bij-Sint-Truiden,... |
12th | 2009-10 | 4th | 1st (D2 Belgian Second Division The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,... ) |
17th | 15th | 15th |
| Standard Liège Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège.... |
Liège | 2nd | 1921-22 | 8th | 1st | 1st | 3rd | 2nd |
| KVC Westerlo K.V.C. Westerlo Koninklijke Voetbal Club Westerlo is a Belgian professional football club located in the city of Westerlo in the province of Antwerp. Westerlo has been playing in the Belgian Pro League since 1997–98. Their highest finish is a 6th place in 1999–2000, 2003–04 and 2008–09. They have won 1 Belgian... |
Westerlo Westerlo Westerlo is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises seven towns:- Westerlo centrum - Oevel - Tongerlo - Heultje... |
8th | 1997-98 | 12th | 6th | 9th | 8th | 9th |
| SV Zulte Waregem | Waregem Waregem Waregem is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality lies in the valley of the Leie River, between Kortrijk and Ghent. It is part of the arrondissement of Kortrijk and comprises the towns of Beveren, Desselgem, Sint-Eloois-Vijve and Waregem proper. On... |
11th | 2005-06 | 6th | 5th | 7th | 14th | 7th |
Players
Players in the Belgian First Division can be of any nationality and a club can sign as many foreign players as desired. The first club to start a game with 11 foreign players was KSC Lokeren in 2001. Every year, players are elected for Belgian Golden ShoeBelgian Golden Shoe
In association football, the Belgian Golden Shoe is an award given in Belgium at the beginning of each civil year to the best footballer of the Belgian First Division for the past year. The trophy is sponsored by the Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws....
awards, the highest awards a player can receive in Belgian competitions, but also for Belgian professional football awards
Belgian professional football awards
The Belgian professional football awards is a collection of awards given at the end of each season since 1983. The first year, the only award was the Manager of the Year. There are now 5 awards: Footballer, Young Footballer, Goalkeeper, Manager and Referee. The voters are all the players from...
. Players with African descent, origin or nationality can claim a Belgian Ebony Shoe
Belgian Ebony Shoe
The Belgian Ebony Shoe is a football award given annually to the best African player in the Belgian Pro League. The jury is composed of the coaches of Jupiler League clubs, the Belgian national team manager, sport journalists, and honorary juror...
award. Players compete also every season for the Belgian First Division top scorer, since the 1945-46 season.
Top scorers
| Rank | Player | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Albert De CleynAlbert De Cleyn Albert De Cleyn , nicknamed Bert, was a Belgian football player who became the first top scorer of the Belgian First Division with 40 goals in 1946 while playing for Mechelen. He played 12 times with the Belgian national team between 1946 and 1948... |
350 |
| 2 | Joseph Mermans Joseph Mermans Joseph Mermans , usually referred to as Jef Mermans was a football striker from Belgium, who played much of his career at Anderlecht, with whom he won 7 Belgian Championship titles and finished top scorer of this competition 3 times.Mermans played 56 matches with the Belgium national football team,... |
339 |
| 3 | Bernard Voorhoof Bernard Voorhoof Bernard Voorhoof was a Belgian footballer, the Belgium national team top scorer since 1940 with 30 goals in 61 matches. He was joined by Paul Van Himst in 1974 who needed 81 matches to score the same number of goals.... |
281 |
| 4 | Arthur Ceuleers Arthur Ceuleers Arthur Tuur Albert Ceuleers was a Belgian footballer.A striker for Beerschot VAC, he was twice Champion of Belgium in 1938 and 1939.He was also a Belgian international in 1937 and 1938, 4 times... |
280 |
| 5 | Rik Coppens |
258 |
| 6 | Erwin Vandenbergh Erwin Vandenbergh Erwin Vandenbergh was a Belgian footballer. Between 1981 and 1991, he finished six times topscorer of the Belgian First Division, with three different clubs . In 1981 he was European topscorer with 39 goals out of 34 games... |
252 |
| 7 | Paul Van Himst Paul Van Himst Paul van Himst is a former talented Belgian football midfielder and a football manager. Now retired, he still supports R.S.C. Anderlecht, his former team. He was nicknamed Polle Gazon due to the large number of fouls committed on him... |
237 |
| 8 | Raymond Braine Raymond Braine Raymond Ernest Michel Braine was one of the most talented and respected Belgian football strikers. He was also the first Belgian professional player, when he obtained a transfer to Sparta Prague in 1930.... |
192 |
| As of 16 July 2000 | ||
Erwin Vandenbergh
Erwin Vandenbergh
Erwin Vandenbergh was a Belgian footballer. Between 1981 and 1991, he finished six times topscorer of the Belgian First Division, with three different clubs . In 1981 he was European topscorer with 39 goals out of 34 games...
is the only player to have claimed the top scorer title 4 consecutive times, between 1979–80 and 1982-83 (the first three times while at Lierse SK and the last time while at RSC Anderlecht
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
). He is also the player to have claimed the most Belgian First Division top scorer titles in his career (6 times with 3 different clubs: 3 times with Lierse SK, twice with RSC Anderlecht and once with KAA Gent). Victor Wegria
Victor Wegria
Victor Wégria was a Belgian football striker.He played mostly for RFC Liégeois, and later joined Standard de Liège. Wégria finished four times top scorer of the Jupiler League . Only Erwin Vandenbergh managed to beat this record...
and Josip Weber
Josip Weber
Josip Weber is a Croatian-Belgian retired professional football forward. He is best known for playing with Belgian club Cercle Brugge while also representing Croatia and Belgium at international level.-Career:At club level, he played for Belgian clubs Cercle Brugge and Anderlecht...
won the title 3 consecutive times (resp. between 1958–59 and 1960-61 while at RFC Liégeois and between 1991–92 and 1993-94 while at Cercle Brugge KSV
Cercle Brugge K.S.V.
Cercle Brugge Koninklijke Sportvereniging is a Belgian football team from Bruges. Cercle have played in the Belgian Pro League since the 2003-04 season, having previously spent several years in the Belgian Second Division following relegation in 1997. Their matricule is the n°12. The club play...
). Wegria eventually finished top scorer a 4th time in 1962-63 still with RFC Liégeois, making him the second player with the most top scorer titles in the history of Belgian First Division top scorers.
The introduction of this title of honour in 1945 was maybe a little too late for first winner Bert De Cleyn as this player has scored the most goals in the history of the Belgian First Division since 1895 (350 goals in 395 games between 1932 and 1954 with KV Mechelen), though he won the top scorer title only once. Other players in the top ten of the all-time top scorer ranking in the Belgian First Division include Joseph Mermans
Joseph Mermans
Joseph Mermans , usually referred to as Jef Mermans was a football striker from Belgium, who played much of his career at Anderlecht, with whom he won 7 Belgian Championship titles and finished top scorer of this competition 3 times.Mermans played 56 matches with the Belgium national football team,...
(3 times top scorer, 339 goals overall in 382 games with RSC Anderlecht), Bernard Voorhoof
Bernard Voorhoof
Bernard Voorhoof was a Belgian footballer, the Belgium national team top scorer since 1940 with 30 goals in 61 matches. He was joined by Paul Van Himst in 1974 who needed 81 matches to score the same number of goals....
(Belgium national football team top scorer, 281 goals in 473 matches with Lierse SK), Rik Coppens (3 times top scorer), Erwin Vandenbergh and Paul Van Himst
Paul Van Himst
Paul van Himst is a former talented Belgian football midfielder and a football manager. Now retired, he still supports R.S.C. Anderlecht, his former team. He was nicknamed Polle Gazon due to the large number of fouls committed on him...
(Belgium top scorer with Bernard Voorhoof, 3 times top scorer).
The first foreign player to claim the title was Dutchman Jan Mulder
Jan Mulder
Jan Mulder is a Dutch politician and Member of the European Parliament for the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy , a member party of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe...
in 1966-67 with RSC Anderlecht. Since then, 24 foreign players have finished top scorer. Only two foreign players claimed the trophy more than once: Josip Weber (twice as a Croat and once as a Belgian) and Austrian Alfred Riedl
Alfred Riedl
Alfred Riedl is an Austrian football manager and a former striker. He is the former manager of Laos national football team.-Club career:...
.
Best results by Belgian clubs in European competitions
From the quarter-finals upwards:-
- RSC Anderlecht
- European Cup/UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
: - - semi-finalists in 1982 and 1986
- - quarter-finalists in 1963, 1966, 1975, 1987 and 1988
- UEFA Cup Winners' CupUEFA Cup Winners' CupThe UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
: - - winners in 1976 and 1978
- - finalists in 1977 and 1990
- UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
/Europa League: - - winners in 1983
- - finalists in 1970 and 1984
- - quarter-finalists in 1991 and 1997
- UEFA Super Cup:
- - winners in 1976 and 1978
-
- KV Mechelen
- European Cup/UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
: - - quarter-finalists in 1990
- UEFA Cup Winners' CupUEFA Cup Winners' CupThe UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
: - - winners in 1988
- - semi-finalists in 1989
- UEFA Super Cup:
- - winners in 1988
-
- Club Brugge KV
- European Cup/UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
: - - finalists in 1978
- - quarter-finalists in 1977
- UEFA Cup Winners' CupUEFA Cup Winners' CupThe UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
: - - semi-finalists in 1992
- - quarter-finalists in 1971 and 1995
- UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
/Europa League: - - finalists in 1976
- - semi-finalists in 1988.
-
- Standard LiègeStandard LiègeRoyal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège....
- Standard Liège
- European Cup/UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
: - - semi-finalists in 1962
- - quarter-finalists in 1959, 1970 and 1972
- UEFA Cup Winners' CupUEFA Cup Winners' CupThe UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
: - - finalists in 1982
- - semi-finalists in 1967
- - quarter-finalists in 1968
- UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
/Europa League: - - quarter-finalists in 1981 and 2010
- UEFA Intertoto CupUEFA Intertoto CupThe UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
: - - finalists in 1996
- - semi-finalists in 2000
-
- Antwerp FC
- UEFA Cup Winners' CupUEFA Cup Winners' CupThe UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
: - - finalists in 1993
- UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
/Europa League: - - quarter-finalists in 1990
-
- RFC Liège
- UEFA Cup Winners' CupUEFA Cup Winners' CupThe UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
: - - quarter-finalists in 1991
- UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
/Europa League: - - semi-finalists in 1964
- - quarter-finalists in 1990
-
- Lierse SK
- UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
/Europa League: - - quarter-finalists in 1972
- UEFA Intertoto CupUEFA Intertoto CupThe UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
: - - semi-finalists in 1996
-
- KSK Beveren
- UEFA Cup Winners' CupUEFA Cup Winners' CupThe UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
: - - semi-finalists in 1979
-
- KSV Waregem
- UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
/Europa League: - - semi-finalists in 1986
-
- Waterschei Thor
- Cup Winners' Cup:
- - semi-finalists in 1983
- R. Union Saint-GilloiseR. Union Saint-GilloiseR. Union Saint-Gilloise is a Belgian football club located in the municipality of Forest, though it is named after the neighbour municipality of Saint-Gilles, Brussels. It had been in the second division in 2004-05, but was subsequently relegated to third division. Its matricule is the n°10...
- R. Union Saint-Gilloise
- Inter-Cities Fairs CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
- - semi-finalists in 1960
-
- KSC Lokeren OV
- UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
/Europa League: - - quarter-finalists in 1981
-
- KRC Genk
- UEFA Intertoto CupUEFA Intertoto CupThe UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
: - - semi-finalists in 2004
See also
- Football in BelgiumFootball in BelgiumFootball, a sport which has been played in Belgium since the end of the 19th century, is that country's most popular sport. The national association was founded in 1895 with the intention of bringing some order and organization to the sport...
- Belgian CupBelgian CupThe Belgian Cup is the main knockout football competition in Belgium, run by the Belgian Football Association. The first cup was held in 1911-12. The most successful cup club is Club Brugge KV with 10 titles followed by RSC Anderlecht and R Standard de Liège...
- Belgian SupercupBelgian SupercupThe Belgian Supercup is a Belgian club competition played on a single match at the league champion venue since 2004 and formerly at the Stade Roi Baudouin, between the winner of the last Belgian Pro League and that of the last Belgian Cup. If both teams are the same, the opponent is declared to...
- Belgian Second DivisionBelgian Second DivisionThe Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,...
- Belgian Football AssociationBelgian Football AssociationThe Royal Belgian Football Association is the governing body of football in Belgium...
- Belgian football league systemBelgian football league systemThe Belgian football league system is a series of interconnected leagues for club football in Belgium.-The system:Below shows how the current system works. For each division, its official name, sponsorship name and number of clubs is given...
- Sports league attendances