The Belgian Pro League is the top league competition for association football clubs in Belgium. Contested by 16 clubs since the 2023–24 season onwards, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Challenger Pro League.
Koninklijke Beerschot Antwerpen Club, simply known as Beerschot AC, was a Belgian football club based in southern Antwerp. Beerschot played in the Belgian Pro League from 1999–2000 until 2012–13, when they were relegated not only through their league position, but also lost their professional licence through financial issues, being officially declared bankrupt on 21 May 2013 – one week after the season had ended.
Ekeren is a northern district of the municipality of Antwerp in the Flemish Region of Belgium. The suburb celebrated its 850th birthday in 2005; the name of the town was first mentioned in 1155, as "Hecerna". The name possibly originates from Vikings who settled there in the ninth century after using the oak trees.
Royal Antwerp Football Club, often referred to as Royal Antwerp or simply Antwerp, is a Belgian football club based in the city of Antwerp and current champions of Belgium. Founded around 1880 as Antwerp Cricket Club by English students residing in Antwerp, 15 years before the creation of the Royal Belgian Football Association, Antwerp is regarded as the oldest club in Belgium. At first there was no organised football played by its members, until 1887 when the football division was founded with an own board, named Antwerp Football Club. Being the oldest active club at the time, it was the first club to register to the Association in 1895. Consequently, when matricule numbers were introduced in 1926, the club received matricule number one.
Association football is the most popular sport in Belgium, which has been played since the end of the 19th century. The national association was founded in 1895 with the intention of bringing some order and organization to the sport. The first match of the Belgium national team was played on 1 May 1904, a 3–3 draw against France.
Francis Severeyns, nicknamed Cisse, is a Belgian former professional footballer who played as a striker for Royal Antwerp, Pisa S.C., KV Mechelen, FC Tirol Innsbruck and K.F.C. Germinal Beerschot. He was the Jupiler League top scorer in 1988 with 24 goals. He played seven matches for the Belgium national team. Whilst at Antwerp he helped them to the 1993 European Cup Winners' Cup Final, in which he scored to tie the game at 1–1, although they went on to lose 3–1 to Parma.
Aimé Anthuenis is a Belgian former professional football player and manager. He managed the Belgium national football team between 2002 and 2005.
Alexandre "Alex" Czerniatynski is a Belgian former footballer who played as a striker.
The 1997–98 season of the Jupiler League was held between August 8, 1997, and May 10, 1998. Club Brugge became champions.
Didier Dheedene is a Belgian former professional footballer who played as a left back and central defender. At club level he played for Royal Cappellen, K.F.C. Germinal Beerschot in Antwerp, Austria WIen, 1860 Munich and Anderlecht. He played twelve times for the Belgium national team.
Statistics of Belgian League in season 1990–91.
Jozef 'Jos' Daerden is a Belgian football manager and a former player. He works as an assistant manager of K.R.C. Genk.
Stanley Hubert Adolphus Vanden Eynde or Van den Eynde was a Belgian international footballer who played as a striker for Beerschot VAC. Vanden Eynde also scored 9 goals in 26 appearances for the Belgium national side.
The 2012–13 season of the Belgian Pro League was the 110th season of top-tier football in Belgium. It started on 28 July 2012 with the first match of the regular season between Kortrijk and defending champions Anderlecht, and ended on 26 May 2013, which was the return leg of the European playoff.
Koninklijke Beerschot Voetbalclub Antwerpen, or simply Beerschot, is a Belgian professional football club located in Antwerp, that competes in the second-tier First Division B after relegating from the top tier in the 2021–22 season. In 2013, KFCO Wilrijk decided to integrate the identity of Beerschot AC when they were relegated in the 2012–13 season, not only through their league position but also due to losing their professional licence through financial issues, being officially declared bankrupt on 21 May 2013 and folding shortly afterwards. The club colours are purple and white, they play their games on the club's home ground the Olympic Stadium often referred to as 't Kiel.
Gunther Jozef Hofmans is a former Belgian professional footballer who spent his entire career in Belgium playing as an attacking midfielder and striker for Germinal Ekeren and Germinal Beerschot. He also represented the Belgium national team, winning one cap. He currently works as a team manager for Royal Antwerp, since 2011, having previously worked in the same position, at one of his previous clubs, Germinal Beerschot, from 2008 to 2011.
Urbain Haesaert is a Belgian football scout and former football manager. Haesaert started coaching at Lokeren. Together with Josef Vacenovský, he reached the quarter-finals of the 1980–81 UEFA Cup with Lokeren, and was vice-champion of Belgium, placing second behind Anderlecht in the 1980–81 Belgian First Division.
John "Jack" Van den Eynde was a Belgian footballer and Davis Cup tennis player. He played his football as a striker and featured in 40 matches in the Belgian First Division at Beerschot VAC, scoring 12 goals. His brother Stanley Van den Eynde was also a footballer, also playing for Beerschot. Their family was closely involved with the club. Their family house was located on Della Faillelaan in Antwerp.
