Founded | 1895; 129 years ago (1895) |
---|---|
Country | Belgium |
Confederation | UEFA |
Number of teams | 16 |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Relegation to | 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) (2023β24) |
Most championships | Anderlecht (34 titles) |
Most appearances | Jan Ceulemans (517) |
Top goalscorer | Albert De Cleyn (377) |
Website | www |
Current: 2024β25 Belgian Pro League |
The Belgian Pro League, officially the: Jupiler Pro League, dueββto sponsorship reasons with Jupiler, is: theββtop league competition for association football clubs in Belgium. Contested by, 16 clubs from the 2023β24 season onwards, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Challenger Pro League.
Seasons run from early Augustββto late March, with teams playing 30 matches each in the "regular season." And then entering Play-offs I (also known as the Championship Playoff, title playoffs/Champions' play-offs) or Play-offs II (also known as the Europa League playoff or Europe play-offs) 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 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, 16 have been crowned champions of Belgium. Anderlecht is the most successful league club with 34 titles, followed by Club Brugge (19), Union Saint-Gilloise (11) and Standard Liège (10). It is currently ranked 8th 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.
Historyβ»
Origins (1895β1914)β»
The first league in Belgian football was held in 1895β96 as a round-robin tournament with seven teams: Antwerp FC, FC Brugeois, FC LiΓ©geois, RC de Bruxelles, LΓ©opold Club de Bruxelles, SC de Bruxelles, and Union d'Ixelles. FC LiΓ©geois became the first champion of Belgium. The first eight titles in Belgian football were all won by FC LiΓ©geois 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 the 1896β97 season, SC de Bruxelles withdrew, so the 1897β98 season was played by five clubs. In the seasons 1898β99 and 1899β1900, 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 in 1900β01, then again to two leagues from 1901β02 to 1903β04, this time with a final round among the top two teams of each league. In 1904β05, 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 1906β07, Union Saint-Gilloise won their fourth consecutive title as RC de Bruxelles had from 1899β1900 to 1902β03. Both clubs claimed the next three titles before CS Brugeois won their first title, finishing one point ahead their rival of FC Brugeois. At the end of the 1907β08 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 1911β12 and 1913β14. Only Union Saint-Gilloise could face them in that period, winning the 1912β13 championship with a better goal difference. Since 1911β12, two clubs are relegated each year to the Promotion and two clubs from the Promotion are promoted.
After World War I (1919β1945)β»
During World War I, the football championship was suspended. It resumed in 1919β20 with 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 the 1920β21 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 three teams from the Promotion being promoted (Standard Club LiΓ©geois, FC Malinois, and RSC Anderlechtois). From 1921β22 to 1931β32, the decade was dominated by teams from the province of Antwerp: Beerschot AC, with Raymond Braine, won their first five titles, Antwerp FC their first two and the small club of Liersche SK (led by striker Bernard Voorhoof) won their first one in 1931β32. 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 LiΓ©geois. Starting 25 December 1932, Union Saint-Gilloise had a record 60 games unbeaten run in the championship (spanning three seasons), winning the 1932β33, 1933β34, and 1934β35 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 10 May 1940, German troops invaded Belgium and the seasons 1939β40 and 1940β41 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 1943β44, Antwerp FC won the title. The league was suspended again in 1944β45 because of World War II.
After World War II (1945β1980)β»
The league resumed play in 1945β46 with 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. The top scorer award was also introduced that season, won by Bert De Cleyn from KV Mechelen. Two seasons later, five clubs were relegated and two promoted. In 1946β47, RSC Anderlechtois won their first championship with Jef Mermans as the key striker and they dominated the Belgian football over the next 9 years with 6 more titles, with KV Mechelen (in 1947β48) and FC LiΓ©geois (in 1951β52 and 1952β53) 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 1957β58 and they eventually became one of Anderlecht's biggest rivals in the league (until their 8th title in 1982β83). 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 six titles (with the Belgian record of five consecutives titles between 1963β64 and 1967β68), while Standard claimed three and Lierse one. Standard, with key player Wilfried Van Moer, won the first two titles of the 1970s, which gave them their only treble so far (together with the 1968β69 title). 1974β75 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 1975β76 European Cup Winners' Cup and Club Brugge losing to Liverpool F.C. in the 1975β76 UEFA Cup final. The following season, Anderlecht lost to Hamburger SV in the Cup Winners' Cup final and in 1977β78 won for the second time, while Club Brugge lost the European Cup to Liverpool F.C.. In the Belgian First Division, Club Brugge claimed four titles in the decade, while Anderlecht claimed two 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.
Recent years (1980βpresent)β»
In the 1980s, the European successes continued for Belgian clubs with Standard reaching the 1981β82 European Cup Winners' Cup final, Anderlecht winning the 1982β83 UEFA Cup and losing the next UEFA Cup final and KV Mechelen winning the 1987β88 European Cup Winners' Cup. In the domestic league, Anderlecht won their 20th title in 1986β87, 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.
In the 1990s, Belgium's teams performances were diminished in European competitions, with only RSC Anderlecht and Royal Antwerp FC reaching the European Cup Winners' Cup final, respectively in 1989β90 and in 1992β93. 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 newcomer Racing Genk. The 2000s brought a bright European start, with Anderlecht reaching the second group stage in the 2000β01 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 LiΓ¨ge returned as a title contender with two consecutive titles, 25 years after their 1982β83 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. After another two titles for Anderlecht, KAA Gent was 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-Gilloise came close to shocking the footballing world by almost winning the league in 2021β22. 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.
Competition format and namingβ»
Starting with the 2009β10 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 the Christmas holiday. Many already criticized the format and point out the Dutch Eredivisie, 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.
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 2001β02 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 the third division). However, it is still not effective as, for example, KSK Beveren finished 18th (last) in 2001β2002, but was saved as KSC Eendracht Aalst (17th) and RWD Molenbeek (10th) were refused their license.
Following the 2015β16 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 the Belgian Second Division was replaced by the Belgian First Division B and the number of teams dropped to eight.
Regular seasonβ»
Each 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-offβ»
The 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-offβ»
- Since the introduction of the playoff system in 2009
- Last updated following the 2022β23 season
Rank | Club | Seasons | Played | Won | Drew | Lost | Points | Avg. Points per Match | GF | GA | GD | Titles | Last participation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Club Brugge | 13 | 118 | 56 | 25 | 37 | 193 | 1.64 | 197 | 147 | +50 | 4 | 2022β23 |
2 | Anderlecht | 12 | 112 | 50 | 27 | 35 | 177 | 1.58 | 171 | 137 | +34 | 5 | 2021β22 |
3 | Genk | 9 | 82 | 39 | 17 | 26 | 134 | 1.63 | 133 | 112 | +21 | 2 | 2022β23 |
4 | Standard LiΓ¨ge | 7 | 70 | 33 | 15 | 22 | 114 | 1.63 | 115 | 92 | +23 | 2018β19 | |
5 | Gent | 8 | 80 | 28 | 20 | 23 | 104 | 1.3 | 107 | 111 | -4 | 1 | 2018β19 |
6 | Zulte Waregem | 5 | 50 | 12 | 11 | 27 | 47 | 0.94 | 66 | 102 | β36 | 2016β17 | |
7 | Antwerp | 4 | 28 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 34 | 1.21 | 31 | 45 | β14 | 1 | 2022β23 |
8 | Charleroi | 3 | 30 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 29 | 0.97 | 32 | 50 | β18 | 2017β18 | |
9 | Kortrijk | 3 | 30 | 8 | 5 | 17 | 29 | 0.97 | 36 | 55 | β19 | 2014β15 | |
10 | Oostende | 2 | 20 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 23 | 1.15 | 28 | 36 | β8 | 2016β17 | |
11 | Lokeren | 3 | 30 | 4 | 7 | 19 | 19 | 0.63 | 38 | 66 | β28 | 2013β14 | |
12 | Union SG | 2 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 1.25 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 2022β23 | |
13 | Sint-Truiden | 1 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 1.3 | 9 | 10 | β1 | 2009β10 |
Comprehensive team results by seasonβ»
- Legend
- 1st β Champions
- 2nd β Runners-up
- 3rd β Third place
- β’ β Did not qualify
- NH β Not held due to COVID-19
- Γ β Playing in a lower division
- D β Defunct
Team | 2009β10 | 2010β11 | 2011β12 | 2012β13 | 2013β14 | 2014β15 | 2015β16 | 2016β17 | 2017β18 | 2018β19 | 2019β20 | 2020β21 | 2021β22 | 2022β23 | 2023β24 | 2024β25 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anderlecht | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 3rd | 2nd | 1st | 3rd | 6th | NH | 4th | 3rd | β’ | 3rd | |
Antwerp | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | β’ | 4th | 3rd | 4th | 1st | 6th | ||
Cercle Brugge | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | Γ | Γ | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | 4th | ||
Charleroi | β’ | β’ | Γ | β’ | β’ | 5th | β’ | 5th | 6th | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | ||
Club Brugge | 3rd | 4th | 2nd | 3rd | 3rd | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 4th | 1st | ||
Genk | β’ | 1st | 3rd | 5th | 6th | β’ | 4th | β’ | 5th | 1st | 2nd | β’ | 2nd | 5th | ||
Gent | 2nd | 5th | 4th | β’ | β’ | 1st | 3rd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | ||
Kortrijk | 5th | β’ | 6th | β’ | β’ | 6th | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | ||
Lokeren | β’ | 6th | β’ | 6th | 5th | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | Γ | D | D | D | D | D |
Oostende | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | β’ | β’ | 5th | 4th | β’ | β’ | NH | β’ | β’ | β’ | Γ | Γ / D ? |
Sint-Truiden | 4th | β’ | β’ | Γ | Γ | Γ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | β’ | ||
Standard Liège | ⒠| 2nd | 5th | 4th | 2nd | 4th | ⒠| ⒠| 2nd | 3rd | ⒠| ⒠| ⒠| ⒠| ||
Union SG | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | Γ | 2nd | 3rd | 2nd | |
Zulte Waregem | 6th | β’ | β’ | 2nd | 4th | β’ | 6th | 6th | β’ | β’ | NH | β’ | β’ | β’ | Γ | Γ |
Europa League Playoffβ»
Until 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 the Belgian First Division B and 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 playoffβ»
Until 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 the Belgian Second Division final round with 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. The 2015β16 Belgian Pro League was 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 competitionsβ»
For the 2010β11 season, the Belgian champion and the runner-up qualify for the 3rd UEFA Champions League qualifying round (of 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 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.
Namingβ»
- 1895β1904: Championship Cup
- 1904β1926: First Division
- 1926β1952: Division of Honour
- 1952β2016: First Division
- 2016β2022: First Division A
- 2022βpresent: Belgian Pro League
Media coverageβ»
The Belgian Football Association sells the television rights for the Belgian First Division every three years. In 2005, the newly created Belgian TV channel Proximus TV bought the TV rights for a record amount of β¬36 million per season until 2019β20.
In May 2008, the rights were again sold to Belgacom TV in association with both public broadcasters VRT (Dutch) and RTBF (French) for an amount of β¬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.
On 12 June 2020 Aser's Eleven Sports and 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 2020β21 until 2024β25, with both public broadcasters VRT (Dutch) and RTBF (French) lands the rights for highlights again.
Clubsβ»
Championsβ»
- bold clubs play in top flight
- italic clubs dissolved or merged
Most seasons in First Division Aβ»
Only clubs with more than 50 seasons in first division listed:
Matriculate | Club | β of seasons: (119 total) |
Period |
---|---|---|---|
16 | Standard LiΓ¨ge | 103 | 1909β1914, 1921β |
1 | Antwerp FC | 101 | 1895β1900, 1901β1968, 1970β1998, 2000β2004, 2017β |
3 | Club Brugge KV | 100 | 1895β1896, 1898β1928, 1929β1933, 1935β1939, 1946β1947, 1949β1951, 1959β |
35 | RSC Anderlecht | 91 | 1921β1923, 1924β1926, 1927β1928, 1929β1931, 1935β |
7 | KAA Gent | 83 | 1913β1929, 1936β1967, 1968β1971, 1980β1988, 1989β |
12 | Cercle Brugge | 83 | 1899β1936, 1938β1946, 1961β1966, 1971β1978, 1979β1997, 2003β2015, 2018β |
13 | Beerschot VAC | 81 | 1900β1906, 1907β1981, 1982β1991 |
30 | K Lierse SK | 74 | 1927β1948, 1953β1986, 1988β2007, 2010β2015 |
25 | KV Mechelen | 71 | 1921β1922, 1924β1925, 1926β1927, 1928β1956, 1963β1964, 1965β1969, 1971β1977, 1981β1982, 1983β1997, 1999β2001, 2002β2003, 2007β2018, 2019β |
4 | RFC LiΓ¨ge | 67 | 1895β1910, 1912β1913, 1923β1924, 1945β1995 |
10 | Union SG | 59 | 1901β1949, 1951β1963, 1964β1965, 1968β1973, 2021β |
22 | Charleroi SC | 57 | 1947β1957, 1966β1971, 1974β1980, 1985β2011, 2012β |
A 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 2024β25β»
Club name | City | Last season position |
First season of current spell in top division |
Result 22β23 | Result 21β22 | Result 20β21 | Result 19β20 | Result 18β19 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anderlecht | Brussels (Anderlecht) | 3rd | 1935β36 | 11th | 3rd | 4th | 8th | 6th |
Antwerp | Antwerp | 6th | 2017β18 | 1st | 4th | 3rd | 4th | 4th |
Beerschot | Antwerp | 1st (CPL) | 2024β25 | 3rd (CPL) | 18th | 9th | 5th (D1B) | 2nd (D1B) |
Cercle Brugge | Bruges | 4th | 2018β19 | 6th | 10th | 16th | 14th | 13th |
Charleroi | Charleroi | 13th | 2012β13 | 9th | 7th | 13th | 3rd | 9th |
Club Brugge | Bruges | 1st | 1959β60 | 4th | 1st | 1st | 1st | 2nd |
Dender EH | Denderleeuw | 2nd (CPL) | 2024β25 | 9th (CPL) | 1st (NatD1) | 13th (NatD1) | 7th (1Am) | 9th (1Am) |
Genk | Genk | 5th | 1996β97 | 2nd | 6th | 2nd | 7th | 1st |
Gent | Ghent | 7th | 1989β90 | 5th | 5th | 5th | 2nd | 5th |
Kortrijk | Kortrijk | 14th | 2008β09 | 14th | 13th | 14th | 11th | 8th |
Mechelen | Mechelen | 8th | 2019β20 | 13th | 8th | 6th | 6th | 1st (D1B) |
OH Leuven | Leuven | 10th | 2020β21 | 10th | 11th | 11th | 3rd (D1B) | 5th (D1B) |
Sint-Truiden | Sint-Truiden | 9th | 2015β16 | 12th | 9th | 15th | 12th | 7th |
Standard LiΓ¨ge | LiΓ¨ge | TBD (11th or 12th) | 1921β22 | 7th | 14th | 8th | 5th | 3rd |
Union SG | Brussels (Saint-Gilles) | 2nd | 2021β22 | 3rd | 2nd | 1st (D1B) | 4th (D1B) | 3rd (D1B) |
Westerlo | Westerlo | TBD (11th or 12th) | 2022β23 | 8th | 1st (D1B) | 4th (D1B) | 1st (D1B) | 4th (D1B) |
- ^ Dutch pronunciation: [ΛΚypilΙr ΛproΛ Λlik]
Playersβ»
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 Shoe 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 1945β46 season.
Top scorersβ»
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 |
Erwin Vandenbergh is the only player to have claimed the top scorer title four consecutive times, between 1979β80 and 1982β83 (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 (six times with three different clubs: three times with Lierse SK, twice with RSC Anderlecht and once with KAA Gent). Victor Wegria and Josip Weber won the title three consecutive times (resp. between 1958β59 and 1960β61 while at RFC LiΓ©geois and between 1991β92 and 1993β94 while at Cercle Brugge KSV). Wegria eventually finished top scorer a 4th time in 1962β63 still with RFC LiΓ©geois, 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 (three 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 (three times top scorer), Erwin Vandenbergh and Paul Van Himst (Belgium top scorer with Bernard Voorhoof, three times top scorer).
The first foreign player to claim the title was Dutchman Jan Mulder in 1966β67 with RSC Anderlecht. Since then, 25 foreign players have finished top scorer. Only three foreign players claimed the trophy more than once: Josip Weber Josip Weber (twice as a Croat and once as a Belgian), Austrian Alfred Riedl and most recently Frenchman JΓ©rΓ©my Perbet.
International results by Belgian clubsβ»
See alsoβ»
- Football in Belgium
- Belgian Cup
- Belgian Super Cup
- Belgian First Division B
- Belgian Football Association
- Belgian football league system
- Sports league attendances
Referencesβ»
- ^ (Dutch: Eerste klasse; French: Championnat de Belgique de football; German: Pro League)
- ^ "Jupiler Pro League Official". Archived from the original on 1 June 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ Kassies, Bert. "UEFA European Cup Coefficients Database". Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
- ^ "Jupiler Pro League Homepage". www.proleague.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ^ "Homepage | Lierse". www.lierse.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ "BEKIJK. Herbeleef speeldag per speeldag de razend spannende titelstrijd tussen Club Brugge en Union". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
- ^ uefa.com. "UEFA Champions League β UEFA.com". Archived from the original on 27 August 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
- ^ uefa.com. "UEFA Europa League β UEFA.com". Archived from the original on 27 August 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
- ^ Belgacom obtient les droits TV (Belgacom gets TV rights) Archived 6 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine (in French)
- ^ "Pro League and Eleven Sports Finalise Five-year Deal". Eleven Sports. 26 June 2020. Archived from the original on 28 June 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ "Eleven agrees VRT content deal before Pro League kick-off but no Telenet distribution". SportBusiness. 7 August 2020. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ This table includes results from the 1895β96 season up to and including the 2021β22. No competition was organised from 1914 until 1919 due to World War I. The 1939β40, 1940β41 and 1944β45 seasons are not included as these were either not fully completed or deemed unofficial due to World War II.
- ^ Beerschot (matricule 13) dissolved in 1999 as part of a merger with Germinal Ekeren to become Germinal Beerschot (matricule 3530), which eventually renamed itself Beerschot AC and went bankrupt. Not to be confused with the current Beerschot VA which evolved out of Beerschot Wilrijk and technically is the successor of FC Wilrijk.
- ^ "Belgium β All-Time Topscorers". Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
External linksβ»
- (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 β On the Jupiler League
- (in English) League321.com β Belgian Football League Tables, Records & Statistics Database.
- (in English) Pluto website β Belgian football history
- (in English) RSSSF archive β All time tables
- (in English) Football results Archived 31 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine β Belgium football statistics