Royal Antwerp F.C.

Royal Antwerp
Full name Royal Antwerp Football Club
Nickname(s) The Great Old
Founded 1880
Ground Broodstraat (1908–1923)
Bosuilstadion (1923– )
Antwerp, Belgium
Ground Capacity 12,975
Chairman Patrick Decuyper
Manager David Gevaert
League Belgian Second Division
2014–15 Belgian Second Division, 10th

Royal Antwerp Football Club, often simply referred to as Antwerp, is a Belgian football club based in the city of Antwerp.

Antwerp is regarded as the oldest club in Belgium, approximately founded in 1880 by English students residing in Antwerp as Antwerp Athletic Club, 15 years prior to the creation of the Royal Belgian Football Association. At first there was no organised football played by its members, until 1887 when the football division was founded with an own board, named Antwerp Football Club. As it was the oldest club still playing it was subsequently the first football club to register to the Association in 1895 and they consequently received the matriculate number one, when matriculation numbers were introduced in 1926.[1][2]

History

In 1900, most of the players left the club for the new neighbouring club of K. Beerschot V.A.C., and this was the start of a long rivalry between both clubs. Royal Antwerp have won four Belgian league titles so far, as well as two Belgian Cups. The club is also the latest Belgian team to have reached a UEFA competition final, the 1993 European Cup Winners' Cup Final, where they lost 3–1 against Parma at Wembley Stadium. They have been playing in the Belgian Second Division since 2004–05. Royal Antwerp play their home matches at the Bosuilstadion since 1923.[3] Royal Antwerp colours are red and white.

Royal Antwerp have a long-term partnership with the English giants Manchester United, often taking their young players on loan so that their development can be aided with first team football, and young players who require European work-permits can benefit from Belgium's more relaxed laws.[4] An example is Dong Fangzhuo, who was unable to play for United, immediately due to work permit problems and was loaned to allow him to gain first team experience.

Despite being one of Belgium's best-supported clubs, Antwerp have been under-achievers for several years. They have not won a league title since 1957, and have spent several seasons in the second division. They were last promoted to the top flight in 2000, only to be relegated in short order in 2004.

Honours

National

Belgian First Division

Champions (4): 1928–29, 1930–31, 1943–44, 1956–57

Belgian Second Division

Champions (1): 1999–2000

Belgian Cup

Champions (2): 1954–55, 1991–92

International

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

Runners-up (1): 1992–93

Players

Current squad

As of 25 June, 2015.[5]

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

No. Position Player
1 Democratic Republic of the Congo GK Nicaise Kudimbana
21 Belgium GK Kevin Debaty
26 Belgium GK Jordy Huysmans

2 Belgium DF Dimitri Daeseleire
3 Belgium DF Maxime Biset
4 Belgium DF Steve Colpaert
5 Belgium DF Jannes Vansteenkiste
8 Belgium DF Joren Dom
18 Belgium DF Pietro Perdichizzi
29 Norway DF Jo Nymo Matland
31 France DF Baptiste Schmisser

6 Belgium MF Wim De Decker
7 Belgium MF Grégory Dufer
9 Belgium MF Jens Naessens (on loan from Mechelen)
No. Position Player
10 France MF Mickael Malsa
11 Belgium MF Joeri Dequevy
12 Algeria MF Djaïd Kasri
14 Belgium MF Stallone Limbombe
15 Kenya MF Johanna Omolo
17 Belgium MF Mehdi Tarfi
20 Belgium MF Geoffry Hairemans

19 France FW Cédric Fauré
22 Belgium FW Andy Van Hoof
23 Belgium FW Nico Binst
24 Belgium FW Mathieu Cornet
27 France FW Romain Davigny
30 Mali MF Mamoutou N'Diaye

Management and coaching staff

Current staff

Position Name
Manager Belgium David Gevaert
Assistant Manager Belgium Johan Lauryssen
Goalkeeping Coach Belgium Jerry Vanacker

References

  1. "125 years football history". rafc.be. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  2. "Wist je dat: de KBVB stamnummers uitvond?". voetbalkrant.com. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
  3. "Stadiums & Pitches". rafc.be. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  4. "Manchester United's Royal Antwerp Loanees". Five Cantonas. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  5. http://www.rafc.be/team/teamA

External links

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