{{Short description|Belgian professional football club}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = KV Kortrijk | image = KV Kortrijk logo 2016.svg | image_size = 190px | fullname = Koninklijke Voetbalclub Kortrijk | nickname = ''De Kerels'' (The Guys) | founded = {{start date and age|1901}} | ground = [[Guldensporenstadion]], <br>[[Kortrijk]] | capacity = 9,399<ref name="auto">[http://kvk.be/nl/club/guldensporenstadion/ Guldensporenstadion] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811133000/http://kvk.be/nl/club/guldensporenstadion/ |date=11 August 2015 }}, kvk.be (last check 30 March 2018)</ref> | owner = [[Vincent Tan]] | chairman = [[Ken Choo]] | mgrtitle = Head coach | manager = [[Michiel Jonckheere]] | league = [[Challenger Pro League]] | season = [[2024–25 Belgian Pro League|2024–25]] | position = [[Belgian Pro League]], 15th of 16 regular season <br> 3rd of 4, Relegation round (relegated) | website = {{URL|http://kvk.be/}} | pattern_la1 = | pattern_b1 = | pattern_ra1 = | leftarm1 = FF0000 | body1 = FF0000 | rightarm1 = FF0000 | shorts1 = FF0000 | socks1 = FF0000 | pattern_la2 = | pattern_b2 = | pattern_ra2 = | leftarm2 = FFFFFF | body2 = FFFFFF | rightarm2 = FFFFFF | shorts2 = FF0000 | socks2 = FFFFFF | pattern_la3 = | pattern_b3 = | pattern_ra3 = | leftarm3 = 696969 | body3 = 696969 | rightarm3 = 696969 | shorts3 = 696969 | socks3 = 696969 | current = 2024–25 K.V. Kortrijk season }} '''Koninklijke Voetbalclub Kortrijk''' (often simply called '''KV Kortrijk''' or '''KVK''') is a Belgian professional [[association football|football]] club based in [[Kortrijk]], [[West Flanders]]. They play in the [[Belgian Pro League]] and they achieved their best ranking ever during the [[2009–10 Belgian Pro League|2009–10 season]], finishing fourth after the play-offs. KV Kortrijk was founded in 1971, though their roots can be traced to 1901. They are registered to the [[Royal Belgian Football Association]] with [[matricule|matricule number]] 19. The club colours are red and white. They play their home matches at the [[Guldensporenstadion]], named after the [[Battle of the Golden Spurs]] which took place in Kortrijk in 1302.

KV Kortrijk first entered the first division in the early 20th century, between [[1906–07 Belgian First Division|1906–07]] and [[1910–11 Belgian First Division|1910–11]]. They eventually had to wait 65 years to return at the highest level, when they spent 15 seasons at the top flight, interrupted by a season in the second division (between [[1976–77 Belgian First Division|1976–77]] and [[1978–79 Belgian First Division|1978–79]] and between [[1980–81 Belgian First Division|1980–81]] and [[1991–92 Belgian First Division|1991–92]]). KV Kortrijk also played the [[1998–99 Belgian First Division|1998–99 season]] in the first division before they returned to the [[Belgian Pro League]] in the [[2008–09 Belgian First Division|2008–09 season]].

==History== In 1901 '''SC Courtraisien''' was founded. The club merged with FC Courtraisien in 1918. They received in 1951 the name '''Koninklijke Kortrijk Sport'''. They had the matricule n°19 like the oldest club SC Courtraisien. '''Stade Kortrijk''' was founded in 1923 with matricule n°161. Because Stade Kortrijk and Koninklijke Kortrijk Sport didn't play well anymore, they merged in 1971. They could play with matricule n°19 and the new name was '''KV Kortrijk'''.

Early 2000's KV Kortrijk dropped to the [[Belgian Third Division|third division]]. In 2001 they went bankrupt but managed to finish the season. They even won the third division playoffs but the club did not promote to the second division as they were penalized for the bankruptcy. In 2004 KV Kortrijk promoted to the second division, and in the 2007–08 season they managed to get promoted to the first division.

KV Kortrijk was bought for €5&nbsp;million by Malaysian businessman [[Vincent Tan]] on 12 May 2015.<ref>{{cite web |first=Frank |last=Buyse |title=Officieel: Maleisische miljardair Vincent Tan neemt KV Kortrijk over |url=http://www.nieuwsblad.be/sportwereld/cnt/dmf20150512_01677889 |language=nl |publisher=Nieuwsblad&nbsp;– Sportwereld |date=12 May 2015 |access-date=12 May 2015 |archive-date=14 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514173307/http://www.nieuwsblad.be/sportwereld/cnt/dmf20150512_01677889 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 4 May 2025, Kortrijk secure relegation to [[Challenger Pro League]] from next season after winning from [[Cercle Brugge KSV|Cercle Brugge]] 0–2 in Relegation round because [[K Beerschot VA|Beerschot]] couldn't defeat [[Sint-Truidense VV|STVV]]. This way they ended 17 years in top tier.

On 11 April 2026 they secured promotion from second division and returned back to the [[Belgian Pro League]]. They are the only club to achieve immediate promotion after relegation since [[KV Mechelen]] in 2019.

==Honours== [[File:KV Kortrijk Performance Chart.png|thumb|Historical chart of KV Kortrijk league performance]] *'''[[Belgian Cup]]''' **Runners-up (1): [[2011–12 Belgian Cup|2011–12]] *'''[[Belgian Second Division]]''' **'''Winners (2):''' 1905–06, 2007–08 **Runners-up (2): 1979–80, 1997–98 *'''[[Belgian Second Division final round]]''' **'''Winners (3):''' 1976, 1980, 1998

==Colours and badge== {{Unreferenced section|date=June 2024}} KV Kortrijk's colours are generally red and white. The home kit is usually all red with white trim and red shorts. The away kit is similar, except in blue. The club's logo is a white shield, split into thirds by a red upside-down, V-like shape, and the letters "''KVK''" are split into each third, in a red font. On top of the shield is a crown.

==Stadium== KV Kortrijk plays their home matches at the [[Guldensporen Stadion]]. It is located in [[Kortrijk, Belgium]], and the current capacity of the ground is 9,399. In the summer of 2008, the ground's capacity was increased from 6,896 to 9,399,<ref name="auto"/> after Kortrijk's elevation into the [[Belgian First Division]]. ''Guldensporenstadion'' literally means "Stadium of the Golden Spurs". The stadium is named after this in reference to the [[Battle of the Golden Spurs]] which, in 1302, was fought in Kortrijk. The stadium has a traditional local stadium look about it and is single-tiered all around the ground.

==Current squad== {{updated|8 September 2025}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kvk.be/spelers/|title=spelers – KV Kortrijk|website=kvk.be|access-date=1 July 2021|archive-date=31 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831091036/https://www.kvk.be/spelers/|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{fs start}} {{Fs player|no= 1|nat=ISL|pos=GK|name=[[Patrik Gunnarsson]]}} {{fs player|no= 2|nat=SEN|pos=MF|name=Mouhamed Guèye}} {{fs player|no= 3|nat=SCO|pos=DF|name=Matthew Anderson}} {{fs player|no= 5|nat=CMR|pos=DF|name=[[James Ndjeungoue]]}} {{fs player|no= 6|nat=BEL|pos=MF|name=[[Liam De Smet]]}} {{fs player|no= 7|nat=BEL|pos=MF|name=Ilan Hurtevent}} {{fs player|no= 8|nat=BEL|pos=MF|name=[[Youssef Challouk]]}} {{fs player|no= 9|nat=IRL|pos=FW|name=[[Jonathan Afolabi]]}} {{fs player|no=10|nat=BEL|pos=MF|name=Lennard Hens}} {{fs player|no=11|nat=HUN|pos=FW|name=Csanád Vilmos Dénes}} {{fs player|no=13|nat=BEL|pos=GK|name=Ebbe De Vlaeminck}} {{fs player|no=14|nat=BEL|pos=FW|name=[[Lenn De Smet]]}} {{fs player|no=15|nat=CIV|pos=DF|name=Mohamed Fofana}} {{fs player|no=18|nat=BEL|pos=FW|name=[[Jellert Van Landschoot]]}} {{Fs mid}} {{fs player|no=19|nat=BEL|pos=MF|name=[[Brecht Dejaegere]]}} {{fs player|no=20|nat=BEL|pos=DF|name=[[Gilles Dewaele]]}} {{fs player|no=21|nat=RSA|pos=MF|name=[[Cassius Mailula]]|other={{small|on loan from [[Toronto FC]]}}}} {{fs player|no=22|nat=BEL|pos=DF|name=[[Gilles Ruyssen]]}} {{fs player|no=25|nat=BEL|pos=MF|name=[[Manuel Osifo]]|other={{small|on loan from [[Oud-Heverlee Leuven|OH Leuven]]}}}} {{fs player|no=31|nat=SRB|pos=GK|name=[[Marko Ilić (footballer, born 1998)|Marko Ilić]]}} {{fs player|no=35|nat=BEL|pos=MF|name=[[Boris Lambert]]|other={{small|on loan from [[Willem II Tilburg|Willem II]]}}}} {{fs player|no=36|nat=FRA|pos=DF|name=Rudy Kohon}} {{fs player|no=39|nat=MAD|pos=FW|name=[[Bryan Adinany]]}} {{fs player|no=49|nat=BEL|pos=DF|name=Fuhna Nsolo}} {{fs player|no=68|nat=GLP|pos=FW|name=[[Thierry Ambrose]]}} {{fs player|no=77|nat=BEL|pos=GK|name=Tristen Alliet}} {{fs player|no=90|nat=NGR|pos=FW|name=[[Sixtus Ogbuehi]]}} {{fs player|no=99|nat=SEN|pos=FW|name=Abdoul Diop}} {{Fs end}}

===Out on loan=== {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=BEL|pos=FW|name=Kyan Himpe|other={{small|at [[S.K. Roeselare|Roeselare]] until 30 June 2026}}}} {{Fs end}}

==Coaching staff==

{| class="wikitable" |- !Position !Staff |- | Head Coach || {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Michiel Jonckheere]] |- | Assistant Coach ||{{flagicon|PHI}} Kurt Bataille <br/> {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Christophe Lepoint]] |- | Goalkeeper Coach ||{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Franky Vandendriessche]] |- | Head of Performance ||{{flagicon|BEL}} Pieter Jacobs |- | Video Analyst ||{{flagicon|BEL}} Gregory De Grauwe |- | Team Manager ||{{flagicon|BEL}} Claude Gezelle |}

==Managers== {{div col|colwidth=35em|small=yes}} *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[André Van Maldeghem]] & [[Luc Maddens]] (1971–73) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[André Van Maldeghem]] & [[Walter Maes]] (1973–75) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Georges Heylens]] (1975–77) *{{flagicon|YUG}} [[Marijan Brnčić]] (1978–79) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Raymond Mertens]] (1979) *{{flagicon|NED}} [[Henk Houwaart]] (1979–83) *{{flagicon|NED}} [[Wim Reijers]] (1983–84) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[André Van Maldeghem]] (1984–85) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Dimitri Davidović]] (1985–86) *{{flagicon|NED}} Aad Koudijzer (1986) *{{flagicon|NED}} [[Han Grijzenhout]] (1986–87) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Eddy Kinsabil]] (1987–88) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Georges Leekens]] (1988–89) *{{flagicon|NED}} [[Henk Houwaart]] (1989–90) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[René Desayere]] (1990–91) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Boudewijn Braem]] (1991–92) *{{flagicon|NED}} [[Johan Boskamp]] (1992&nbsp;– January 1993) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[James Storme]] (1993–94) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Patrick Van Geem]] (1994–95) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Regi Van Acker]] (1995–98) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Michel De Wolf]] (1998–99) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Luc Vanderschommen]] (1999&nbsp;– September 1999) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Eddy Kinsabil]] (2000) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Gerrit Laverge]] (2000–01) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Boudewijn Braem]] (2001–02) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Francky Dekenne]] (2002–03) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Boudewijn Braem]] (2003&nbsp;– February 2003) *{{flagicon|NED}} [[Angelo Nijskens]] (2003&nbsp;– January 2004) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Manu Ferrera]] (1 July 2003 – 2004) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Rudi Verkempinck]] (September 2004 – 2005) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Manu Ferrera]] (2005&nbsp;– 29 January 2006) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Hein Vanhaezebrouck]] (1 July 2006&nbsp;– 30 June 2009) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Georges Leekens]] (1 July 2009&nbsp;– 11 May 2010) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Hein Vanhaezebrouck]] (6 June 2010&nbsp;– 30 June 2014) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Yves Vanderhaeghe]] (2014–15) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Johan Walem]] (2015–2016) *{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Karim Belhocine]] (2016) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Patrick De Wilde]] (2016) *{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Karim Belhocine]] (2016) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Bart Van Lancker]] (2016–2017) *{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Karim Belhocine]] (2017) *{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Yannis Anastasiou]] (2017) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Glen De Boeck]] (2017–2018) *{{Flagicon|BEL}} [[Yves Vanderhaeghe]] (2018–2021) *{{Flagicon|SLO}} [[Luka Elsner]] (2021) *{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Karim Belhocine]] (2021–2022) *{{flagicon|BIH}} [[Adnan Čustović]] (2022) *{{flagicon|GER}} [[Bernd Storck]] (2022–2023) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Edward Still]] (2023) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Glen De Boeck]] (2023) *{{flagicon|ISL}} [[Freyr Alexandersson]] (2024) *{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Yves Vanderhaeghe]] (2024–2025) *{{flagicon|GER}} [[Bernd Storck]] (2025) {{div col end}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category|KV Kortrijk}} * {{official website|http://www.kvkortrijk.be/}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080901215343/http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/club=68495/domestic.html Kortrijk] at UEFA.com (archived)

{{K.V. Kortrijk}} {{Belgian Pro League}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kortrijk}} [[Category:KV Kortrijk| ]] [[Category:Association football clubs established in 1901]] [[Category:Sport in Kortrijk|K.V. Kortrijk]] [[Category:Football clubs in West Flanders|K.V. Kortrijk]] [[Category:Football clubs in Belgium]] [[Category:1901 establishments in Belgium]] [[Category:Organisations based in Belgium with royal patronage]] [[Category:Belgian Pro League clubs]]