R.F.C. de Liège
Encyclopedia
Royal Football Club de Liège (RFC 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 (5 Championships & 1 Cup). The club is also known today for being 'homeless' and for its refusal to release Jean-Marc Bosman
after his contract ran out in 1990, which in turn led to the Bosman ruling
, a European Court of Justice
decision that caused major changes to the structure of European football. The 'philosophy' of the club is based on integration of local young players and on popular and faithful support.
as "Football Club Liégeois" when it was founded in 1895.
The club is the first Belgian Champion (1896) and is still the only club that has played all seasons at a national level (106 seasons in 2008-09).
In 1920 the prefix Royal was added to the name of the club that already had won 3 championships (1896, 1898, 1899).
In 1952 and 1953, the RFC Liège won two more championships, being at that time the only team which was able to contest the undisputed domination of Anderlecht
. In 1964 Football Club Liégeois reached the Fairs Cup 1/2 finals, losing in 3 games against the winner of the Cup, Real Zaragoza.
Between 1965 and 1985, there were poor results, and the club survived with the help of its own tradition: young players coming from inside the club, and faithful supporters.
At the end of the 1980s, the RFC Liège played in European competitions (notably against Benfica, Juventus
, Rapid Vienna
, Hibernian
, Werder Bremen and Athletic Bilbao
) and also won a Belgian Cup
in 1990. Unfortunately, after that, bankruptcy was inevitable, and the stadium was sold and destroyed to build a movie theatre. The team joined with R.F.C. Tilleur-Saint-Nicolas
, (a team from the suburb of Liège) in 1995, to become R. Tilleur F.C. de Liège.
The club went down from the first division (which it hadn't left since 1945) to the third division
. The word Tilleur was finally excluded from the team name in 2000, coming back to "RFC de Liège".
Since 1995, the club is moving between the second
and fourth divisions
, with two titles of 3rd division Champions in 1996 and 2008.
In 2008-09 the club plays in the Belgian Second Division
, but after just 2 seasons the clud had to afford back to back relegations : they eventually dropped to the Belgian Fourth Division in April 2011.
(Liège
) was destroyed is the biggest problem for the RFC Liège, also well-known as 'homeless'.
After having played during 4 years at rue Gilles Magnée, in Ans
where a temporary stand was built, the RFC Liège is actually playing in Seraing
(Pairay Stadium) and could move for the next two seasons in Tilleur
(Buraufosse Stadium). The new stadium could be ready for the 2010-11 season in Ans.
(7th including two clubs that no longer exist, Beerschot (7) and Racing de Bruxelles (6))
Robert Waseige
(player in the 60's, coach in the 80's) Victor Wégria
Jean-Marc Bosman
Benoît Thans
Eric Deflandre
Jean-François De Sart Danny Boffin
Danny Veyt Pascal Renier
Guillaume Gillet
Gaëtan Englebert
Sébastien Bruzzese
Kelvin Sebwe
Alloy Agu
Victor Ikpeba
Sunday Oliseh Tarik Hodžić
Cvijan Milosevic
Edhem Šljivo
Ranko Stojic
Sead Susic
Zvonko Varga
Khalilou Fadiga
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...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club from the city of Liège. It currently plays in the Belgian 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...
. 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 (5 Championships & 1 Cup). The club is also known today for being 'homeless' and for its refusal to release Jean-Marc Bosman
Jean-Marc Bosman
Jean-Marc Bosman is a former Belgian footballer, whose judicial challenge of the football transfer rules led to the Bosman ruling...
after his contract ran out in 1990, which in turn led to the Bosman ruling
Bosman ruling
Union Royale Belge des Sociétés de Football Association ASBL v Jean-Marc Bosman is a 1995 European Court of Justice decision concerning freedom of movement for workers, freedom of association, and direct effect of article 39 of the EC Treaty...
, a European Court of Justice
European Court of Justice
The Court can sit in plenary session, as a Grand Chamber of 13 judges, or in chambers of three or five judges. Plenary sitting are now very rare, and the court mostly sits in chambers of three or five judges...
decision that caused major changes to the structure of European football. The 'philosophy' of the club is based on integration of local young players and on popular and faithful support.
History
It was founded in 1892 as "Liège Football Club" and became a member of the Belgian Football AssociationBelgian Football Association
The Royal Belgian Football Association is the governing body of football in Belgium...
as "Football Club Liégeois" when it was founded in 1895.
The club is the first Belgian Champion (1896) and is still the only club that has played all seasons at a national level (106 seasons in 2008-09).
In 1920 the prefix Royal was added to the name of the club that already had won 3 championships (1896, 1898, 1899).
In 1952 and 1953, the RFC Liège won two more championships, being at that time the only team which was able to contest the undisputed domination of 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...
. In 1964 Football Club Liégeois reached the Fairs Cup 1/2 finals, losing in 3 games against the winner of the Cup, Real Zaragoza.
Between 1965 and 1985, there were poor results, and the club survived with the help of its own tradition: young players coming from inside the club, and faithful supporters.
At the end of the 1980s, the RFC Liège played in European competitions (notably against Benfica, Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
, Rapid Vienna
SK Rapid Wien
The Sportklub Rapid Wien is an Austrian football club playing in the country's capital city of Vienna. Rapid is the most popular club in Austria and also record title holder having won the Austrian national football title 32 times...
, Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
, Werder Bremen and Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
) and also won a 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...
in 1990. Unfortunately, after that, bankruptcy was inevitable, and the stadium was sold and destroyed to build a movie theatre. The team joined with R.F.C. Tilleur-Saint-Nicolas
R.F.C. Tilleur-Saint-Nicolas
R.F.C. Tilleur-Saint-Nicolas was a Belgian football club from the municipality of Saint-Nicolas in the Liège suburb. It was created in 1899 as Tilleur F.C. and wore the matricule n°21.-History:...
, (a team from the suburb of Liège) in 1995, to become R. Tilleur F.C. de Liège.
The club went down from the first division (which it hadn't left since 1945) 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...
. The word Tilleur was finally excluded from the team name in 2000, coming back to "RFC de Liège".
Since 1995, the club is moving between the second
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,...
and fourth divisions
Belgian Promotion
The Belgian Promotion is the lowest nationwide division in Belgian football. Since 1905, Promotion has been the name of the lowest nationwide level but it is the fourth one since 1952. There were already 4 leagues at the time . The champion of the Promotion is declared to be the winner of a...
, with two titles of 3rd division Champions in 1996 and 2008.
In 2008-09 the club plays in 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,...
, but after just 2 seasons the clud had to afford back to back relegations : they eventually dropped to the Belgian Fourth Division in April 2011.
Stadium
Not having its own stadium after Stade Vélodrome de RocourtStade Vélodrome de Rocourt
Stade Vélodrome de Rocourt, also known as Stade Jules Georges, was a multi-use stadium in Liège, Belgium. It was initially used as the stadium of R.F.C. de Liège matches. It was closed in 1995. The capacity of the stadium was 40,000 spectators....
(Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
) was destroyed is the biggest problem for the RFC Liège, also well-known as 'homeless'.
After having played during 4 years at rue Gilles Magnée, in Ans
Ans
Ans is a small Belgian municipality located in the Walloon province of Liège. On January 1, 2006 Ans had a total population of 27,322. The total area is 23.35 km² which gives a population density of 1,170 inhabitants per km²...
where a temporary stand was built, the RFC Liège is actually playing in Seraing
Seraing
Seraing is a Walloon municipality of Belgium in Province of Liege. The municipality of Seraing includes the old communes of Boncelles, Jemeppe-sur-Meuse, and Ougrée. With Liège, Herstal, Saint-Nicolas, Ans, and Flémalle it forms the greater Liège agglomeration...
(Pairay Stadium) and could move for the next two seasons in Tilleur
Saint-Nicolas, Belgium
Saint-Nicolas is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liege. It is effectively a part of the greater Liège conurbation stretching west from Liège city centre towards Liège airport. As of January 1, 2006 Saint-Nicolas had a total population of 22,666....
(Buraufosse Stadium). The new stadium could be ready for the 2010-11 season in Ans.
Current squad
Trivia
- RFC Liège other "names" are: Liège, RFC Liège, RTFCL, Football Club Liégeois, Club Luik (in DutchDutch languageDutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
), FC Liegi (ItalianItalian languageItalian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
), FC Lieja (SpanishSpanish languageSpanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
) and FC Lüttich (GermanGerman languageGerman is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
).
- First Belgian champion, RFC Liège is still the 8th team in all time Belgian ranking (results) and 5th in terms of victories in Championship (5 titles), behind Anderlecht (29), FC Bruges (13), Union St Gilloise (11) and Standard (10).
(7th including two clubs that no longer exist, Beerschot (7) and Racing de Bruxelles (6))
- RFC Liege was founded in 1892 by the members of Liège Cyclist's Union, who organised a few months later the now classic Liège–Bastogne–Liège with the Pesant Club Liégeois.
- Jean Loos is the only Walloon coach to be a two-time Belgian champion (1952 and 1953 with RFC Liège).
- the club played 67 seasons in 1st Division 1, 50 of which were consecutive (1950–1995) for a total of 106 seasons at a national level (1892–2009, Belgian record).
Former players
Pol Anoul Louis CarréLouis Carré
Louis Carré was a Belgian football player and coach. As a player, Carré played at both professional and international levels as a midfielder, before becoming a football coach.-Career:...
Robert Waseige
Robert Waseige
Robert Waseige is a Belgian football manager and a former player. He became the coach of Belgium before the Euro 2000 and lead Belgium to the second round at the 2002 World Cup....
(player in the 60's, coach in the 80's) Victor Wégria
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...
Jean-Marc Bosman
Jean-Marc Bosman
Jean-Marc Bosman is a former Belgian footballer, whose judicial challenge of the football transfer rules led to the Bosman ruling...
Benoît Thans
Benoît Thans
Benoît Thans is a retired Belgian footballer.-References:* * *...
Eric Deflandre
Eric Deflandre
Eric Deflandre is a former Belgian football right fullback.-Club career:Deflandre first signed to Wandre Union but after one year he joined Liège side R.F.C. de Liège. He then left for Germinal Ekeren in 1995. In 1996, he signed for Club Brugge.In 2000, Deflandre moved to Olympique Lyonnais in...
Jean-François De Sart Danny Boffin
Danny Boffin
Daniel "Danny" Edouward Boffin is a retired Belgian footballer who played as a left winger.During his professional career, which spanned nearly two decades, he played for four clubs in his country - most notably Anderlecht - and one in France, appearing in nearly 600 official games as a...
Danny Veyt Pascal Renier
Pascal Renier
Pascal Renier was a Belgian football defender. His former clubs include Club Brugge and R.E. Mouscron. He also played for Troyes AC in French Ligue 1.Renier was in the Belgium squad for the 1994 World Cup, albeit without playing....
Guillaume Gillet
Guillaume Gillet
Guillaume Gillet is a Belgian international footballer who plays professionally for Anderlecht, as a full back.-Club career:Born in Liège, Gillet has played for RFC Liège, Visé, Eupen, Gent and Anderlecht in 2008.-International career:...
Gaëtan Englebert
Gaëtan Englebert
Gaëtan Englebert is a Belgian footballer who is currently playing for the local club K.V.V. Coxyde, as a defensive midfielder.-Club career:...
Sébastien Bruzzese
Sébastien Bruzzese
Sébastien Bruzzese is a Belgian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for AA Gent.-Career:Born in Liège, Bruzzese began his career with R.F.C. de Liège, who was promoted to the Promotion A team and made his first three prof games. He moved in July 2007 to the reserve squad from Anderlecht and in...
Kelvin Sebwe
Kelvin Sebwe
Kelvin Sebwe is a retired Liberian footballer who played as a midfielder. Sebwe was also a member of the Liberia national football team. His brother is Dionysius Sebwe...
Alloy Agu
Alloysius Agu
Alloysius Uzoma Agu is a former football goalkeeper from Nigeria. Their number one choice in the early nineties, he played 28 international matches for the Nigerian national team. He was brought to the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the 1994 African Nations Cup as a cover for Peter Rufai. Agu retired at...
Victor Ikpeba
Victor Ikpeba
Victor Nosa Ikpeba is a former football forward from Nigeria. He has played thirty international matches and scored three goals for Nigeria, and played at the FIFA World Cups in 1994 and 1998...
Sunday Oliseh Tarik Hodžić
Tarik Hodžic
Tarik Hodžić is a former Bosnian football player.He started playing football in FK Željezničar youth team. In 1970, he signed his first professional contract with the club, but he was loaned out to Famos Hrasnica. He played there for three seasons...
Cvijan Milosevic
Cvijan Miloševic
Cvijan Milošević is a Bosnian Serb former football player. He was capped once for the Yugoslav national team....
Edhem Šljivo
Edhem Šljivo
Edhem Šljivo is a Bosnian midfielder who played at FIFA World Cup 1982 for SFR Yugoslavia.-External links:*...
Ranko Stojic
Ranko Stojic
Ranko Stojić is a Bosnian Serb former football goalkeeper. He capped 14 times for Yugoslav national team.Since retiring as a player, Stojić became a player agent...
Sead Susic
Sead Sušic
Sead Sušić is a retired Bosnia and Herzegovina football player who played most notably for Red Star Belgrade and Yugoslavia.-Club career:...
Zvonko VargaZvonko Varga
Zvonko Varga is a former Serbian/Yugoslav football manager and former player of Partizan Belgrade.With "black - white" team he won 2 national championship and Mitropa Cup 1978.He has been working as manager of FK Teleoptik, a satellite club of FK Partizan.He previously managed OFK Beograd, FK...
Khalilou Fadiga
Khalilou Fadiga
Khalilou Fadiga is a Senegalese footballer midfielder who plays for KSV Temse in Belgium. He also holds a Belgian passport.-Early career:Fadiga moved to France when he was six years old...
Honours
- Belgian First Division:
- Winners (5): 1895-96, 1897–98, 1898–99, 1951–52, 1952–53
- Runners-up (3): 1896-97, 1958–59, 1960–61
- 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...
:- Winners (1): 1989-90
- Runners-up (1): 1986-87
- 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,...
:- Winners (3): 1911-12, 1922–23, 1943–44
- Belgian Third DivisionBelgian Third DivisionThe 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...
:- Winners (3): 1942-43, 1995–96, 2007–08