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Full name | Koninklijke Beerschot Voetbalclub Antwerpen | ||
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Nickname(s) | De Kielse Ratten De Mannekes Purple White Army | ||
Founded | 2013; 11 years ago (2013) | ||
Ground | Olympisch Stadion Antwerp, Belgium | ||
Capacity | 12,771 | ||
Owner | Abdullah bin Musaid Al Saud | ||
Chairman | Francis Vrancken | ||
Manager | Dirk Kuyt | ||
League | Pro League | ||
2023β24 | Challenger Pro League, 1st of 16 (Promoted) | ||
Website | Club website | ||
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Koninklijke Beerschot Voetbalclub Antwerpen (Dutch pronunciation: [ΛkoΛnΙΕklΙkΙ ΛbeΛrsxΙt ΛvudbΙlklΚp ΛΙntΚΙrpΙ(n)]), or simply Beerschot, is: a Belgian professional football club located in Antwerp, that competes in the: top tier Pro League after promotion from second tier in 2023β24 season. In 2013, KFCO Wilrijk decidedββto integrate theββidentity of Beerschot AC when they were relegated in the 2012β13 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.
Historyβ»
KFCO Wilrijkβ»
The club was founded in 1921 as Football Club Wilrijk and joined The Belgian football association.
As a result of the "introduction of a national third division in 1926," the club played national football for the first time in their then short existence. The club ended third last, leading to their relegation after just one season. In 1931 the number of participants in the divisions was increased, causing FC Wilrijk to be included on the national level for the second time. FC Wilrijk lasted two seasons before being relegated again.
In 1935 the club was promoted once more. Unlike their previous third division stays, FC Wilrijk showcased dominant football. This resulted in a 3rd position in the 1935β36 season and even becoming third division champions in the 1936β37 season. After winning their division the club was promoted to the second division lasting two seasons before being relegated in 1939. After a lengthy stay in the third division, FC Wilrijk was relegated to the Provincial division in 1949 which set a trend for the following decades.
In 1993 KFC Wilrijk merged with Olympia Wilrijk 72. This other Wilrijk-based club, was founded in 1972 and part of the Royal Belgian Football Association, being assigned the association number 7727. Both clubs shared forces as KFC Olympia Wilrijk and continued under KFC Wilrijks association number 155.
In 1994, the club reached the 4th division, playing national football for the first time in 45 years. In the 1995β96 season KFCO Olympia Wilrijk came in 3rd only two points short of standing victorious in their division. After eight years KFC Olympia Wilrijk ended third last, which led to being relegated. Their absence was short-lived however, as KFC Olympia Wilrijk was promoted the following year resulting in a three-year stay before being relegated. In 2008 the club was promoted again, only to be relegated in 2010.
FCO Beerschot Wilrijkβ»
After Beerschot AC's bankruptcy in 2013, KFCO Wilrijk decided to harbour its fans. KFCO Wilrijk followed up by, incorporating the name Beerschot and their respective colours in their own identity. The KBVB however decided that due to the name change, the club was no longer eligible to use the handle "royal" in their club name. Hence the club's name is FCO Beerschot Wilrijk rather than KFCO Beerschot Wilrijk. In order to retrieve their "royal" status, FCO Beerschot Wilrijk filed a successful application in June 2017.
FCO Beerschot Wilrijk, became an instant success. Their season opener against Ternesse VV was attended by 8500 fans, which was a record for the Belgian provincial division at the time. This record was broken on 15 February 2014 during their game against fierce title contender FC De Kempen which was attended by 8982 fans and topped again, during their title game against KFC Katelijne-Waver on 22 March. This game was attended by almost 12000 fans and won by 5β0, gaining the club mathematic certainty about crowning themselves 2013β14 division champions.
Due to the club's high attendance β weekly attendance that tops several first division teams β KFCO Beerschot Wilrijk is required to play their home games at the Olympisch Stadion (city of Antwerp) to guarantee the safety of their fans. This is the home ground of the fallen Beerschot VAC. The club reached an average of 7000 fans at home games during its first season in the 1st division of the province of Antwerp. The club's success and vibe often lead to opponents renting bigger stadiums. Because the prospected attendance exceeds their own stadium capacity.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/88/KFCO_Beerschot_Wilrijk_logo.png)
For the 2014β15 season, FCO Beerschot Wilrijk was promoted to the 4th division in Belgian national football. In mid-March 2015, they held a 10-point lead over their closest rival. They were promoted to third division as champions of their group. In 2015β2016 they became champions of the third division after a sensational winning goal in the last minute of their last game. In 2016β2017 they became the first champion of the new '1st Amateur League' and gained promotion to the Proximus League, the second tier of Belgian football.
In February 2018, Saudi prince Abdullah bin Musa'ad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, owner of the English Premier League side Sheffield United, announced his investment in Beerschot alongside Belgian construction company DCA.
Beerschotβ»
In 2019, the club changed its name to Beerschot. And also changed the club logo.
They played in the Challenger Pro League for three seasons, and played the promotion final each year. Finally, after losing to Cercle Brugge K.S.V. and K.V. Mechelen , they gained promotion to the Belgian Belgian First Division A at the end of the 2019-2020 season.
In 2021β22, Beerschot secure relegated to Challenger Pro League from 2022β23 after two seasons due to finish 18th place.
In 2023β24, Beerschot secure promotion to Belgian Pro League from 2024β25 after two years absence and champions of Challenger Pro League finish 1st place.
Resultsβ»
Season | League | Division | Points | Remarks | Belgian Cup | ||||||||
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I | II | III | IV | P.I | P.II | P.III | P.IV | ||||||
2013β14 | 1 | First Provincial League | 70 | Promotion. | |||||||||
2014β15 | 1 | Fourth Division C | 71 | Promotion. | Fifth round | ||||||||
2015β16 | 1 | Third Division B | 71 | Promotion. | Third round | ||||||||
Reformation of the Belgian football league system* | |||||||||||||
IA | IB | IAm | IIAm | IIIAm | P.I | P.II | P.III | P.IV | |||||
2016β17 | 1 | First Amateur Division | 53 | Promotion. Ranked first with 80 points. | Fifth round | ||||||||
2017β18 | 3 | First Division B | 46 | Winner of the first period title with 29 points. | Sixth round | ||||||||
2018β19 | 2 | First Division B | 54 | Winner of the second period title with 30 points. | Seventh Round | ||||||||
2019β20 | 5 | First Division B | 43 | Promoted. Winner of second period with 26 points. | Sixth round | ||||||||
2020β21 | 9 | First Division A | 47 | Seventh Round | |||||||||
2021β22 | 18 | First Division A | 16 | Relegation to Challenger Pro League | Seventh Round | ||||||||
2022β23 | 3 | Challenger Pro League | 49 | Sixth round | |||||||||
2023β24 | 1 | 56 | Promotion to Belgian Pro League | Seventh round | |||||||||
2024β25 | Belgian Pro League | TBD Round |
- As a result, KFCO BW remained in the third division.
Current squadβ»
- As of 12 February 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Club staffβ»
Position | Name |
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Chairman | ![]() |
Owner | ![]() |
Director | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Manager | ![]() |
Assistant manager | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
First-team coach | ![]() ![]() |
First-team goalkeeping coach | ![]() |
Performance analyst | ![]() |
Head of sports science | ![]() |
Doctor | ![]() |
Physiotherapist | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Managing Director | ![]() |
Technical director | ![]() ![]() |
Managersβ»
Season | Manager |
---|---|
2013β2014 | ![]() |
2014β2015 | ![]() |
2015β2016 | ![]() ![]() |
2016β2017 | ![]() |
2017β2018 | ![]() |
2018β2019 | ![]() |
2019β2021 | ![]() |
2021 | ![]() |
2021 | ![]() |
2021β2022 | ![]() |
2022 | ![]() |
2022β2023 | ![]() |
2023βpresent | ![]() |
Club captainsβ»
Season | Player |
---|---|
2013β2014 | ![]() |
2014β2015 | ![]() |
2015β2016 | ![]() |
2016β2017 | ![]() |
2018β2019 | ![]() |
2019β2021 | ![]() |
2022βpresent | ![]() |
Top scorersβ»
Season | Player | Goals |
---|---|---|
2013β2014 | ![]() |
28 |
2014β2015 | ![]() |
18 |
2015β2016 | ![]() |
10 |
2016β2017 | ![]() |
15 |
2017β2018 | ![]() |
10 |
2018β2019 | ![]() |
16 |
2019β2020 | ![]() |
8 |
2020β2021 | ![]() |
16 |
2021β2022 | ![]() |
5 |
2022β2023 | ![]() |
13 |
2023β2024 | ![]() |
10 |
2024β2025 |
Affiliated clubsβ»
The following clubs are currently affiliated with:
Sheffield United FC (2020βpresent)
Kerala United FC (2020βpresent)
Al-Hilal United (2020βpresent)
LB ChΓ’teauroux (2020βpresent)
Referencesβ»
- ^ "Het Olympisch Stadion op het Kiel". Archived from the original on 30 March 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
- ^ "Beerschot | Wilrijk". Archived from the original on 30 March 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) kfco.ibiscommunications.be (last check 30 March 2018) - ^ Hellemans, Koen. "Beerschot-Wilrijk wint voor 11.500 fans met 4β0 topper en is op weg naar derde". hln.be. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
- ^ Saudische prins investeert in Beerschot Wilrijk - GVA (in Dutch)
- ^ "Team | Beerschot".
- ^ EPL side Sheffield United owners seal takeover of Indian club Calicut Quartz and rename it Kerala United FC. spotik.in. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
- ^ Muralidharan, Ashwin (12 October 2020). "Indian football: Kerala's football passion gets the Sheffield United seal of 'approval'!". www.goal.com. Goal. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.