Beerschot
Full nameKoninklijke Beerschot Voetbalclub Antwerpen
Nickname(s)De Kielse Ratten
De Mannekes
Purple White Army
Founded2013 (2013)
GroundOlympisch Stadion
Antwerp, Belgium
Capacity12,771[1][2]
OwnerAbdullah bin Musaid Al Saud
ChairmanFrancis Vrancken
ManagerDirk Kuyt
LeagueFirst Division B
2022–233rd
WebsiteClub website

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.

History

KFCO Wilrijk

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. Unfortunately 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 1935–36 season and even becoming third division champions in the 1936–37 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 1995–96 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 Wilrijk

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 5–0, gaining the club mathematic certainty about crowning themselves 2013–14 division champions.

Due to the club's high attendance – weekly attendance that tops several first division teams – 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.

Old logo used until 2019 when the name was changed from Beerschot Wilrijk to Beerschot

For the 2014–15 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.[3] They were promoted to third division as champions of their group. In 2015–2016 they became champions of the third division after a sensational winning goal in the last minute of their last game. In 2016–2017 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.[4]

Beerschot

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.

Results

Season League Division Points Remarks Belgian Cup
  I II III IV P.I P.II P.III P.IV        
2013–14         1         First Provincial League 70   Promotion.  
2014–15       1           Fourth Division C 71   Promotion. Fifth round
2015–16     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        
2016–17     1             First Amateur Division 53   Promotion. Ranked first with 80 points. Fifth round
2017–18   3               First Division B 46   Winner of the first period title with 29 points. Sixth round
2018–19   2               First Division B 54   Winner of the second period title with 30 points. Seventh Round
2019–20   5               First Division B 43   Promoted. Winner of second period with 26 points. Sixth round
2020–21 9                 First Division A 47   Seventh Round
2021–22 18                 First Division A 16   Seventh Round
  • As a result, KFCO BW remained in the third division.

Current squad

As of 7 September 2023[5]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Belgium BEL Bill Lathouwers
3 DF Belgium BEL Hervé Matthys
4 DF Netherlands NED Mike van Beijnen
5 DF Belgium BEL Robbe Quirynen
7 FW Belgium BEL Tom Reyners
8 MF Nigeria NGA Ibrahim Alhassan
9 FW Liberia LBR Ayouba Kosiah
10 FW Belgium BEL Thibaud Verlinden
18 MF Belgium BEL Ryan Sanusi
22 MF Belgium BEL Andi Koshi
24 DF Belgium BEL Mardochee Nzita
26 DF Belgium BEL Derrick Tshimanga
No. Pos. Nation Player
27 FW France FRA Charly Keita
28 DF Burundi BDI Marco Weymans
29 FW Belgium BEL Benjamin Pauwels
47 MF Belgium BEL Welat Cagro
51 DF Belgium BEL Keano De Stobbeleir
52 MF Belgium BEL Axl Van Himbeeck
55 DF France FRA Félix Nzouango
66 DF Greece GRE Apostolos Konstantopoulos
70 MF Belgium BEL Aaron Osei Bonsu
71 GK Croatia CRO Davor Matijaš
75 DF Cameroon CMR Simion Michez

Club staff

Position Name
ChairmanBelgium Francis Vrancken
OwnerSaudi Arabia Abdullah bin Musaid bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud
DirectorBelgium Frédéric Van Den Steen
Belgium Walter Damen
Belgium Luc Neefs
Saudi Arabia Abdullah Alghamdi
Saudi Arabia Saad Allazeez
Belgium Lucas Houben
Belgium Philippe Verellen
ManagerAustria Andreas Wieland
Assistant managerAustria Thomas Darazs
Belgium Frank Magerman
First-team coachBosnia and Herzegovina Belgium Davy De Smedt
First-team goalkeeping coachNorth Macedonia Tome Pačovski
Performance analystBelgium Bart Plasschaert
Head of sports scienceBelgium Pieter Jacobs
DoctorBelgium Dr. Kris Peeters
PhysiotherapistBelgium Olivier Meul
Belgium Linske Peeters
Belgium Benny Begine
Managing DirectorBelgium Gunther Dieltjens
Technical directorBelgium Sander Van Praet
Belgium Jan Van Winckel

Managers

Season Manager
2013–2014Belgium Urbain Spaenhoven
2014–2015Belgium Urbain Spaenhoven
2015–2016Belgium Urbain Spaenhoven/Netherlands Dennis van Wijk
2016–2017Belgium Marc Brys
2017–2018Belgium Marc Brys
2018–2019Belgium Stijn Vreven
2019–2021Argentina Hernán Losada
2021Belgium William Still
2021Belgium Peter Maes
2021–2022 Argentina Javier Torrente
2022–present Belgium Greg Vanderidt

Club captains

Season Player
2013–2014Belgium Davy De Smedt
2014–2015Belgium Davy De Smedt
2015–2016Belgium Davy De Smedt/Hannes Meeus
2016–2017Belgium Jaric Schaessens
2018–2019Belgium Tom Van Hyfte
2019–2021Belgium Mike Vanhamel
2022–present Belgium Ryan Sanusi

Top scorers

Season Player Goals
2013–2014Belgium Peter Nijs28
2014–2015Curaçao Dyron Daal18
2015–2016Argentina Hernán Losada10
2016–2017Argentina Hernán Losada15
2017–2018Argentina Hernán Losada10
2018–2019Belgium Dante Vanzeir16
2019–2020Austria Raphael Holzhauser8
2020–2021Austria Raphael Holzhauser16
2021–2022Belgium Joren Dom5

Affiliated clubs

The following clubs are currently affiliated with:[6][7]

References

  1. "Het Olympisch Stadion op het Kiel". Archived from the original on 30 March 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  2. "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)
  3. Hellemans, Koen. "Beerschot-Wilrijk wint voor 11.500 fans met 4–0 topper en is op weg naar derde". hln.be. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  4. Saudische prins investeert in Beerschot Wilrijk - GVA (in Dutch)
  5. "Team | Beerschot".
  6. EPL side Sheffield United owners seal takeover of Indian club Calicut Quartz and rename it Kerala United FC. spotik.in. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  7. 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.
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