Football league
The Belgian First Division A, [ 1 ] Belgian Pro League or 1A Pro League ( officially Jupiler Pro League ( dutch pronunciation : [ ˈʒypilɛr ˈproː ˈlik ] ) due to sponsorship reasons with AB InBev ‘ s brewer Jupiler ) since the 2015–16 temper, is the top league competition for association football clubs in Belgium. Contested by 18 clubs since 2020–21 season, it operates on a system of promotion and delegating with the Belgian First Division B. Seasons run from early August to late April, with teams playing 34 matches each in the regular season, and then entering play-offs I or play-offs II according to their status in the even season. Play-offs I ( besides known as the title playoffs or Champions’ play-offs ) are contested by the top-four clubs in the regular season, with each club playing each early twice. Play-offs II ( besides known as the Europa League playoff or Europe play-offs ) are contested by teams ranked 5 to 8 in the regular season, divided in four groups of four teams playing each other once. The team eat up in 18th target is relegated directly. however, the seventeenth place will conflict for promotion-relegation play-off against 2nd place of Belgian First Division B. 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 beginning division since its creation, 16 have been crowned champions of Belgium. RSC Anderlecht is the most successful league golf club with 34 titles, followed by Club Brugge KV ( 17 ), Union Saint-Gilloise ( 11 ) and Standard Liège ( 10 ). It is presently ranked 8th in the UEFA rankings of leagues based on performances in european competitions over the last five-years. [ 2 ] The rival was ranked 3rd when the UEFA first published their rate in 1979 and besides the future class in 1980, which is the best ranking the Belgian First Division has ever achieved.

history [edit ]

Origins ( 1895–1914 ) [edit ]

The first league in belgian football was held in 1895–96 as a round-robin tournament with seven teams : Antwerp FC, FC Brugeois, FC Liégeois, RC de Bruxelles, Léopold Club de Bruxelles, SC de Bruxelles, and Union d’Ixelles. FC Liégeois became the first supporter 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 ) remove and a raw cabaret entered the rival ( Athletic and Running Club de Bruxelles ). During the 1896–97 season, SC de Bruxelles withdrew, so the 1897–98 season was played by five clubs. In the seasons 1898–99 and 1899–1900, the football association introduced a new format with two leagues at the peak level and a final examination game in two legs. The format changed back to one league with nine clubs in 1900–01, then again to two leagues from 1901–02 to 1903–04, this time with a concluding circle among the top two teams of each league. In 1904–05, 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 achiever of the second division replacing the last-placed team of the first base division. [ citation needed ] In 1906–07, Union Saint-Gilloise won their one-fourth back-to-back title as RC de Bruxelles had from 1899–1900 to 1902–03. Both clubs claimed the following three titles before CS Brugeois won their first title, finishing one point ahead their rival of FC Brugeois. At the end of the 1907–08 season, the total of teams in the first division was increased from 10 to 12 clubs, with Promotion ace RC de Gand and runner-up ESC Forest being promoted while no first base division was relegated. As World War I approached, Daring Club de Bruxelles confirmed its status of rival, even winning the title in 1911–12 and 1913–14. alone Union Saint-Gilloise could face them in that period, winning the 1912–13 championship with a better goal deviation. Since 1911–12, two clubs are relegated each year to the Promotion and two clubs from the Promotion are promoted. [ citation needed ]

After World War I ( 1919–1945 ) [edit ]

During World War I, the football championship was suspended. It resumed in 1919–20 with FC Brugeois claiming their first title after 5-second places, among which were 2 lost final games and one lost test-match. At the end of the 1920–21 season, the phone number of teams was increased from 12 to 14, with alone Uccle Sport, the last-placed team of the foremost division, being relegated, and the first 3 teams from the Promotion being promoted ( Standard Club Liégeois, FC Malinois, and RSC Anderlechtois ). From 1921–22 to 1931–32, the ten 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 clubhouse of Liersche SK ( led by striker Bernard Voorhoof ) won their inaugural one in 1931–32. The challengers at the time were CS Brugeois ( two titles in that period ), Union Saint-Gilloise ( one claim ), Daring Club de Bruxelles and Standard Club Liégeois. Starting 25 December 1932, Union Saint-Gilloise had a phonograph record 60 games unbeaten run in the championship ( spanning 3 seasons ), winning the 1932–33, 1933–34, and 1934–35 titles. The equal of Union during this menstruation was Daring Club de Bruxelles. They claimed the adjacent two championships. Following the come-back of player Raymond Braine to Beerschot, the Antwerp cabaret won the last two titles before World 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 conclusion of the season, no club was relegated and the count of clubs was increased from 14 to 16. The adjacent season, Liersche SK lost three key players ( two of them in a bomb attack and the early one due to a heavy injury sustained on the pitch ) and they ended at 3rd place while the neighbours of KV Mechelen became ace for the first gear time in their history. In 1943–44, Antwerp FC won the title. The league was suspended again in 1944–45 because of World War II. [ citation needed ]

After World War II ( 1945–1980 ) [edit ]

The league resumed play in 1945–46 with a style for KV Mechelen. At the start of that season, the First Division went from 16 to 19 clubs, with 3 clubs promoted from the First Division and no team being relegated. The exceed scorer award was besides introduced that season, won by Bert De Cleyn from KV Mechelen. Two seasons late, 5 clubs were relegated and two promoted. In 1946–47, RSC Anderlechtois won their first championship with Jef Mermans as the key striker and they dominated the belgian football over the following 9 years with 6 more titles, with KV Mechelen ( in 1947–48 ) and FC Liégeois ( in 1951–52 and 1952–53 ) claiming the remaining titles. The belgian Golden Shoe award was introduced in 1954, rewarding the best musician in the beginning division for the past calendar year, frankincense over two half seasons. [ citation needed ] In the deep 1950s Standard lifted the trophy for the first base time in 1957–58 and they finally became one of Anderlecht ‘s biggest rivals in the league ( until their 8th title in 1982–83 ). 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 commemorate of five consecutives titles between 1963–64 and 1967–68 ), while Standard claimed three and Lierse one. Standard, with samara actor Wilfried Van Moer, won the foremost two titles of the 1970s, which gave them their merely treble therefore far ( together with the 1968–69 title ). 1974–75 was the lone season with deoxyadenosine monophosphate many as 20 clubs in the league ‘s history. belgian club started to perform well in european Cups in the 1970s, with Anderlecht winning the 1975-76 european Cup Winners ‘ Cup and Club Brugge losing to Liverpool F.C. in the 1975-76 UEFA Cup final. The be season, Anderlecht lost to Hamburger SV in the Cup Winners ‘ Cup final and in 1977–78 acquire 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. [ citation needed ]

recent years ( 1980–present ) [edit ]

In the 1980s, the european successes continued for belgian clubs with Standard reaching the 1981-82 european Cup Winners ‘ Cup final, Anderlecht winning the 1982-83 UEFA Cup and losing the future UEFA Cup final examination and KV Mechelen winning the 1987-88 european Cup Winners ‘ Cup. In the domestic league, Anderlecht won their twentieth title in 1986–87, which was besides the 4th of the decade. Club Brugge and Standard each won 2 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 the european Cup Winners ‘ Cup concluding, respectively in 1989–90 and in 1992–93. In the home league, RSC Anderlecht took 4 titles during the ten, while Club Brugge cemented their status as main rival with 4 titles. The remaining two titles went to Lierse SK and newcomer Racing Genk. The 2000s brought a bright european startle, with Anderlecht reaching the second group stage in the 2000-01 UEFA Champions League, but the stay of the decade belgian clubs were again not very successful in european competitions. In the league, RSC Anderlecht won 5 titles in the ten, with Club Brugge claiming two titles and Racing Genk taking their moment deed. At the end of the ten, Standard Liège returned as a claim rival with two straight titles, 25 years after their 1982–83 entitle. At the end of the 2000s, the highest flat in belgian football was reshaped, with a play-off orotund after the regular season. RSC Anderlecht won the first championship in this new format, which was their thirtieth style. [ citation needed ] After another two titles for Anderlecht, KAA Gent was the surprise winner of the Championship in 2015 .

competition format and name [edit ]

Starting with the 2009–10 season, the format of the Pro League has been drastically changed. Playoffs were introduced after the regular season, the count of teams was decreased from 18 to 16 and the calendar has besides been modified, with matches being played during the Christmas vacation. 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 thirtieth belgian championship. Matches are normally played on Saturdays at 20.00 ; however, some matchdays are played on Wednesdays. Furthermore, in holocene years, some games are played on Fridays or during the weekend at different times ( for example, Saturday at 18.00 or Sunday at 13.00 or 20.00 ), as decided by the owner of television receiver 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 impregnable stadium, etc. This was introduced in the 2001–02 season to decrease the count of teams in the part and ensure a higher flat of professionalism in the clubs playing in the peak flight of belgian football. primitively, clubs that could not get the license were supposed not to be replaced ( and sent to the one-third division ). however, it is still not effective as, for example, KSK Beveren finished 18th ( last ) in 2001–2002, but was saved as KSC Eendracht Aalst ( 17th ) and RWD Molenbeek ( 10th ) were refused their license. Following the 2015–16 temper, the numeral of professional teams in Belgium was brought down to 24, which largely 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 total of teams dropped to eight .

regular season [edit ]

Each of the 18 competitors in the Pro League hosts every other team once in the regular season, for a total of 34 matches between August and April. A acquire earns three points and a draw earns one distributor point. Teams are ranked by total points, then by sum wins and last by goal deviation, numeral of seduce goals, number of away goals, and number of away wins. If teams are still horizontal surface, a test-match is played in two legs to determine the concluding decree in the standings. A playoff phase is then played from May .

Championship Playoff [edit ]

The decimal 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 four teams from the unconstipated temper embark the backing playoff, with the first-placed team winning the championship of Belgium. Each team plays their opponents doubly, and the teams are ranked by points, points from rounding, wins, etc. as in the regular temper .

all-time rank in the Championship Playoff [edit ]

Since the introduction of the playoff system in 2009
Last updated following the 2020–21 season
Rank Club Seasons Played Won Drew Lost Points Avg. Points per Match Titles Last participation
1 Club Brugge 11 106 50 23 33 173 1.63 179 133 +46 4 2020–21
2 Anderlecht 11 106 48 25 33 169 1.59 163 130 +33 5 2020–21
3 Genk 8 76 37 15 24 126 1.66 123 102 +21 2 2020–21
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 Charleroi 3 30 7 8 15 29 0.97 32 50 −18 2017–18
8 Kortrijk 3 30 8 5 17 29 0.97 36 55 −19 2014–15
9 Oostende 2 20 6 5 9 23 1.15 28 36 −8 2016–17
10 Antwerp 2 16 5 4 7 19 1.19 18 27 −9 2020–21
11 Lokeren 3 30 4 7 19 19 0.63 38 66 −28 2013–14
12 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
  • × — Playing in a lower division
  • five hundred — 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
Anderlecht 1st 3rd 1st 1st 1st 3rd 2nd 1st 3rd 6th not held due to coronavirus 4th
Antwerp × × × × × × × × • 4th 3rd
Charleroi • • × • • 5th • 5th 6th • •
Club Brugge 3rd 4th 2nd 3rd 3rd 2nd 1st 2nd

1st 2nd 1st
Genk • 1st 3rd 5th 6th • 4th • 5th 1st 2nd
Gent 2nd 5th 4th • • 1st 3rd 3rd 4th 5th •
Kortrijk 5th • 6th • • 6th • • • • •
Lokeren • 6th • 6th 5th • • • • • × d
Oostende × × × × • • 5th 4th • • not held due to coronavirus •
Sint-Truiden 4th • • × × × • • • • •
Standard Liège • 2nd 5th 4th 2nd 4th • • 2nd 3rd •
Zulte Waregem 6th • • 2nd 4th • 6th 6th • • •

Europa League Playoff [edit ]

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 3 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 base and away game against either the fourth-place or fifth-place team from the playoffs 1 for the final Europa League tag, with the adversary 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 achiever playing the fifth-placed team from playoff 1 in a one match for the final Europa League ticket .

Relegation playoff [edit ]

Until 2015, a delegating 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 3 points whereas the 16th-placed team started from zero. The loser of the delegating playoff was relegated to the second division. The achiever of that playoff had to enter the belgian Second Division Final Round with 3 teams from the irregular part. The winner of this Final Round played in the First Division the season thereafter. From 2015, the relegation playoff ceased to exist, as now the 16th-place team relegates immediately, whereas the 15th placed team takes part in the Europa League playoff. The 2015–16 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 .

qualification for european competitions [edit ]

For the 2010–11 season, the belgian supporter and the runner-up qualify for the 3rd UEFA Champions League qualifying circle ( of 4 ). [ 3 ] The belgian Cup achiever ( or the Cup finalist if the Cup winner finished first gear or moment 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 base in the league ) qualifies for the 3rd and last modify 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. [ 4 ]

Naming [edit ]

  • 1895–1904: Championship Cup
  • 1904–1926: First Division
  • 1926–1952: Division of Honour
  • 1952–2016: First Division
  • 2016–: First Division A

Media coverage [edit ]

The Belgian Football Association sells the television rights for the Belgian First Division every three years. In 2005, the newly created belgian television receiver duct Belgacom television receiver bought the television rights for a record total of €36 million per season until 2019–20. In May 2008, the rights were again sold to Belgacom TV in affiliation with both public broadcasters VRT ( Dutch ) and RTBF ( French ) for an measure of €45.7 million per season. [ 5 ] RTBF and VRT therefore received the rights to show summaries of first division games, equally well as rights to a hebdomadally magazine on the contest. Belgacom television receiver received the rights to show each game in the contest. On June 12, 2020, Aser ‘s Eleven Sports and the Pro League have reached an agreement on the new domestic and external 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 future five seasons from 2020–21 until 2024–25, with both public broadcasters VRT ( Dutch ) and RTBF ( French ) lands the rights for highlights again. [ 6 ] [ 7 ]

Clubs [edit ]

Champions [edit ]

  • bold clubs play in top flight
  • italic clubs dissolved or merged

Most seasons in First Division A [edit ]

lone clubs with more than 50 seasons in beginning division :

  • bold clubs play in First Division
  • italic clubs dissolved or merged

Clubs that played in First Division [edit ]

A sum of 74 clubs have played in the first division since its creation in 1895. Among those 74 clubs, 44 still exist and the 30 other clubs either went into elimination or merged with another club .

Members for 2021–22 [edit ]

For the 2021–22 season, the 18 active clubs are already known and listed below .

  1. a b c d As Beerschot-Wilrijk

Players [edit ]

Players in the Belgian First Division can be of any nationality and a club can sign as many alien players as desired. The first club to start a game with 11 extraneous 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 besides for belgian professional football awards. Players with african descent, lineage or nationality can claim a belgian Ebony Shoe award. Players compete besides every season for the Belgian First Division top scorer, since the 1945–46 season .

top scorers [edit ]

Erwin Vandenbergh is the lone player to have claimed the top scorekeeper deed 4 consecutive times, between 1979–80 and 1982–83 ( the beginning three times while at Lierse SK and the last time while at RSC Anderlecht ). He is besides the player to have claimed the most belgian First Division lead scorekeeper titles in his career ( 6 times with 3 different clubs : 3 times with Lierse SK, twice with RSC Anderlecht and once with KAA Gent ). Victor Wegria and Josip Weber won the entitle 3 straight times ( resp. between 1958–59 and 1960–61 while at RFC Liégeois and between 1991–92 and 1993–94 while at Cercle Brugge KSV ). Wegria finally finished acme scorer a fourth time in 1962–63 still with RFC Liégeois, making him the second actor with the most top scorer titles in the history of Belgian First Division circus tent scorers. The introduction of this style of award in 1945 was possibly a little besides deep for foremost winner Bert De Cleyn as this musician 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 style lone once. other players in the top ten of the all-time top scorer ranking in the Belgian First Division include Joseph Mermans ( 3 times top scorer, 339 goals overall in 382 games with RSC Anderlecht ), Bernard Voorhoof ( Belgium national football team top scorekeeper, 281 goals in 473 matches with Lierse SK ), Rik Coppens ( 3 times top scorekeeper ), Erwin Vandenbergh and Paul Van Himst ( Belgium top scorekeeper with Bernard Voorhoof, 3 times top scorekeeper ). The beginning foreign musician to claim the title was Dutchman Jan Mulder in 1966–67 with RSC Anderlecht. Since then, 25 extraneous players have finished top scorer. only three extraneous players claimed the trophy more than once : Josip Weber Josip Weber ( doubly as a Croat and once as a belgian ), austrian Alfred Riedl and most recently Frenchman Jérémy Perbet .

International results by belgian clubs [edit ]

From the quarter-finals upwards :

  • bold clubs play in top flight
  • italic clubs dissolved or merged

See besides [edit ]

References [edit ]