TheBelgian Pro League(Dutch:Eerste klasse;French:Championnat de Belgique de football;German:Pro League), officially theJupiler Pro League(Dutch pronunciation:[ˈʑypilɛrˈproːˌlik]) for sponsorJupiler,is the top league competition forassociation footballclubs inBelgium.Contested by 16 clubs from the2023–24 seasononwards, it operates on a system ofpromotion and relegationwith theChallenger Pro League.
 Belgian Pro League | |
| Founded | 1895 |
|---|---|
| Country | Belgium |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Number of clubs | 16 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegationto | Challenger Pro League |
| Domestic cup(s) | Belgian Cup Belgian Super Cup |
| International cup(s) | UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League UEFA Conference League |
| Current champions | Club Brugge(19th title) (2023–24) |
| Most championships | Anderlecht(34 titles) |
| Most appearances | Raymond Mommens(614) |
| Top goalscorer | Albert De Cleyn(377) |
| Website | proleague.be(in Dutch) |
| Current:2024–25 Belgian Pro League | |
Seasons run from late July to late March, with teams playing 30 matches each in the regular season, and then enteringPlay-offs I(also known as theChampionship Playoff,title playoffsorChampions' play-offs[1]) orPlay-offs II(also known as theEuropa League playofforEurope play-offs[1]) according to their position in the regular season. Play-offs I are contested by the top-six clubs in the regular season, with each club playing each other twice. The teams finishing in 15th and 16th place are relegated directly, however, the 14th place team plays a promotion-relegation play-off against the 3rd place team of the Challenger Pro League.
The competition was created in 1895 by theRoyal Belgian Football Associationand was first won byFC Liégeois.Of the 74 clubs to have competed in the first division since its creation, 16 have been crowned champions of Belgium.Anderlechtis the most successful league club with 34 titles, followed byClub Brugge(19),Union Saint-Gilloise(11) andStandard Liège(10). It is currently ranked 8th in theUEFA rankingsof leagues based on performances in European competitions over the last five-years.[2]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.
History
editOrigins (1895–1914)
editThe first league in Belgian football was held in1895–96as around-robin tournamentwith seven teams:Antwerp FC,FC Brugeois,FC Liégeois,RC de Bruxelles,Léopold Club de Bruxelles,SC de Bruxelles,andUnion d'Ixelles.FC Liégeois became the first champion of Belgium. The first eight 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 finishers (FC Brugeois and Union d'Ixelles) withdrew and a new club entered the competition (Athletic and Running Club de Bruxelles). During the1896–97season, SC de Bruxelles withdrew, so the1897–98season was played by five clubs. In the seasons1898–99and1899–1900,the football association introduced a new format with two leagues at the top level and a final game in two legs. The format changed back to one league with nine clubs in1900–01,then again to two leagues from1901–02to1903–04,this time with a final round among the top two teams of each league. In1904–05,the championship was organised with one league of 11 teams. Athletic and Running Club de Bruxelles withdrew during the season and, from the1906 seasonon, a system of promotion and relegation was introduced with the winner of the second division replacing the last-placed team of the first division.[citation needed]
In1906–07,Union Saint-Gilloisewon their fourth consecutive title as RC de Bruxelles had from 1899–1900 to 1902–03. Both clubs claimed the next three titles beforeCS Brugeoiswon 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 championRC de Gandand runner-upESC Forestbeing promoted while no first division was relegated. AsWorld War Iapproached, Daring Club de Bruxelles confirmed its status of challenger, even winning the title in1911–12and1913–14.Only Union Saint-Gilloise could face them in that period, winning the1912–13championship 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.[3]
After World War I (1919–1945)
editDuring World War I, the football championship was suspended. It resumed in1919–20with FC Brugeois claiming their first title after five second places, among which were two lost final games and one lost test-match. At the end of the1920–21 season,the number of teams was increased from 12 to 14, with onlyUccle Sport,the last-placed team of the first division, being relegated, and the first three teams from the Promotion being promoted (Standard Club Liégeois,FC Malinois,andRSC Anderlechtois). From1921–22to1931–32,the decade was dominated by teams from the province ofAntwerp:Beerschot AC,withRaymond Braine,won their first five titles, Antwerp FC their first two and the small club ofLiersche SK(led by strikerBernard 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 25 December 1932, Union Saint-Gilloise had a record 60 games unbeaten run in the championship (spanning three seasons), winning the1932–33,1933–34,and1934–35titles. The rival of Union during this period wasDaring Club de Bruxelles.They claimed the next two championships. Following the come-back of playerRaymond Braineto Beerschot, theAntwerpclub won the last two titles beforeWorld War II.[citation needed]
On 10 May 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. Thenext 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 ofKV Mechelenbecame champion for the first time in their history. In1943–44,Antwerp FC won the title. The league was suspended again in 1944–45 because of World War II.[4]
After World War II (1945–1980)
editThe league resumed play in1945–46with a title for KV Mechelen. At the start of that season, the First Division went from 16 to 19 clubs, with three clubs promoted from the First Division and no team being relegated. Thetop scoreraward was also introduced that season, won byBert De Cleynfrom KV Mechelen. Two seasons later, five clubs were relegated and two promoted. In1946–47,RSC Anderlechtois won their first championship withJef Mermansas the key striker and they dominated the Belgian football over the next 9 years with 6 more titles, with KV Mechelen (in1947–48) and FC Liégeois (in1951–52and1952–53) claiming the remaining titles. TheBelgian Golden Shoeaward was introduced in 1954, rewarding the best player in the first division for the past calendar year, thus over two half seasons.[citation needed]
In the late 1950s Standard lifted the trophy for the first time in1957–58and they eventually became one of Anderlecht's biggest rivals in the league (until their 8th title in1982–83). The other titles in the late 1950s were won by Antwerp FC and Anderlecht. In the 1960s, the Anderlecht team ofPaul Van Himstclaimed six titles (with the Belgian record of five consecutives titles between1963–64and1967–68), while Standard claimed three and Lierse one. Standard, with key playerWilfried Van Moer,won the first two titles of the 1970s, which gave them their only treble so far (together with the1968–69title).1974–75was 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 the1975–76 European Cup Winners' Cupand Club Brugge losing toLiverpool F.C.in the1975–76 UEFA Cupfinal.The following season, Anderlecht lost toHamburger SVin theCup Winners' Cupfinal and in1977–78won for the second time, while Club Brugge lost theEuropean Cupto Liverpool F.C.. In the Belgian First Division, Club Brugge claimed four titles in the decade, while Anderlecht claimed two andR White Daring Molenbeek(the successor of Daring Club de Bruxelles) withJohan BoskampandKSK Beverenwith goalkeeperJean-Marie Pfaffeach claimed their first Belgian championship.[citation needed]
Recent years (1980–present)
editIn the 1980s, the European successes continued for Belgian clubs with Standard reaching the1981–82 European Cup Winners' Cupfinal, Anderlecht winning the1982–83 UEFA Cupand losing thenext UEFA Cupfinal and KV Mechelen winning the1987–88 European Cup Winners' Cup.In the domestic league, Anderlecht won their 20th title in1986–87,which was also the 4th of the decade. Club Brugge and Standard each won two titles in the 1980s and KSK Beveren and KV Mechelen one each.[citation needed]
In the 1990s, Belgium's teams performances were diminished in European competitions, with only RSC Anderlecht and Royal Antwerp FC reaching theEuropean Cup Winners' Cupfinal, respectively in1989–90and in1992–93.In the home league, RSC Anderlecht took four titles during the decade, while Club Brugge cemented their status as main contender with four titles. The remaining two titles went to Lierse SK and newcomerRacing Genk.The 2000s brought a bright European start, with Anderlecht reaching the second group stage in the2000–01 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 five titles in the decade, with Club Brugge claiming two titles and Racing Genk taking their second title. At the end of the decade,Standard Liègereturned as a title contender with two consecutive titles, 25 years after their1982–83title. 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 thefirst championship in this new format,which was their 30th title.[citation needed]After another two titles for Anderlecht,KAA Gentwas the surprise winner of the Championship in 2015. The following seven years, Club Brugge would win the league five times. Anderlecht and Genk won the title on the other occasions.Union Saint-Gilloisecame close to shocking the footballing world by almost winning the league in2021–22.In their first season at the top flight in 48 years, they started the play-offs in first place, but came just short of denying Club Brugge their third consecutive title.[5]
Competition format and naming
editStarting with the 2009–10 season, the format of the Pro League has been drastically changed. Playoffs 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 theChristmas holiday.Many already criticized the format and point out the DutchEredivisie,where the playoffs are not being played anymore. RSC Anderlecht won the first championship in this new format, theBelgian Pro League 2009-10,which was their 30th Belgian championship.
Matches are usually played on Saturdays at 20.00; however, some matchdays are played on Wednesdays. Furthermore, in recent years, some games are played 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 the 2001–02 season 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 thethird division). However, it is still not effective as, for example,KSK Beverenfinished 18th (last) in 2001–2002, but was saved asKSC Eendracht Aalst(17th) andRWD Molenbeek(10th) were refused their license.
Following the 2015–16 season, the number of professional teams in Belgium was brought down to 24, which mostly affected the teams playing at the second level of the Belgian football pyramid as theBelgian Second Divisionwas replaced by theBelgian First Division Band the number of teams dropped to eight.
Regular season
editEach of the 16 competitors in the Pro League plays every other team twice in the regular season, for a total of 30 matches between August and April. A win earns three points and a draw earns one point. 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 playoff phase is then played from May.
Championship Play-off
editThe point system in the championship playoff is the same as during the regular season, except that each team starts with half of the points they won in the regular season, rounded up to the nearest integer. The points gained by rounding are deducted in the case of a tie.
The top six teams from the regular season enter the championship playoff, with the first-placed team winning the championship of Belgium. Each team plays their opponents twice and the teams are ranked by points, points from rounding, wins, etc. as in the regular season.
All time ranking in the Championship Play-off
edit- Since the introduction of the playoff system in 2009
- Last updated following the2023–24 season,teams ranked by total points, then goal difference
| Rank | Club | Seasons | Played | Won | Drew | Lost | Points | Avg. Points per Match | GF | GA | GD | Titles | Last participation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Club Brugge | 14 | 128 | 63 | 28 | 37 | 217 | 1.7 | 218 | 153 | +65 | 5 | 2023–24 |
| 2 | Anderlecht | 13 | 122 | 54 | 29 | 39 | 191 | 1.57 | 183 | 149 | +34 | 5 | 2023–24 |
| 3 | Genk | 10 | 92 | 43 | 18 | 31 | 147 | 1.6 | 141 | 129 | +12 | 2 | 2023–24 |
| 4 | Standard Liège | 7 | 70 | 33 | 15 | 22 | 114 | 1.63 | 115 | 92 | +23 | 2018–19 | |
| 5 | Gent | 8 | 80 | 28 | 20 | 23 | 104 | 1.3 | 107 | 111 | −4 | 1 | 2018–19 |
| 6 | Zulte Waregem | 5 | 50 | 12 | 11 | 27 | 47 | 0.94 | 66 | 102 | −36 | 2016–17 | |
| 7 | Antwerp | 5 | 38 | 11 | 7 | 20 | 40 | 1.05 | 38 | 63 | −25 | 1 | 2023–24 |
| 8 | Charleroi | 3 | 30 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 29 | 0.97 | 32 | 50 | −18 | 2017–18 | |
| 9 | Kortrijk | 3 | 30 | 8 | 5 | 17 | 29 | 0.97 | 36 | 55 | −19 | 2014–15 | |
| 10 | Union SG | 3 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 27 | 1.23 | 30 | 25 | 5 | 2023–24 | |
| 11 | Oostende | 2 | 20 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 23 | 1.15 | 28 | 36 | −8 | 2016–17 | |
| 12 | Lokeren | 3 | 30 | 4 | 7 | 19 | 19 | 0.63 | 38 | 66 | −28 | 2013–14 | |
| 13 | Cercle Brugge | 1 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 1.3 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 2023–24 | |
| 14 | Sint-Truiden | 1 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 1.3 | 9 | 10 | −1 | 2009–10 |
Comprehensive team results by season
edit- Legend
- 1st— Champions
- 2nd— Runners-up
- 3rd— Third place
- •— Did not qualify
- NH— Not held due toCOVID-19
- ×— Playing in a lower division
- D— Defunct
| Team | 2009–10 | 2010–11 | 2011–12 | 2012–13 | 2013–14 | 2014–15 | 2015–16 | 2016–17 | 2017–18 | 2018–19 | 2019–20 | 2020–21 | 2021–22 | 2022–23 | 2023–24 | 2024–25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderlecht | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 3rd | 2nd | 1st | 3rd | 6th | NH | 4th | 3rd | • | 3rd | |||
| Antwerp | × | • | 4th | 3rd | 4th | 1st | 6th | |||||||||
| Cercle Brugge | • | × | • | • | 4th | |||||||||||
| Charleroi | • | × | • | 5th | • | 5th | 6th | • | • | |||||||
| Club Brugge | 3rd | 4th | 2nd | 3rd | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 4th | 1st | q | |||
| Genk | • | 1st | 3rd | 5th | 6th | • | 4th | • | 5th | 1st | 2nd | • | 2nd | 5th | q | |
| Gent | 2nd | 5th | 4th | • | 1st | 3rd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | • | ||||||
| Kortrijk | 5th | • | 6th | • | 6th | • | • | |||||||||
| Lokeren | • | 6th | • | 6th | 5th | • | D | |||||||||
| Oostende | × | • | 5th | 4th | • | • | × | D | ||||||||
| Sint-Truiden | 4th | • | × | • | • | |||||||||||
| Standard Liège | • | 2nd | 5th | 4th | 2nd | 4th | • | 2nd | 3rd | • | • | |||||
| Union SG | × | × | 2nd | 3rd | 2nd | |||||||||||
| Zulte Waregem | 6th | • | 2nd | 4th | • | 6th | • | • | × | × | ||||||
Europa League Playoff
editUntil 2016, the teams ranked 7 to 14 after the regular season enter the playoffs 2, with teams ranked 7th, 9th, 12th, and 14th entering group A and teams ranked 8th, 10th, 11th, and 13th entering group B. In each group, each team plays each of its three opponents twice. The winner of each group played the final game in two legs to determine the winner of the playoffs 2. The winner of the playoffs 2 then plays a home and away game against either the fourth-place or fifth-place team from the playoffs 1 for the final Europa League ticket, with the opponent depending on whether the Belgian Cup winner ended in the top four of the playoff 1 or not.
From 2016, the system was changed as now the teams ranked 7 to 16 are joined by six teams from theBelgian First Division Band divided into four groups of four teams. The winners of each groups now play a single match to determine the overall playoff winner, with the winner playing the fifth-placed team from playoff 1 in a single match for the final Europa League ticket.
Relegation playoff
editUntil 2015, a relegation playoff was played between the teams ranked 15th and 16th after the regular season. It consisted of five games between the two teams. The 15th-placed team started the playoffs with three points whereas the 16th-placed team started from zero. The loser of the relegation playoff was relegated to the second division. The winner of that playoff had to enter theBelgian Second Division final roundwith three teams from the second division. The winner of this Final Round played in the First Division the season thereafter.
From 2015 to 2023, the relegation playoff ceased to exist, as now the 16th-place team relegates directly, whereas the 15th placed team takes part in the Europa League playoff. The2015–16 Belgian Pro Leaguewas an exception as during that season the 15th placed team did not take part in any playoff, with the season for that team ending after the regular season.
From 2023 onwards, the relegation play-off was played between the teams ranked 13th and 16th after the regular season. After the relegation play-off battle, two teams are relegated directly to the Challenger Pro League and one team will play against 3rd place of Challenger Pro League due to avoid relegation.
Qualification for European competitions
editFor the 2010–11 season, the Belgian champion and the runner-up qualify for the 3rdUEFA Champions Leaguequalifying round (of 4).[6]TheBelgian Cupwinner (or the Cup finalist if the Cup winner finished first or second in the league) qualifies for the play-off of theUEFA Europa League.The third-placed team (or the fourth-placed team if the Cup winner finished third 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.[7]
Naming
edit- 1895–1904: Championship Cup
- 1904–1926: First Division
- 1926–1952: Division of Honour
- 1952–2016: First Division
- 2016–2022: First Division A
- 2022–present: Belgian Pro League
Media coverage
editThe Belgian Football Association sells the television rights for the Belgian First Division every three years. In 2005, the newly created Belgian TV channelProximus TVbought the TV rights for a record amount of €36 million per season until 2019–20.
In May 2008, the rights were again sold to Belgacom TV in association with both public broadcastersVRT(Dutch) andRTBF(French) for an amount of €45.7 million per season.[8]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.
On 12 June 2020 Aser'sEleven Sportsand the Pro League reached an agreement on the new domestic and international media contract for the coming five years. As exclusive global rights holder, Eleven Sports will air the rights of all Pro League competitions for the next five seasons from 2020–21 until 2024–25, with both public broadcasters Play 4 (Dutch) and RTBF (French) lands the rights for highlights again.[9][10]
Clubs
editChampions
edit
- boldclubs play in top flight
- italicclubs dissolved or merged
Most seasons in First Division A
editOnly clubs with more than 50 seasons in first division listed:
| Matriculate | Club | № of seasons: (119 total)[11] |
Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Standard Liège | 103 | 1909–1914, 1921– |
| 1 | Antwerp FC | 101 | 1895–1900, 1901–1968, 1970–1998, 2000–2004, 2017– |
| 3 | Club Brugge KV | 100 | 1895–1896, 1898–1928, 1929–1933, 1935–1939, 1946–1947, 1949–1951, 1959– |
| 35 | RSC Anderlecht | 91 | 1921–1923, 1924–1926, 1927–1928, 1929–1931, 1935– |
| 7 | KAA Gent | 83 | 1913–1929, 1936–1967, 1968–1971, 1980–1988, 1989– |
| 12 | Cercle Brugge | 1899–1936, 1938–1946, 1961–1966, 1971–1978, 1979–1997, 2003–2015, 2018– | |
| 13 | Beerschot VAC | 81[12] | 1900–1906, 1907–1981, 1982–1991 |
| 30 | K Lierse SK | 74 | 1927–1948, 1953–1986, 1988–2007, 2010–2015 |
| 25 | KV Mechelen | 71 | 1921–1922, 1924–1925, 1926–1927, 1928–1956, 1963–1964, 1965–1969, 1971–1977, 1981–1982, 1983–1997, 1999–2001, 2002–2003, 2007–2018, 2019– |
| 4 | RFC Liège | 67 | 1895–1910, 1912–1913, 1923–1924, 1945–1995 |
| 10 | Union SG | 59 | 1901–1949, 1951–1963, 1964–1965, 1968–1973, 2021– |
| 22 | Charleroi SC | 57 | 1947–1957, 1966–1971, 1974–1980, 1985–2011, 2012– |
- boldclubs play in First Division
- italicclubs dissolved or merged
Clubs that played in First Division
editA total of 75 clubs have played in the first division since its creation in 1895. Among those 75 clubs, 44 still exist and the 30 other clubs either went into liquidation or merged with another club.
Members for 2024–25
edit
| Club name | City | Last season position |
First season of current spell in top division |
Result 22–23 | Result 21–22 | Result 20–21 | Result 19–20 | Result 18–19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderlecht | Brussels(Anderlecht) | 3rd | 1935–36 | 11th | 3rd | 4th | 8th | 6th |
| Antwerp | Antwerp | 6th | 2017–18 | 1st | 4th | 3rd | 4th | 4th |
| Beerschot | Antwerp | 1st (CPL) | 2024–25 | 3rd (CPL) | 18th | 9th | 5th (D1B) | 2nd (D1B) |
| Cercle Brugge | Bruges | 4th | 2018–19 | 6th | 10th | 16th | 14th | 13th |
| Charleroi | Charleroi | 13th | 2012–13 | 9th | 7th | 13th | 3rd | 9th |
| Club Brugge | Bruges | 1st | 1959–60 | 4th | 1st | 1st | 1st | 2nd |
| Dender EH | Denderleeuw | 2nd (CPL) | 2024–25 | 9th (CPL) | 1st (NatD1) | 13th (NatD1) | 7th (1Am) | 9th (1Am) |
| Genk | Genk | 5th | 1996–97 | 2nd | 6th | 2nd | 7th | 1st |
| Gent | Ghent | 7th | 1989–90 | 5th | 5th | 5th | 2nd | 5th |
| Kortrijk | Kortrijk | 14th | 2008–09 | 14th | 13th | 14th | 11th | 8th |
| Mechelen | Mechelen | 8th | 2019–20 | 13th | 8th | 6th | 6th | 1st (D1B) |
| OH Leuven | Leuven | 10th | 2020–21 | 10th | 11th | 11th | 3rd (D1B) | 5th (D1B) |
| Sint-Truiden | Sint-Truiden | 9th | 2015–16 | 12th | 9th | 15th | 12th | 7th |
| Standard Liège | Liège | 12th | 1921–22 | 7th | 14th | 8th | 5th | 3rd |
| Union SG | Brussels(Saint-Gilles) | 2nd | 2021–22 | 3rd | 2nd | 1st (D1B) | 4th (D1B) | 3rd (D1B) |
| Westerlo | Westerlo | 11th | 2022–23 | 8th | 1st (D1B) | 4th (D1B) | 1st (D1B) | 4th (D1B) |
Players
editPlayers 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 wasKSC Lokerenin 2001. Every year, players are elected forBelgian Golden Shoeawards, the highest awards a player can receive in Belgian competitions, but also forBelgian professional football awards.Players with African descent, origin or nationality can claim aBelgian Ebony Shoeaward. Players compete also every season for the Belgian First Division top scorer, since the 1945–46 season.
Top scorers
edit| Rank | Player | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albert De Cleyn | 377 |
| 2 | Joseph Mermans | 339 |
| 3 | Bernard Voorhoof | 281 |
| 4 | Arthur Ceuleers | 280 |
| 5 | Rik Coppens | 258 |
| 6 | Erwin Vandenbergh | 252 |
| 7 | Paul Van Himst | 237 |
| 8 | Jan Ceulemans | 230 |
| As of 16 July 2000[update][13] | ||
Erwin Vandenberghis the only player to have claimed the top scorer title four consecutive times, between 1979–80 and 1982–83 (the first three times while atLierse SKand the last time while atRSC Anderlecht). He is also the player to have claimed the most Belgian First Division top scorer titles in his career (six times with three different clubs: three times with Lierse SK, twice with RSC Anderlecht and once withKAA Gent).Victor WegriaandJosip Weberwon the title three consecutive times (resp. between 1958–59 and 1960–61 while atRFC Liégeoisand between 1991–92 and 1993–94 while atCercle 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 winnerBert De Cleynas 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 withKV 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 includeJoseph Mermans(three times top scorer, 339 goals overall in 382 games with RSC Anderlecht),Bernard Voorhoof(Belgium national football teamtop scorer, 281 goals in 473 matches with Lierse SK),Rik Coppens(three times top scorer), Erwin Vandenbergh andPaul Van Himst(Belgium top scorer with Bernard Voorhoof, three times top scorer).
The first foreign player to claim the title was DutchmanJan Mulderin 1966–67 with RSC Anderlecht. Since then, 25 foreign players have finished top scorer. Only three foreign players claimed the trophy more than once:Josip Weber(twice as a Croat and once as a Belgian), AustrianAlfred Riedland most recently FrenchmanJérémy Perbet.
International results by Belgian clubs
editSee also
edit
References
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- ^Kassies, Bert."UEFA European Cup Coefficients Database".Archivedfrom the original on 12 February 2012.Retrieved25 August2010.
- ^"Jupiler Pro League Homepage".proleague.be(in Dutch).Retrieved14 December2023.
- ^"Homepage | Lierse".lierse(in Dutch).Retrieved23 March2024.
- ^"BEKIJK. Herbeleef speeldag per speeldag de razend spannende titelstrijd tussen Club Brugge en Union".Het Nieuwsblad(in Flemish).Archivedfrom the original on 26 June 2022.Retrieved26 June2022.
- ^uefa."UEFA Champions League – UEFA".Archivedfrom the original on 27 August 2010.Retrieved25 August2010.
- ^uefa."UEFA Europa League – UEFA".Archivedfrom the original on 27 August 2010.Retrieved25 August2010.
- ^Belgacom obtient les droits TV (Belgacom gets TV rights)Archived6 June 2008 at theWayback Machine(in French)
- ^"Pro League and Eleven Sports Finalise Five-year Deal".Eleven Sports.26 June 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 28 June 2020.Retrieved27 June2020.
- ^"Eleven agrees VRT content deal before Pro League kick-off but no Telenet distribution".SportBusiness.7 August 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 29 September 2020.Retrieved7 August2020.
- ^This table includes results from the 1895–96 season up to and including the 2021–22. No competition was organised from 1914 until 1919 due toWorld War I.The 1939–40, 1940–41 and 1944–45 seasons are not included as these were either not fully completed or deemed unofficial due toWorld War II.
- ^Beerschot (matricule 13) dissolved in 1999 as part of a merger with Germinal Ekeren to becomeGerminal Beerschot(matricule 3530), which eventually renamed itself Beerschot AC and went bankrupt. Not to be confused with the currentBeerschot VAwhich evolved out of Beerschot Wilrijk and technically is the successor of FC Wilrijk.
- ^"Belgium – All-Time Topscorers".Archivedfrom the original on 8 December 2022.Retrieved2 February2023.
External links
edit- (in Dutch)Jupiler Pro League official website
- (in Dutch)Pro League official website
- (in German, English, French, and Dutch)The Belgian Football Association official website
- (in French)Sport website– On the Jupiler League
- (in English)League321– Belgian Football League Tables, Records & Statistics Database.
- (in English)Pluto website– Belgian football history
- (in English)RSSSF archive– All time tables
- (in English)Football resultsArchived31 July 2013 at theWayback Machine– Belgium football statistics