Royal Antwerp FC
ClubnameRoyal Antwerp
Upright0.6
FullnameRoyal Antwerp Football Club
Founded1880 (age 146)
OwnerPaul Gheysens
ChairmanPaul Gheysens
ManagerJoseph Oosting
MgrtitleHead coach
GroundBosuilstadion
Capacity21,000[1]
Current2025–26 Royal Antwerp F.C. season
LeagueBelgian Pro League
Season2024–25
PositionBelgian Pro League, 5th of 16
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Royal Antwerp Football Club (commonly referred to as Royal Antwerp or simply Antwerp) is a Belgian professional football club based in the city of Antwerp. It competes in the Belgian Pro League, the top flight of Belgian football. Founded in 1880, Royal Antwerp is considered to be the oldest football club in Belgium.

The team has won the Belgian league title five times and the Belgian Cup four times, including a domestic double in 2022–23. In European competitions, it reached the final of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1992–93 and qualified for the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time in 2023.

The club's home colours are red and white and, since 1923, it has played home games at Bosuilstadion in the Deurne district of Antwerp.

History

Early history (1880–1999)

The Antwerp Football and Cricket Club was founded in 1880 by British workers based in Antwerp,[2] 15 years before the creation of the Royal Belgian Football Association. Antwerp is regarded as the oldest club in Belgium.[3] Initially focused on cricket and general athletic activities, the club did not establish organized football until 1887, when the football division was founded with its own board and named Antwerp Football Club. As the oldest active club at the time, it was the first to register with the Association in 1895. Consequently, when matricule numbers were introduced in 1926, the club received matricule number one.[4][5]

In 1900, most of the players left the club for the new neighbouring club of Beerschot A.C., becoming the start of a long rivalry between both clubs. Royal Antwerp became the most recent Belgian team to reach a European final when it advanced to the 1993 European Cup Winners’ Cup Final. Facing Parma at London’s Wembley Stadium on 12 May 1993, striker Francis Severeyns equalized early, but Antwerp ultimately lost 3–1 defeat.[6][7][8]

Royal Antwerp had a long-term partnership with English club Manchester United, taking their young players on loan to aid their development through first team football; players requiring European work permits also benefited from Belgium's more relaxed laws.[9] An example of the latter was China international Dong Fangzhuo, who was unable to play for United immediately due to work permit issues and was loaned to Antwerp to gain first team experience.[10]

Decline, revival, and 5th national championship (2001–Present)

Despite being one of Belgium's best-supported clubs, Antwerp had been underachievers during the early 21st century. It earned promotion to the top flight in 2000, only to suffer relegation again in 2004. After 13 years in the second tier, it returned to the First Division A in 2017, securing a 5–2 aggregate victory over Roeselare in the promotion playoff.[11][12][13]

After achieving promotion back to the top flight, the club appointed experienced Romanian manager László Bölöni, and demoted his predecessor Wim De Decker to assistant.[14] In his second season, 2018–19, the club qualified for the UEFA Europa League, its first European competition in 25 years. It won 3–2 in the playoff final against Charleroi, who had led 2–0 after 12 minutes.[15] Their European campaign began with a win over Viktoria Plzeň on the away goals rule in the third qualifying round, followed by a 5–2 loss to AZ Alkmaar of the Netherlands in the playoff.[16]

In May 2020, Bölöni left at the end of his contract.[17] Four months later, under coach Ivan Leko, Antwerp captured their first major trophy in nearly 30 years by defeating Club Brugge 1–0 in the 2020 Belgian Cup final. Israel's Lior Refaelov, a former Brugge player, scored the decisive goal.[18] Ivan Leko led the team through the Europa League group stage in second place, with four wins including one over José Mourinho's Tottenham Hotspur.[19] he left for Shanghai Port at the end of 2020.[13][20][21]

Former Netherlands international Mark van Bommel was appointed manager in May 2022.[22][23] He brought in several compatriots, including Vincent Janssen, who scored the first goal of a 2–0 win over neighbours Mechelen in the 2023 Belgian Cup final.[24]

The crowning moment of the revival came on 4 June 2023, when captain Toby Alderweireld scored a 94th-minute equalizer in a 2–2 draw at Genk. The dramatic goal secured Antwerp's first national championship in 66 years; ending a title drought since 1957.[25][26][27]

Antwerp entered new territory on 30 August 2023, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time ever. They sealed the achievement by overcoming AEK Athens 3–1 on aggregate in the playoff round, with Michel-Ange Balikwisha scoring late in Athens to send the club into the competition proper.[28][29][30]

Antwerp's maiden UEFA Champions League group stage in 2023–24 ended a dry campaign with a historic 3–2 victory over Barcelona at the Bosuilstadion, marking their first-ever win in the competition.[31][32] They finished bottom of Group H that season. On the domestic front, they placed 6th in the Pro League and were beaten finalists in the Belgian Cup, losing 1–0 to Union Saint‑Gilloise in May 2024.[33]

Stadium

Royal Antwerp have played their home matches at the Bosuilstadion since 1923.[34]

Rivalries

Royal Antwerp share a fierce rivalry with city neighbours Beerschot A.C. (now K Beerschot VA). Although in the 2000s–2010s the two clubs have met sparingly, when they do, there is usually fan violence.[35] Royal Antwerp are often seen as a culture club with a diverse, cross-class support across the city while Beerschot have either heavily working class or upper class support, locally based in South Antwerp.[36] Beerschot supporters often refer to RAFC fans as "joden" or "Jews" as the RAFC fans must pass through the Jewish district to arrive at Antwerp's stadium, while Great Old supporters refer to Beerschot followers as "the rats".[citation needed]

SeasonDivisionRoyal Antwerp vs K Beerschot VACK Beerschot VAC vs Royal Antwerp
DateVenueScoreAttendanceDateVenueScoreAttendance
1976–77First Division28 November 1976Bosuilstadion2 – 126 November 1977Olympisch Stadion (Antwerp)|Olympisch Stadion2 – 0
1977–78First Division15 April 1978Bosuilstadion0 – 026 November 1977Olympisch Stadion (Antwerp)|Olympisch Stadion4 – 2
1978–79First Division10 December 1978Bosuilstadion2 – 220 May 1979Olympisch Stadion (Antwerp)|Olympisch Stadion0 – 3
1979–80First Division20 January 1980Bosuilstadion1 – 115 September 1979Olympisch Stadion (Antwerp)|Olympisch Stadion1 – 1
1980–81First Division5 October 1980Bosuilstadion3 – 213 February 1981Olympisch Stadion (Antwerp)|Olympisch Stadion0 – 1
1982–83First Division28 November 1982Bosuilstadion2 – 19 April 1983Olympisch Stadion (Antwerp)|Olympisch Stadion0 – 1
1983–84First Division15 October 1983Bosuilstadion0 – 118 February 1984Olympisch Stadion (Antwerp)|Olympisch Stadion1 – 4
1984–85First Division17 April 1985Bosuilstadion3 – 18 September 1984Olympisch Stadion (Antwerp)|Olympisch Stadion2 – 0
1985–86First Division20 October 1985Bosuilstadion2 – 215 March 1986Olympisch Stadion (Antwerp)|Olympisch Stadion0 – 0
1986–87First Division15 February 1987Bosuilstadion1 – 113 September 1986Olympisch Stadion (Antwerp)|Olympisch Stadion0 – 0
1987–88First Division4 October 1987Bosuilstadion2 – 119 March 1988Olympisch Stadion (Antwerp)|Olympisch Stadion0 – 2
1988–89First Division25 February 1989Bosuilstadion4 – 12 September 1988Olympisch Stadion (Antwerp)|Olympisch Stadion5 – 1
1989–90First Division17 February 1990Bosuilstadion4 – 016 September 1989Olympisch Stadion (Antwerp)|Olympisch Stadion1 – 1
1990–91First Division7 October 1990Bosuilstadion3 – 023 March 1991Olympisch Stadion (Antwerp)|Olympisch Stadion1 – 2
SeasonDivisionRoyal Antwerp vs K Beerschot VAK Beerschot VA vs Royal Antwerp
DateVenueScoreAttendanceDateVenueScoreAttendance
2017–18Europa League playoff15 April 2018Bosuilstadion2 – 014,19429 April 2018Olympisch Stadion (Antwerp)|Olympisch Stadion0 – 08,600
2020–21First Division A25 October 2020Bosuilstadion3 – 207 February 2021Olympisch Stadion (Antwerp)|Olympisch Stadion1 – 20
2021–22First Division ABosuilstadion2 – 116,1445 December 2021Olympisch Stadion (Antwerp)|Olympisch Stadion0 – 111,000
2024–25Pro League29 September 2024Bosuilstadion5 – 016,430

RAFC also have developed a long-standing rivalry with Club Brugge.[37] They also have a local rivalry with KV Mechelen, although there is mutual respect due to a shared hatred of Beerschot.[38]

Meuse/Scheldt Cup

The best football players of Antwerp and Rotterdam contested a yearly match between 1909 and 1959 for the Meuse- and Scheldt Cup (Maas- en Schelde Beker). It was agreed to play the game at Antwerp's stadium De Bosuil in Belgium and at Sparta Rotterdam's Het Kasteel stadium in the Netherlands. The cup was provided in 1909 by P. Havenith from Antwerp and Kees van Hasselt from Rotterdam.

Honours

Royal Antwerp F.C. honours
TypeCompetitionTitlesSeasons
DomesticBelgian First Division51928–29, 1930–31, 1943–44, 1956–57, 2022–23
Belgian Second Division21999–2000, 2016–17
Belgian Cup41954–55, 1991–92, 2019–20, 2022–23
Belgian Super Cup12023

Continental

Further information: Royal Antwerp F.C. in European football

Players

Young Reds Antwerp

[39]

Technical staff

PositionName
Head coachJoseph Oosting
Assistant coachFaris Haroun
Robert Molenaar
Nicky Hofs
Goalkeeping coachBrian Vandenbussche
Fitness coachShaun Huygaerts
Thomas Carpels
Match analystJonas Dioos
PhysiotherapistDries Meeusen
Technical directorMarc Overmars

Manchester United Players loan partnership

This is a list of former players acquired on-loan via Manchester United's partnership with Royal Antwerp from 1998 to 2013.

See also

References

  1. ^ "RAFC start verkoop nieuwe abonnementen op T1 & T4". RAFC
  2. ^ "Belgium". ICC. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  3. ^ "Blow for Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium's oldest football club". VRT. 14 May 2020. Archived 30 June 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  4. ^ "125 years football history". rafc.be. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  5. ^ "Wist je dat: de KBVB stamnummers uitvond?". voetbalkrant.com. Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
  6. ^ "Parma 3, Royal Antwerp 1". AP. 12 May 1993. Archived 19 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  7. ^ "1992/93 European Cup Winners’ Cup Final – FOOTBALL BOOK REVIEWS (FBR)". footballbookreviews.com
  8. ^ "On This Day: Parma lift Cup Winners' Cup - Football Italia". football-italia.net. 2017-05-12. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  9. ^ "Manchester United's Royal Antwerp Loanees". Five Cantonas. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  10. ^ "Dong joins Antwerp". BBC Sport. 4 February 2004. Archived 25 January 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  11. ^ "New life breathed into the Great Old as Royal Antwerp return to top flight". Inside World Football. 13 March 2017. Archived 21 September 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  12. ^ Hugh, Pierce (2025-04-24). "Crowned Again: How Royal Antwerp Reclaimed Its Place Among Belgium's Best". Soccer Wizdom. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  13. ^ "Antwerp - Soccer - BetsAPI". betsapi.com. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  14. ^ Delanoë, Régis (28 July 2017). "Antwerp, retour royal" [Antwerp, royal return] (in French). So Foot. Archived 8 May 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  15. ^ Berger, Maxime & Bayet, Grégory (27 May 2019). "L'Antwerp retrouve la scène européenne, une première depuis 1994-1995" [Antwerp return to the European scene, for the first time since 1994-1995]. RTBF. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Officieel: Antwerp stunt en haalt 60-voudig Rode Duivel Kevin Mirallas terug naar België" [Official: Antwerp stun and bring back 60-time Red Devil Kevin Mirallas to Belgium] (in Dutch). Het Nieuwsblad. 30 August 2019. Archived 8 May 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Belgique : Laszlo Bölöni quitte le Royal Antwerp" (in French). L'Équipe. 14 May 2020. Archived 8 May 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  18. ^ "Antwerp wins Belgian Cup as soccer resumes in Belgium". The Washington Post. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
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  21. ^ "Rangers handed Europa League boost as Royal Antwerp lose their manager to Shanghai SIPG". Glasgow Times. 29 December 2020. Archived 8 May 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  22. ^ "Mark van Bommel nommé entraîneur d'Antwerp" [Mark van Bommel named manager of Antwerp] (in French). L'Équipe. 26 May 2022. Archived 12 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  23. ^ "Van Bommel confirmed as the new Royal Antwerp head coach - Football Oranje". Football Oranje. 2022-05-26. Archived 2024-12-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  24. ^ Jongmans, Robin (30 April 2023). "Prijs voor Van Bommel in België: trainer wint beker met Nederlands getint Antwerp" [Prize for Van Bommel in Belgium: manager wins cup with Dutch-tinged Antwerp] (in Dutch). De Telegraaf. Archived 30 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  25. ^ "ANTWERP KAMPIOEN! Alderweireld schiet Great Old naar titel na waanzinnige rollercoaster" [ANTWERP CHAMPIONS! Alderweireld delivers championship for Great Old after insane rollercoaster]. Sporza. 4 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  26. ^ "WATCH: Ex-Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld scores 94th-minute screamer for Royal Antwerp to seal their first league title since 1957". www.goal.com. 2023-06-04. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
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  32. ^ "Antwerp 3-2 Barcelona (Dec 13, 2023) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  33. ^ "Union Saint-Gilloise end 110-year wait for Belgian Cup success". Reuters. 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  34. ^ "Stadiums & Pitches". rafc.be. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  35. ^ "Politie 24/7: unieke blik achter de schermen van een gespannen Antwerpse derby". sporza.be. VRT. Archived 26 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  36. ^ "De derby der derby's: "Beerschot was voor het chique volk, Antwerp voor de arbeiders"". De Morgen. Archived 21 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  37. ^ "De rivaliteit tussen Club Brugge en Antwerp is enorm: wij gingen op zoek naar de oorzaak van die vete en kwamen in 1908 terecht". Nieuwsblad. 19 October 2017. Archived 22 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  38. ^ "Malinwa vs. Great Old, de 'Antwerpse derby der gelijkgezinden'". Gazet van Antwerpen. 18 October 2019. Archived 13 August 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  39. ^ "Young Reds kern". Royal Antwerp. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
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