Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
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| Full name | Royale Union Saint-Gilloise | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Les Unionistes Union 60 | ||
| Founded | 1 November 1897 | ||
| Ground | Stade Joseph Marien, Forest, Brussels | ||
| Capacity | 9,400[1] | ||
| Owner | Tony Bloom[2] | ||
| Chairman | Alex Muzio[2] | ||
| Manager | Felice Mazzù | ||
| League | Belgian First Division A | ||
| 2020–21 | Belgian First Division B, Champions (promoted) | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, abbreviated to Union SG or USG, unofficially simply called Union, is a Belgian football club originally located in the municipality of Saint-Gilles, in Brussels, although since the 1920s it has been based at the Stade Joseph Marien in the neighbouring municipality of Forest.
The club is one of the most successful in the history of Belgian football. The club won eleven Belgian championships between 1904 and 1935, making it the most successful Belgian club before World War II. The team colours are blue and yellow and its matricule is 10. The team is traditionally popular with working class communities of southern Brussels, as well as more recently with more affluent supporters and workers of the European institutions, as well as both the French and the Flemish speaking free universities.
On 13 March 2021, after defeating local rivals R.W.D. Molenbeek, Union was promoted back to the Belgian First Division A, marking its first appearance in top-flight football in 48 years. The following year, they finished top of the table at the end of the regular season, the first club in Belgian history to do so the season after promotion to the top flight.
History[edit]
The club was founded in 1897 and obtained its first of eleven titles as Champion of Belgium in 1904. From 1933 to 1935 the team played 60 consecutive matches undefeated, and setting a still unbeaten record in Belgium. In the early 1900s the club also had a dominant spell in some of the very first "European" Cup competitions that took place, prior to officially sanctioned UEFA competitions.
Between 1958 and 1965 the club had a brief spell of European success, playing the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, and reaching the semi-finals in the 1958–60 edition after a two legged victory against A.S. Roma. In 1963, however, the club was relegated to the second division, and in 1980 even fell as low as the Belgian Promotion division.
On 21 May 2018, Tony Bloom, chairman of English Premier League side, Brighton & Hove Albion was confirmed as the majority shareholder.[3] Alex Muzio, the Chairman of Union, was a co-investor with Tony Bloom in 2018 and holds a minority interest in the club.[2]
On 13 March 2021, after defeating R.W.D. Molenbeek 2-1 at home, Union were promoted back to the Belgian First Division A. This marked its first appearance in the top flight since 1972. Unfortunately, due to restrictions at the time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Union fans were not able to celebrate their promotion at the stadium.
On 10 April 2022, during their first season back in the top flight in 49 years, Union Saint-Gilloise finished the regular season in first place after a draw against last place Beerschot. The match was abandoned after 83 minutes, after Beerschot fans threw flares onto the pitch. Union were later awarded three points due to forfeit. This was the first time that a newly promoted club finished top of the table in the history of the Belgian league.
Supporters and rivalries[edit]
Union attract supporters primarily from the Brussels region, especially from the South of the Belgian capital. Their ultras are known as the Union Bhoys, and attend in the all-standing Tribune Est. The Union Bhoys have friendships with RFC Liège and Cercle Brugge supporters. Union's supporters promote anti-fascist ideals, as well as respect of the opposing team and its supporters.
Union share a Brussels city derby, also known as a "Zwanze derby" with R.W.D. Molenbeek, which stems from their old rivalry with Daring Club Brussels,[4] that has been encapsulated in the Brussels play Bossemans et Coppenolle. However, the two are said to have a love-hate relationship, having both experienced financial difficulty in the modern era, and organised friendlies together in support.[5]
Union have another Brussels city rivalry with neighbour RSC Anderlecht, although the two have met even fewer times in the modern era than RWDM and Union have. This is arguably Union's fiercest derby, with many fans considering it to be the most important match of the season. They met for the first time since 1979 in the Belgian Cup in 2018, with Union stunning Anderlecht 0–3 at the Stade Constant Vandenstock.[6] In 2021, Union were promoted to the First Division for the first time in 49 years. At the first derby between the two teams in the championship, Union beat Anderlecht with a score of 1-3. In January 2022, in their first home game against Anderlecht in the championship since their relegation in 1972, Union completed a league double over Anderlecht, defeating them 1-0.[7]
Players[edit]
Current squad[edit]
- As of 31 January 2022[8]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan[edit]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Staff[edit]
- Sports director
- Head coach
- Assistant coach
- Assistant coach
- Goalkeeping coach
- Fitness coach
- Video analyst
- Team manager
Annelies Menten
- Kit manager
Rok Grilec
Medical[edit]
- Doctors
- Koen Pansaers
- Axel Marlaire
- Gert Vandeurzen
- Physios
- Stephen Van den Berg
- Ivan Del Molino
Honours[edit]
Domestic[edit]
- Belgian First Division
- Belgian Second Division/Belgian First Division B
- Winners: 1963–64, 2020–21
- Runners-up: 1967–68
- Belgian Third Division A
- Winners: 1975–76, 1983–84
- Belgian Third Division B
- Winners: 2003–04
- Belgian Cup
- Winners: 1912–13, 1913–14
European[edit]
- Challenge International du Nord
- Winners (3): 1905, 1906, 1907
- Runners-up (1): 1904
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Stadium, Union Saint-Gilloise clubwebsite
- ^ a b c "En Stoemelings : Pack Royale Union Saint-Gilloise". 20 April 2020.
- ^ "Done deal: Albion chairman completes Belgian club takeover". The Argus.
- ^ "Historische derby's (2): het einde van de legendarische Union 60". bruzz.be. Bruzz. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
- ^ "Un partage pour clore le gala entre le RWDM et l'Union". unionistes.be (in French). 24 December 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
- ^ "0–3: Union vernedert Anderlecht in Brusselse bekerderby". BRUZZ.be. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
- ^ "L'Union Saint-Gilloise remporte le derby contre Anderlecht et s'envole au classement". 30 January 2022.
- ^ "Noyau A". Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. 11 June 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2019.