Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
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| Full name | Royale Union Saint-Gilloise | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Les Unionistes Union 60 The Old Lady The Apaches[1] Matricule 10 | |||
| Founded | 1 November 1897 | |||
| Ground | Joseph Marien Stadium | |||
| Capacity | 9,400[2] | |||
| Owner | Alex Muzio[3] | |||
| Chairman | Alex Muzio | |||
| Head coach | Sébastien Pocognoli | |||
| League | Belgian Pro League | |||
| 2023–24 | Belgian Pro League, 2nd of 16 | |||
| Website | rusg | |||
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Royale Union Saint-Gilloise[y.njɔ̃sɛ̃.ʒil.waz],commonly referred to asUnion Saint-Gilloiseand abbreviated asRUSG,is a Belgian professionalfootball cluboriginally located in the municipality ofSaint-Gilles,inBrussels,although since the 1920s, it has been based at theJoseph Marien Stadiumin the neighbouring municipality ofForest.
The club is one of the most successful in the history of Belgian football. The club won elevenBelgian championshipsbetween 1904 and 1935, making it the most successful Belgian club beforeWorld War II,but fell into decline after relegation from the First Division in 1973. The Apaches took part in the first European competitions, theChallenge International du Nord,theCoupe Van der Straeten Ponthozand theCoupe Jean Dupuichbetween 1898 and 1925. The team colours are blue and yellow and itsmatriculeis 10. The team was traditionally popular with the working-class communities of central Brussels (the Marolles) and southern Brussels.
On 13 March 2021, after defeating local rivalsR.W.D. Molenbeek,Union were promoted back to theBelgian First Division A,marking their first appearance in top-flight football in 48 years. The following year, they finished top of the table at the end of the regular season, the first club in Belgian history to do so the season after promotion to the top flight. Union would go on to finish second in the champions play off, securingChampions Leaguequalification for the first time ever in club history, and after being eliminated in the third qualifying round, reached the quarter-finals of theEuropa League.
History
[edit]Early glories
[edit]The club was founded in 1897 and obtained its first of eleven titles as Champion of Belgium in 1904. From 1933 to 1935 the team played 60 consecutive matches undefeated, setting a still unbeaten record in Belgium, winning three league titles in a row across that period led by captainJules Pappaert.[4][5]
With its first national title barely a few years after its foundation, Union quickly became a superpower and supplier to the Belgian team for the Olympic Games in 1920.
The 1935 success was the club's eleventh, a Belgian record that would not be broken until the emergence ofAnderlechtin the 1960s. Seven of those titles came before the outbreak ofWorld War Onein 1914. In the early 1900s, Union also had a dominant spell in some of the first "European" Cup competitions that took place, prior to officially sanctioned UEFA competitions.
Between 1958 and 1965, the club had a brief spell of European success, playing in theInter-Cities Fairs Cupand reaching the semi-finals in the1958–60 editionafter a two-legged victory againstA.S. Roma.In 1963, however, the club was relegated to the second division, and in 1980 even fell as low as the Belgian Promotion division, the fourth tier.
Lower division survival
[edit]In the sixties, Union began to struggle, bouncing between the First and Second Division several times. In 1973, the club dropped out of the First Division and would not return for 48 years. Two years later in 1975, would come another relegation to the Third Division for the first time. Union bounced back to the Second Division after just one season, but an even bigger decline followed at the end of the 1970s, back-to-back relegations seeing Union fall from the Second Division to the Fourth in successive years.
The club rallied in the mid-80s to earn back-to-back promotions back up to the Second Division, claiming the Fourth Division crown in 1983 and the Third the following season. But no further progress could be made and Union would move between the second and third flights for close on the next four decades.
Promotion back to the Second Division in 2004 saw two subsequent seasons of battling against relegation, but the 2006–07 started brightly and promotion back to the First Division was a prospect until a poor climax to their campaign post-Christmas, leading to the sacking of coach Tshupula Kande, replaced by Alex Czerniatynski.
In May 2007, long-standing chairman Enrico Bove resigned along with several other members of the board of directors, and the club suffered another relegation to the Third Division. Bove returned as chairman in 2010 with the backing of new Italian sponsors, but Union's prospects on the pitch continued to suffer, and in 2012–13, finished 17th out of 19 clubs in the Third Division B, inside the relegation zone. However, KVK Tienen were found guilty of making irregular payments and were automatically relegated to the Fourth Division, earning Union a reprieve via a play-off, which they won 1–0 against RFC de Liege. Union went on to finish a creditable third in the2014–15 Belgian Third Division,but again would prosper from other clubs’ problems, as the top two of Cappellen and Sprimont Comblain Sport both passed up applying for a Second Division licence, so Union were promoted in their place.[6]
Revival and return to the First Division
[edit]On 21 May 2018,Tony Bloom,chairman ofEnglish Premier Leagueside,Brighton & Hove Albionwas confirmed as the majority shareholder.[7]Current Union chairman Alex Muzio was a co-investor with Tony Bloom in 2018. On 7 July 2023 Alex Muzio was confirmed as having become the majority owner of Union.[3]
Promoted from the third tier in 2015, Union quickly established themselves as a top-six side in Division 1B, without becoming a top-3 side. A change of coach in May 2018 sawMarc Grosjeanreplaced after three years of finishing 6th, 4th and 6th byLuka Elsner,with Union contesting at the top ofDivision 1Bin 2018–19, which that season was divided into South American-style "opening" and "closing" competitions, framed in the "apertura and clausura" style seen in many countries in the Americas. The winner of each competition would qualify for the promotion play-off final, with automatic promotion being the incentive for a club to try and win both competitions.
Union were second behindMechelenby six points in the Opening Tournament which concluded at Christmas, and regrouped to take third behindBeerschot Wilrijkin the Closing Tournament. Despite not reaching the final, Union's reward was to be given one of the three places allocated for Division 1B teams inPlay-Offs 2,for the right to compete for a place in theUEFA Europa League.Placed in a group of six with every other opponent being from the top division, USG went unbeaten at home, beatingKortrijk,Waasland-BeverenandCercle Brugge,drawing withZulte WaregemandExcel Mouscron.Away wins over Kortrijk, Mouscron and Cercle put them in with a big chance of winning the group to qualify for the Play-Offs 2 Final, but losses away to Waasland-Beveren and Zulte Waregem saw them overtaken by Kortrijk right at the end. The Kerels finished on 24 points, Union 20.
With Elsner taking up a coaching job in France withAmiens SC,Thomas Christiansenwas brought in as his replacement, with Union again falling marginally short in both the Opening and Closing Tournaments. However, there was to be no place in Play-Offs 2 this time, as these were abandoned due to theCOVID-19 pandemicthat saw the2019–20 seasonend prematurely in March.
The summer of 2020 sawFelice Mazzuappointed as first-team coach, assisted byKarel Geraerts,with a number of interesting young talents signed from lower-division football both in Belgium and abroad, such asDante Vanzeir,Deniz Undav,Christian Burgess,Teddy Teuma,and from Virton following that club's denial of a First Division B licence, goalkeeperAnthony MorisandLoïc Lapoussin.
On 13 March 2021, after defeating R.W.D. Molenbeek 2–1 at home, Union were promoted back to the Belgian First Division A. This marked its first appearance in the top flight since 1972. Due to restrictions at the time due to theCOVID-19 pandemic,Union fans were not able to celebrate their promotion at the stadium.[8][9]
Title contenders and European football
[edit]2021–22: Top of regular season, Play-offs runner-ups
[edit]A sensational return to top-flight football after 48 years away saw a 3–1 opening-day win away to Brussels' traditional giants Anderlecht.[10]Union in their next match a week later hosted reigning championsClub Bruggeon 1 August 2021 in their first home game in the top division since 1973, being edged out 1–0 through a lateEduard Sobolwinner.
Union went top of the Pro League on 17 October 2021, passing previous leadersEupenby virtue of a 4–1 win overSeraing,and would remain there until May. Due to the novelty of being crowned unofficialwinter champions,Union were awarded a special trophy by the newspaper HLN.[11]
In a difficult January run against all of the previous season's top four, Union beat Anderlecht,GenkandRoyal Antwerp,drawing 0–0 away to Club Brugge. By the end of the regular season, Union were top on 77 points, five ahead of Club Brugge, with Antwerp and Anderlecht also qualifying for the six rounds of play-offs, where the quartet would bring forward half of the regular season points into the play-offs. Hence, Union would resume on 39, Club 36, with Anderlecht and Antwerp both on 32.[10]
On 10 April 2022, during their first season back in the top flight in 48 years, Union Saint-Gilloise finished the regular season in first place after a draw against last placeBeerschot.The match was abandoned after 83 minutes, after Beerschot fans threw flares onto the pitch. Union were later awarded three points due to forfeit. This was the first time that a newly promoted club finished top of the table in the history of the Belgian league.
Union started the play-offs strongly, beating Anderlecht 3–1 and thus becoming the first club ever to inflict three defeats on the Mauves in the same league season. A 0–0 draw away to Antwerp saw the lead over Club Brugge maintained at three points.
The title race swung in the direction of Bruges in back-to-back games between Union and Club, with the champions earning a tight 2–0 win in Brussels to draw level on points,[12]with Club going top under the "half-points" rule, as Union had needed their tally from the regular season rounded-up. Club Brugge won the midweek return 1–0 at the Jan Breydel through a rebounded own goal from goalkeeperAnthony Moristo take a three-point lead with two games to go. A late equaliser fromCasper Nielsenwas disallowed byVARfor offside.[13][14]
Club Brugge clinched the league crown in their next (and penultimate) game against Royal Antwerp,[15][16]despite Union beating Anderlecht for the fourth time in the season 2–0 atLotto Park.[17][18]Eventually, Union finished four points down on Club in second place, with 46 points compared to Club's 50, historically qualifying Union for theUEFA Champions League.
League glory for Union would have seen them become the first newly promoted side to win a top-20 European national league championship at the first attempt sinceKaiserslautern's 1998 Bundesliga success.[19][20]
During their run for the title, coachFelice Mazzugained a reputation for dancing in front of Union's fans post-match, cited as keeping a light atmosphere within the club and maintaining a close relationship with the Union fans.[21]
Union's runners-up spot qualified them for the UEFA Champions League qualifiers, sending them into European football for the first time since 1964–65, and their first UEFA competition after featuring in five editions of the Fairs Cup in the 1950s and 60s.[22]
After going into first place in October, Union were top for 200 consecutive days.
Having been voted Belgian Coach of the Year, Mazzu departed for cross-town rivals Anderlecht and was replaced by his assistantKarel Geraerts.[23][24][25]Anderlecht's move meant they had to pay Union compensation,[26]sparking ill-feeling between the two Brussels clubs,[27]
2022–23: European participation and title contestant
[edit]Despite an early exit from theUEFA Champions Leagueat the hands ofRangersafter a 2–0 "home" win atOH Leuven'sDen Dreefstadium[28]and a 3–0 loss atIbrox,[29]Union dropped into theUEFA Europa Leagueand won their group, earning four victories from their six games againstUnion Berlin,BragaandMalmö.
A last-16 reunion with Union Berlin saw the Brussels club draw 3–3 away in Berlin, and win their "home" return 3–0 at Anderlecht'sLotto Park.The quarter-finals had them paired with anotherBundesligaside inBayer Leverkusen,who defeated them 5–2 on aggregate (1–1 away, 1–4 home).[30]
Domestically, Union continued their remarkable form from the season before, lying second heading into the final round of theBelgian Pro Leagueregular season and reaching theBelgian Cupsemi-finals, only to lose to Royal Antwerp on penalties.[31][32]
Union reached the final day of the title play-offs in second place on 46 points, with leaders Antwerp also on 46, top by virtue of finishing in first place at the end of the regular season. Third-placers Genk were a point behind on 45. Union would be champions if they won their game against Club Brugge, and Antwerp did not win theirs against Genk. No other scenario would crown Union as champions.
On the final matchday of the Play-offs, Union were leading 1–0 at home against Club Brugge in the 89th minute, and with Racing Genk leading Royal Antwerp 2–1 at theCegeka Arena,Union were on the way to being champions, with the Pro League trophy being flown via helicopter to the Joseph Marien Stadium.
However, three late goals from Club Brugge - two in stoppage-time - and a late Antwerp equaliser fromToby Alderweireldsent the crown Antwerp's way.[33][34][35][36]Union's second consecutive title-race collapse saw them drop to third place which qualified them to theEuropa League play-off round.
2023–24: European adventure and title contention
[edit]Owing to a third-place finish in the last season, Union entered in theplayoff round of the Europa League.There, they facedFC Luganoand won, qualifying for theEuropa League group stagefor the second consecutive season. In the group, they were drawn withLiverpool,ToulouseandLASK.They would finish third in the group, but they secured some great results like their 2–1 win over Liverpool.[37]In theUEFA Europa Conference Leagueknockout round playoffs, they were drawn againstEintracht Frankfurt.The first leg finished 2–2, but they won the second leg in Frankfurt 2–1 to win 4–3 on aggregate and qualify for the round of 16 where they lost toFenerbahce.
Following their 2–0 away win overOH Leuvenon 2 March 2024, Union mathematically became the regular season champions for the second time in three seasons, as they had an 8-point lead over city rivalsAnderlechtwith only two regular season matchdays to go.
On 9 May 2024, Union won their first Cup title after 110 years, following a 1–0 win overRoyal Antwerpin thefinal.[38]In the Champions' Play-offs, Union suffered four consecutive defeats which saw them drop to third place behind rivals Anderlecht and Club Brugge, followed by two wins against Antwerp and two draws against the other two title contenders which minimized their chances to secure the title for the third attempt in a row.[39]Following victories over Cercle Brugge and Genk, Union finished as runners-up, just one point behind the champions, Club Brugge.[40]
Supporters and rivalries
[edit]Union attract supporters primarily from the Brussels region, especially from the south of the Belgian capital. Their ultras are known as the Union Bhoys, and attend in the all-standingTribune Est.The Union Bhoys have friendships withRFC LiègeandCercle Bruggesupporters. Union's supporters promoteanti-fascistideals.[41]
Union share a Brussels city derby, also known as a "Zwanzederby "withR.W.D. Molenbeek,which stems from their old rivalry withDaring Club Brussels,[42]that has been encapsulated in the Brussels playBossemans et Coppenolle.However, the two are said to have a love-hate relationship, having both experienced financial difficulty in the modern era, and organised friendlies together in support.[43]
Union have another Brussels city rivalry with neighbourRSC Anderlecht,although the two have met even fewer times in the modern era than RWDM and Union have. This is arguably Union's fiercest derby, with many fans considering it to be the most important match of the season. They met for the first time since 1979 in theBelgian Cupin 2018, with Union stunning Anderlecht 3–0 at theConstant Vanden Stock Stadium.[44]In 2021, Union were promoted to the First Division for the first time in 49 years. In the first derby between the two teams in the championship, Union beat Anderlecht 3–1. In January 2022, in their first home game against Anderlecht in the championship since their relegation in 1972, Union completed a league double over Anderlecht, defeating them 1–0.[45]During the Champions Playoffs at the end of the 2021–22 season, they again defeated Anderlecht twice, first with a 3–1 home victory and again with a 0–2 away victory.
Players
[edit]Current squad
[edit]- As of 29 September 2024[46]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules.Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
[edit]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules.Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Personnel achievements
[edit]Five players from the Union Saint-Gilloise finished top scorers in theBelgian First Division A
- 1902/1903:
Gustave Vanderstappen(?Goals) - 1903/1904:Gustave Vanderstappen(30 Goals)
- 1909/1910:Maurice Vertongen(36 Goals)
- 1922/1923:Achille Meyskens(24 Goals)
- 1933/1934:Vital Van Landeghem(29 Goals)
- 2021/2022:
Deniz Undav(26 Goals)
Two players from the Union Saint-Gilloise finished top scorers in theBelgian Second Division
- 1950/1951:Frans Laureys(28 Goals)
- 2020-2021:
Dante Vanzeir/
Georges Mikautadze-RFC Seraing(29 Goals)
A player from the Union Saint-Gilloise finishes top scorers in theEuropa League 2022-2023
- 2022-2023:
Victor Boniface/
Marcus Rashford-Manchester United(6 Goals)
Notable former Players
[edit]- Gustave Vanderstappen(1897-1910)
- Joseph Romdenne(1899-1905)
- Charles Vanderstappen(1900-1910)
- Paul Grumeau(1902-1911)
- Maurice Tobias(1902-1909/1911-1912)
- Joseph Vanderstappen(1903-1910)
- Edgard Poelmans(1903-1914)
- /Georges Hebdin(1903-1920)
- Louis Van Hege(1907-1910/1917-1924)
- Maurice Vertongen(1909-1911)
- Émile Hanse(1909-1926)
- Joseph Musch(1910-1924)
- Achille Meyskens(1913-1914/1919-1927)
- Robert Coppée(1913-1929)
- Jules Pappaert(1920-1938)
- André Vandeweyer(1931-1943)
- Vital Van Landeghem(1932-1938)
- Constant Vanden Stock(1938-1943)
- Henri Dirickx(1943-1961)
- Lodewijk Dirickx(1950-60?)
- Frans Laureys(1947-1959)
- Paul Van Den Berg(1954-1965)
Julien Kialunda(1960-1965)- Jacques Teugels(1968-1971)
Paul Philipp(1970-1974/1976-1980)- Harald Nickel(1975-1976)
- Dany Ost(1979-1987/1988-1994)
- Gaby Mudingayi(1998-2000)
Sanharib Malki(2002-2006)
Ignazio Cocchiere(2012-2016)- Pietro Perdichizzi(2016-2020)
- Mathias Fixelles(2016-2021)
Teddy Teuma(2019-2023)- Deniz Undav(2020-2022)
- Dante Vanzeir(2020-2023)
- Victor Boniface(2022-2023)
Cameron Puertas(2022-2024)
Staff
[edit]| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Sébastien Pocognoli
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| Assistant coach | Bart Meert
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 Artur Kopyt
| |
| Tim Smolders
| |
| Goalkeeping coach | Logan Bailly
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| Fitness coach | Balder Berckmans
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| Sports director |  Chris O'Loughlin
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| Video analyst | Marc Delcourt
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| Team manager | Annelies Menten
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| Delegate | Philippe Wery
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Medical
[edit]- Doctors
- Koen Pansaers
- Axel Marlaire
- Physios
- Stephen Van den Berg
- Ivan Del Molino
- Wilfried Schiemsky
Honours
[edit]Domestic
[edit]- Belgian First Division
- Belgian Second Division/Challenger Pro League
- Winners (4):1900–01, 1950–51, 1963–64,2020–21
- Runners-up (1): 1967–68
- Belgian Third Division A
- Winners (2):1975–76, 1983–84
- Belgian Third Division B
- Winners (1):2003–04
- Belgian Fourth Division
- Winners (1):1982–83
- Belgian Cup
- Winners (3):1912–13, 1913–14,2023–24
- Jules Pappaert Cup
- Winners (3):1956, 1976, 2021
- Belgian Super Cup
- Winners (1):2024
European
[edit]- Challenge International du Nord(1898-1914)
- Winners (3):1904, 1905, 1907
- Runners-up (1):1908
- Coupe Van der Straeten Ponthoz(1900-1907)
- Winners (3):1905, 1906, 1907
- Runners-up (1):1904
- Coupe Jean Dupuich(1908-1925)
- Winners (4):1912, 1913, 1914, 1925
- Runners-up (1):1908
- UEFA Europa League(1955-)
- 1/2 (1):1958-60
- 1/4 (1):2022-23
- UEFA Europa Conference League(2022-)
- 1/8 (1):2023-24
Union SG in European competitions
[edit]Union Saint-Gilloise went 58 years between appearances in European competitions, entering the2022–23 UEFA Champions Leaguein the third qualifying round, having last appeared in the1964–65 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.In the 2022–23 season, the team played their group stage home games atDen Dreefand their knockout phase home games at theLotto Park,as the Joseph Marien Stadium does not meet the UEFA requirements.
Report
[edit]- Leipzig XI(1958-59)
- Eintracht Frankfurt(2024)
- Union Berlin(2022/2023)
- Bayer Leverkusen(2023)
- 1. FC Nürnberg(1913)
- Roma(1959/1960/2024)
- Juventus(1964)
Rangers(2022/2025)- Heart of Midlothian(1961)
Braga(2022/2025)
Nice(2024)- Toulouse(2023)
- Marseille(1962)
- US Tourcoing(1908)
- RC Roubaix(1904)
- RFC Liège(1902/1904)
Twente(2024)- EFC PW 1885(1905)
- Feyenoord Rotterdam(1923/1925)
- Sparta Rotterdam(1907)
- FC Dordrecht(1902)
- Koninklijke HFC(1905)
- HBS Craeyenhout(1903/1904)
Midtjylland(2024)
Bodø/Glimt(2024)
Fenerbahçe(2024/2024)
Slavia Prague(2024)- Liverpool(2023)
- Birmingham City(1959)
- St Albans City F.C.(1925)
- Ilford FC(1911/1912)
- Barking FC(1913)
LASK(2023)
Lugano(2023)
Dinamo Zagreb(1962-63-63)
Malmö FF(2022)
Note: All dates in italics refer to matches in the first European cups:Challenge International du Nord,Coupe Van der Straeten Ponthoz,Coupe Jean Dupuich.
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Les Apacheswas a Parisian Belle Époque violent criminal underworld subculture of early 20th-century hooligans, night muggers, street gangs and other criminals. After news of their notoriety spread over Europe, the term was used to describe violent street crime in other countries. In fact, the term crystallizes the anxiety aroused by urban youth since the 1880s: aging society sees in it the manifestation of a youth that refuses to work. The phenomenon also implicitly accused the Republic and the working class world of "leaving young people to their own devices and neglecting education, that pillar of bourgeois culture", thus creating a generation destined to give birth to new criminals. The apache appears as an anti-social figure marked by hatred of the "bourgeois", the "cop" and "work", refusing to waste his youth on the factory floor. Bringing all these realities together under a common banner gave rise to a veritable moral panic, developed by newspapers aware of the soap opera's popularity. Indeed, the Apache motif was used to excess in the press, and probably with exaggeration, particularly by major french dailies. He was assigned to Union Saint-Gilloise at the time. In 1901 the Apaches was the first second division champions, and with their rough play, they gave the honor division team a fright."Apaches_(subculture)".
- ^Stadium,Union Saint-Gilloise clubwebsite
- ^ab"Statement president and owner Alex Muzio".
- ^"Royale Union Saint-Gilloise: Geschiedenis".rusg.brussels(in Dutch).Retrieved21 April2023.
- ^"Royale Union Saint-Gilloise: History".rusg.brussels.Retrieved21 April2023.
- ^"Belgian 2014/15".RSSSF.Retrieved21 April2023.
- ^Naylor, Andy (21 May 2018)."Done deal: Albion chairman completes Belgian club takeover".The Argus.Archivedfrom the original on 9 November 2020.
- ^Stenning, Adam (14 March 2021)."Tony Bloom congratulations Union St Gilloise on promotion".The Argus.Retrieved21 April2023.
- ^Dzhulai, Dmytro (16 March 2021)."Король повертається: історичний гранд забивав 100 м'ячів за сезон, упав, але вперше за 48 років зіграє в еліті (The king returns: the historic greats scored 100 goals in a season, fell, but will play in the elite for the first time in 48 years".football24.ua(in Ukrainian).Retrieved21 April2023.
- ^abDevilez, Alice (3 April 2022)."L'Union Saint-Gilloise remporte la phase classique: les 5 moments clés d'un parcours idyllique (Union Saint-Gilloise wins the classic phase: the 5 key moments of an idyllic journey)".RTBF(in French).Retrieved21 April2023.
- ^"Union allerminst voldaan na herfsttitel:" Ik heb nog gelachen omdat er hier een trofee voor stond "(Union not at all satisfied after autumn title:" I still laughed because there was a trophy for this ")"(in Dutch). Sporza. 24 November 2023.Retrieved24 November2023.
- ^"Highlights: Union Saint-Gilloise vs Club Brugge".proleague.be.11 May 2022.Retrieved21 April2023.
- ^Devilez, Alice (13 May 2022)."Mazzu gooit de handdoek niet in de ring:" 1e plek is nog steeds haalbaar "(Mazzu does not throw in the towel:" 1st place is still achievable ")".Sporza(in Dutch).Retrieved21 April2023.
- ^"Highlights: Club Brugge vs Union Saint-Gilloise".proleague.be.15 May 2022.Retrieved21 April2023.
- ^"Club Brugge pakt historische derde landstitel op rij na remonte op de Bosuil (Club Brugge takes historic third national title in a row after a remonte on the Bosuil)".Sporza(in Dutch). 15 May 2022.Retrieved21 April2023.
- ^"Highlights: Royal Antwerp vs Club Brugge".proleague.be.15 May 2022.Retrieved21 April2023.
- ^"Union verslaat Anderlecht voor de 4e keer dit seizoen en mag als vicekampioen de CL in (Union beats Anderlecht for the 4th time this season and is allowed to enter the Champions League as vice champion)".Sporza(in Dutch). 15 May 2022.Retrieved21 April2023.
- ^"Highlights: RSC Anderlecht vs Union Saint-Gilloise".proleague.be.15 May 2022.Retrieved21 April2023.
- ^"Royale Union Saint-Gilloise: Belgium's Lazarus".Between The Lines.20 March 2023.Retrieved21 April2023.
- ^"Daydream believer: Chris O'Loughlin's remarkable rise up the football ladder".Irish Times.22 January 2022.Retrieved21 April2023.
- ^Zidda, Giovanni (31 May 2022)."Union Saint-Gilloise: 'Dancing Mazzu' ravi," une victoire acquise dans la difficulté (Union Saint-Gilloise: Dancing Mazzu delighted, "a victory gained in difficulty" ) ".RTBF(in French).Retrieved21 April2023.
- ^"Union Saint-Gilloise: The Belgian club two Englishmen took to the Champions League".The Athletic.2 August 2022.Retrieved7 April2023.
- ^"Felice Mazzu volgt Vincent Kompany op bij Anderlecht:" Een unieke kans "(Felice Mazzu succeeds Vincent Kompany at Anderlecht:" A unique opportunity ")".Sporza(in Dutch). 31 May 2022.Retrieved21 April2023.
- ^"FELICE MAZZÙ BECOMES RSCA HEAD COACH".rsca.be.31 May 2022.Retrieved31 May2022.
- ^Berkvens, Abel (31 May 2022)."Felice Mazzu, de nieuwe coach van RSCA: 'Als ik wegga bij Union zal het met respect zijn' (Felice Mazzu, the new RSCA coach: 'If I leave Union, it will be with respect')".Bruzz(in Dutch).Retrieved21 April2023.
- ^"Union is not amused:" We zijn verbijsterd door de handelingen van Mazzu en Anderlecht "(Union is not amused:" We are stunned by the actions of Mazzu and Anderlecht ")".Sporza(in Dutch). 31 May 2022.Retrieved21 April2023.
- ^"Keert Mazzu terug naar Union als Judas of koning Midas?" Waarom was hij niet eerlijk? "(Will Mazzu return to Union as Judas or King Midas?" Why wasn't he honest? ")".Sporza(in Dutch). 28 August 2022.Retrieved21 April2023.
- ^"Union Saint-Gilloise 2-0 Rangers: Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side on brink of Champions League exit after goals from Teddy Teuma and Dante Vanzeir".Sky Sports.4 August 2022.Retrieved21 April2023.
- ^"Rangers 3-0 Union Saint-Gilloise (Agg: 3-2): Hosts turn around Champions League qualifier to book place in play-off round".Sky Sports.10 August 2022.Retrieved21 April2023.
- ^"Bayer Leverkusen cruise into UEFA Europa League semi-finals after beating Union Saint-Gilloise".Bundesliga.20 April 2023.Retrieved21 April2023.
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