Belgium Pro League: A Guide to the Top Division of Belgian Football
If you are a fan of European football, you might have heard of the Belgium Pro League, the highest level of professional football in Belgium. But how much do you know about this league, its teams, its players, and its history? In this article, we will give you a comprehensive overview of the Belgium Pro League, and why you should watch it.
Introduction
What is the Belgium Pro League?
The Belgium Pro League, also known as the First Division A, is the top-tier football league in Belgium. It was founded in 1895, making it one of the oldest leagues in Europe. The league consists of 18 teams, who play each other twice in a regular season, followed by a playoff phase to determine the champion and the European qualification spots. The league is ranked 8th in Europe by UEFA coefficient, and has produced some of the best players and teams in the continent.
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How does the league work?
The regular season of the Belgium Pro League runs from July to April, with each team playing 34 matches. The top four teams at the end of the regular season qualify for the Championship Round, where they play each other twice more to decide the title and the Champions League places. The points from the regular season are halved before the Championship Round. The teams ranked 5th to 8th enter the Conference League Play-off Group, where they compete for a spot in the UEFA Conference League. The teams ranked 9th to 16th are safe from relegation, while the teams ranked 17th and 18th play a Relegation Play-off to determine who drops to the second division.
Who are the current and past champions?
The current champions of the Belgium Pro League are Club Brugge, who won their 17th title in the 2022-23 season. They are also the most successful team in the league's history, followed by Anderlecht with 16 titles, and Union Saint-Gilloise with 11 titles. The most recent champions before Club Brugge were Genk in 2018-19 and Antwerp in 2019-20. The league has seen different periods of dominance by different teams, such as Union Saint-Gilloise in the early 20th century, Anderlecht in the 1960s and 1970s, Club Brugge in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and Genk and Standard Liège in the late 2000s.
The Teams
Anderlecht
Anderlecht are one of the most famous and successful teams in Belgium, having won 16 league titles, 9 Belgian Cups, and 5 European trophies. They are based in Brussels, and play their home games at Lotto Park. They are known for their purple and white colors, their youth academy that produced stars like Vincent Kompany and Romelu Lukaku, and their rivalry with Club Brugge. Their current manager is Vincent Kompany himself, who returned to his boyhood club as a player-coach in 2019.
Club Brugge
Club Brugge are the reigning champions and record holders of the Belgium Pro League, with 17 titles to their name. They are based in Bruges, and play their home games at Jan Breydel Stadium. They are known for their blue and black colors, their passionate fan base, and their European exploits that saw them reach two European Cup finals in 1976 and 1978. Their current manager is Philippe Clement, who led them to their first title in four years in 2020.
Genk
Genk are one of the most recent success stories in Belgian football, having won four league titles since 1999, the last one in 2019. They are based in Genk, and play their home games at Luminus Arena. They are known for their blue and white colors, their modern and attractive style of play, and their ability to develop young talents like Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, and Kalidou Koulibaly. Their current manager is John van den Brom, who took over in 2020.
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club brugge vs anderlecht live score in the final match of the 2022/23 season of the Belgian Pro League.
Antwerp
Antwerp are the oldest club in Belgium, founded in 1880. They are based in Antwerp, and play their home games at Bosuilstadion. They are known for their red and white colors, their loyal and vocal supporters, and their historic achievements that include winning the league title in 2020 after 68 years of drought. They also reached the final of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1993, losing to Parma. Their current manager is Brian Priske, who joined in 2021.
Other notable teams
Besides the four teams mentioned above, there are other notable teams in the Belgium Pro League that have their own history, identity, and fan base. Some of them are:
Standard Liège: The most successful team from the French-speaking part of Belgium, with 10 league titles and 8 Belgian Cups. They are based in Liège, and play their home games at Stade Maurice Dufrasne. They are known for their red and white colors, their fierce rivalry with Anderlecht, and their passionate fans who create a great atmosphere at their stadium.
Gent: The second most successful team from the Flemish-speaking part of Belgium, with one league title and four Belgian Cups. They are based in Ghent, and play their home games at Ghelamco Arena. They are known for their blue and white colors, their nickname "The Buffalos", and their impressive run to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League in 2015-16.
Charleroi: The surprise package of the 2020-21 season, finishing third in the regular season and qualifying for the Championship Round for the first time. They are based in Charleroi, and play their home games at Stade du Pays de Charleroi. They are known for their black and white colors, their nickname "The Zebras", and their resilience under manager Karim Belhocine.
The Players
Top scorers of the 2022-23 season
The Belgium Pro League is not only a showcase for teams, but also for individual players who display their skills and goalscoring abilities. Here are the top five scorers of the 2022-23 season so far:
RankNameTeamGoals
1Noa LangClub Brugge18
2Paul OnuachuGenk16
3Lior RefaelovAntwerp14
4Kaveh RezaeiCharleroi13
5Lukas NmechaAnderlecht12
Best players of the 2022-23 season
Besides scoring goals, there are other aspects of the game that make a player stand out from the rest. Here are some of the best players of the 2022-23 season so far, based on their performances, statistics, and ratings:
Noa Lang: The Dutch winger has been a revelation for Club Brugge since joining from Ajax on loan in 2020. He has scored 18 goals and provided 11 assists in 25 games, making him the most productive player in the league. He has also impressed with his dribbling skills, creativity, and flair.
Hans Vanaken: The Belgian midfielder has been the engine of Club Brugge's midfield for several seasons, and has continued his form in 2022-23. He has scored 10 goals and provided 9 assists in 26 games, making him the second most productive player in the league. He has also excelled with his passing accuracy, vision, and leadership.
Simon Mignolet: The Belgian goalkeeper has been a rock for Club Brugge's defense, keeping 13 clean sheets in 26 games, the most in the league. He has also made 67 saves, conceding only 19 goals, giving him a save percentage of 77.9%. He has also shown his experience, composure, and distribution skills.
Paul Onuachu: The Nigerian striker has been a goal machine for Genk since joining from Midtjylland in 2019. He has scored 16 goals in 25 games, making him the second top scorer in the league. He has also impressed with his physical presence, aerial ability, and finishing skills.
Lior Refaelov: The Israeli midfielder has been a key player for Antwerp since joining from Club Brugge in 2019. He has scored 14 goals and provided 7 assists in 25 games, making him the third most productive player in the league. He has also dazzled with his technique, creativity, and free-kick skills.
Famous players who played in the Belgium Pro League
The Belgium Pro League has been a breeding ground for many famous players who went on to achieve great things in other leagues and national teams. Here are some of the most notable examples:
Eden Hazard: The Belgian superstar started his career at Lille in France, but he was born and raised in Belgium, where he played for Tubize as a youth. He is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world, having won several trophies with Chelsea and Real Madrid, as well as being the captain and leader of the Belgian national team.
Kevin De Bruyne: The Belgian playmaker is another product of Genk's academy, where he made his debut in 2008. He is considered as one of the best midfielders in the world, having won several trophies with Manchester City and Wolfsburg, as well as being a key member of the Belgian national team.
Romelu Lukaku: The Belgian striker is one of the most prolific goalscorers in Europe, having scored over 200 goals for clubs like Inter Milan, Manchester United, Everton, and Chelsea. He started his career at Anderlecht, where he scored 41 goals in 98 games, before moving to England in 2011. He is also the all-time top scorer for the Belgian national team.
Thibaut Courtois: The Belgian goalkeeper is one of the best in his position, having won several trophies with Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Atletico Madrid. He also started his career at Genk, where he won the league title in 2011, before moving to Spain in 2011. He is also the first-choice keeper for the Belgian national team.
Dries Mertens: The Belgian winger is one of the most versatile and creative players in Europe, having scored over 100 goals for Napoli since joining from PSV Eindhoven in 2013. He also played for Gent and Eendracht Aalst in Belgium, before moving to Holland in 2006. He is also a regular starter for the Belgian national team.
Conclusion
Why you should watch the Belgium Pro League
The Belgium Pro League is one of the most exciting and competitive leagues in Europe, offering a lot of entertainment and quality to football fans. Here are some of the reasons why you should watch it:
You can witness some of the best teams and players in Europe, who play with passion, flair, and skill.
You can enjoy a variety of styles and tactics, from attacking and possession-based football to defensive and counter-attacking football.
You can experience a great atmosphere and culture, with passionate and loyal fans who create a colorful and noisy spectacle at every game.
You can discover some of the future stars of European football, who are developed and nurtured by some of the best academies and coaches in Belgium.
You can follow a thrilling and unpredictable league, where every game matters and every team can challenge for glory.
So what are you waiting for? Tune in to the Belgium Pro League and enjoy some of the best football action that Europe has to offer!
FAQs
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about the Belgium Pro League:Q: How can I watch the Belgium Pro League?
A: You can watch the Belgium Pro League on various TV channels and streaming platforms, depending on your location and preference. Some of the options are Eleven Sports, Proximus Sports, Play Sports, ESPN+, DAZN, and Bet365.
Q: How many teams qualify for European competitions from the Belgium Pro League?
A: The Belgium Pro League has four spots for European competitions: two for the UEFA Champions League and two for the UEFA Conference League. The league champion and the runner-up qualify for the Champions League group stage and third qualifying round respectively. The winner of the Conference League Play-off Group and the winner of the Belgian Cup qualify for the Conference League play-off round and third qualifying round respectively.
Q: Who is the current top scorer of the Belgium Pro League?
A: The current top scorer of the Belgium Pro League is Noa Lang, who plays for Club Brugge. He has scored 18 goals in 25 games, as of March 2023.
Q: Who is the current best player of the Belgium Pro League?
A: The current best player of the Belgium Pro League is Noa Lang, who plays for Club Brugge. He has scored 18 goals and provided 11 assists in 25 games, as well as being rated as the best player by various sources, such as SofaScore, WhoScored, and Transfermarkt.
Q: Who is the current manager of Anderlecht?
A: The current manager of Anderlecht is Vincent Kompany, who is also a former player of the club. He returned to Anderlecht as a player-coach in 2019, and became a full-time manager in 2020. 44f88ac181
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