RWDM Brussels

{{Short description|Belgian football club}} {{For|the defunct football clubs of the same name|RWDM (disambiguation){{!}}RWDM|R. Daring Club Molenbeek}} {{Expand Dutch|topic=sport|Racing White Daring Molenbeek (5479)|date=February 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = RWDM Brussels | image = RWDM_Brussels_logo.png | image_size = 170px | fullname = RWDM Brussels | nickname = | founded = {{start date and age|2015}} (takeover) | dissolved = | ground = [[Edmond Machtens Stadium]] | capacity = 12,266 | owner = [[John Textor]] | mgrtitle = Caretaker manager | manager = Christ Bruno | league = [[Challenger Pro League]] | season = [[2024–25 Challenger Pro League|2024–25]] | position = Challenger Pro League, 3rd of 16 | website = {{URL|https://www.rwdm.brussels/en}} | pattern_la1 = _rwdm2324h | pattern_b1 = _rwdm2324h | pattern_ra1 = _rwdm2324h | leftarm1 = 000000 | body1 = FF0000 | rightarm1 = 000000 | shorts1 = 000000 | socks1 = 000000 | pattern_la2 = _jomasupernova3ntf | pattern_b2 = _jomasupernova3ntf | pattern_ra2 = _jomasupernova3ntf | leftarm2 = FFFFFF | body2 = FFFFFF | rightarm2 = FFFFFF | shorts2 = 110944 | socks2 = FFFFFF | current = 2025–26 Daring Brussels season }}

'''RWDM Brussels'''<ref name="RWDM Brussels">{{Cite web |title=RWDM behoudt iconische naam en voegt 'Brussels' toe |url=https://www.bruzz.be/actua/sport/rwdm-behoudt-iconische-naam-en-voegt-brussels-toe-2025-07-07 |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=www.bruzz.be |language=nl}}</ref> is a Belgian professional [[association football|football]] club based in [[Molenbeek-Saint-Jean]], a municipality of [[Brussels]]. The team competes in the [[Challenger Pro League]], the second tier of the [[Belgian football league system]].

The club was previously known as '''Racing White Daring Molenbeek''' (RWDM) until June 2025, when it briefly rebranded to '''Daring Brussels''' and formally reclaimed [[matricule]] 2, originally assigned to the now-defunct [[R. Daring Club Molenbeek|Daring Club de Bruxelles]], founded in 1895. While the present-day club was founded in the 21st century, it identifies itself with the legacy of several predecessor entities, including [[Racing White]], [[R.W.D. Molenbeek (1909)|RWD Molenbeek]] (1973–2002), and the original Daring club.<ref name="Daring">{{cite web |title=Daring Brussels |url=https://www.daring.brussels/fr |website=Daring Brussels |access-date=29 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250618204700/https://www.daring.brussels/fr |archive-date=18 June 2025 |language=fr}}</ref>

Daring Brussels play their home matches at the [[Edmond Machtens Stadium]], wear red, black and white as their traditional colours, and incorporate gold detailing in their crest as a reference to early club heritage.<ref name="Daring" />

== History == [[File:RWDM47_logo.png|thumb|upright=0.6|Former RWDM crest]]

The club was founded in 2015. [[K. Standaard Wetteren|Standard Wetteren]] had folded that year and merged with another club, liberating its [[Football in Belgium#Matricule numbers|matricule]] (registration number), which was sold to people wanting to revive the former [[R.W.D. Molenbeek (1909)|RWDM]] with matricule 47, which folded in 2002. As such the new club was named RWDM47.

The club quickly rose through the ranks, winning two consecutive promotions from the fifth to the third tier. In December 2021, the club announced that it had come under the ownership of American business executive [[John Textor]], who also holds stakes in English side [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]], Brazilian side [[Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas|Botafogo]] and French side [[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Crystal Palace shareholder John Textor in talks to buy Belgian side RWD Molenbeek |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3686551/2021/12/23/crystal-palace-shareholder-john-textor-in-talks-to-buy-belgian-side-rwd-molenbeek/ |website=The Athletic |date=23 December 2021}}</ref> [[File:Racing White Daring Molenbeek (+FC Brussels) Performance Chart.png|thumb|Historical league performance chart of RWDM and its predecessors]]

RWDM's academy is in Belgium, and many footballers have come from there, notably [[Adnan Januzaj]] and [[Michy Batshuayi]] to name a few Belgian internationals as well as a few internationals for other countries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sky Sports Scout - Adnan Januzaj |url=https://www.skysports.com/transfer/news/15198/8966349/sky-sports-scout-adnan-januzaj |website=SkySports |date=21 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Michy Batshuayi: The SpongeBob-loving Spurs target tearing up Ligue 1 |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/michy-batshuayi-spongebob-loving-spurs-target-tearing-ligue-1 |work=fourfourtwo.com |date=23 December 2015}}</ref>

On 13 May 2023, RWDM secured promotion to the [[Belgian Pro League]] by winning the [[Challenger Pro League]] title in a narrow 1–0 victory over [[RSCA Futures]], with [[Mickaël Biron]] scoring the winning goal.<ref>{{cite press release |title=WE ARE BACK IN THE FIRST DIVISION ! |url=https://www.rwdm.be/nl/we-are-back-in-the-first-division/ |website=RWDM |access-date=13 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515134054/https://www.rwdm.be/nl/we-are-back-in-the-first-division/ |archive-date=15 May 2023 |language=nl |date=15 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=RWDM promoveert! Brusselse traditieclub volgend seizoen opnieuw in hoogste klasse na zege tegen RSCA Futures |url=https://www.hln.be/belgisch-voetbal/rwdm-promoveert-brusselse-traditieclub-volgend-seizoen-opnieuw-in-hoogste-klasse-na-zege-tegen-rsca-futures~a3a60844/ |access-date=13 June 2023 |work=Het Laatste Nieuws |date=13 May 2023 |language=nl-BE}}</ref> They went straight back down at the end of their first season back in the top flight and the following season narrowly missed out on promotion, wasting a strong lead with just two games to go and eventually ending just short of automatic promotion. [[File:Daring Brussels-2025 logo.svg|thumb|upright=0.6|The logo of the new club, as proposed on June 5, 2025]] On 5 June 2025, the club announced that it would adopt a new name, an initiative proposed by its American owner, John Textor. Effective 1 July 2025, the club would be known as Daring Brussels, a reference to the legacy of the historic [[Daring Club de Bruxelles]], originally founded in 1895. As part of the rebranding, the club planned to adopt a new logo and assume matricule 2. The official club colours were revised to include red, white, black, and gold. The decision provoked significant backlash from supporters of RWDM, many of whom expressed strong attachment to the traditional name and the original red, white, and black colour scheme.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sporza.be/nl/2025/06/06/opschudding-in-brussels-voetbal-rwdm-verandert-naam-in-daring-brussels-fans-zijn-malcontent~1749198945515/|title=Opschudding in Brussels voetbal: RWDM verandert naam in Daring Brussels, fans zijn malcontent|website=[[Sporza]]|language=nl|date=6 June 2025|access-date=6 June 2025}}</ref> The rebranding also drew criticism from the [[Molenbeek-Saint-Jean|municipality of Molenbeek]], which had previously granted the club free use of the [[Edmond Machtens Stadium]] on the condition that the name "Molenbeek" be retained.<ref>{{cite news |title=Molenbeek dreigt Daring Brussels uit stadion te zetten na uitgommen RWDM |url=https://www.bruzz.be/actua/sport/molenbeek-dreigt-daring-brussels-uit-stadion-te-zetten-na-uitgommen-rwdm-2025-06-09 |access-date=29 June 2025 |work=BRUZZ |date=9 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250613213842/https://www.bruzz.be/actua/sport/molenbeek-dreigt-daring-brussels-uit-stadion-te-zetten-na-uitgommen-rwdm-2025-06-09 |archive-date=13 June 2025 |language=nl |trans-title=Molenbeek threatens to evict Daring Brussels from stadium after erasing RWDM name}}</ref>

On 7 July 2025, after protests from supporters, it was decided that the name change would not go ahead and the name "RWDM", the old logo and the colours would be retained while the word "Brussels" would be added to the name to support the club's international interests. The club will also continue under matricule 2.<ref name="RWDM Brussels" />

== Rivalries and fanbase == RWDM's traditional rival is [[Union Saint-Gilloise]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=RWDM-fans boycotten Zwanzederby: 'Union heeft geen respect voor ons'|url=https://www.bruzz.be/sport/rwdm-fans-boycotten-zwanzederby-union-heeft-geen-respect-voor-ons-2017-12-28|access-date=6 September 2020|website=www.bruzz.be|language=nl}}</ref> which goes back to the 19th century when RWDM were known as [[Daring Club Bruxelles|Daring Club]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Union Saint-Gilloise – RWD Molenbeek : ici c'est Bruxelles - Les Cahiers du football|url=https://www.cahiersdufootball.net/article-union-saint-gilloise-rwd-molenbeek-ici-c-est-bruxelles-6163|access-date=6 September 2020|website=www.cahiersdufootball.net|language=fr}}</ref> RWDM also have a rivalry with [[R.S.C. Anderlecht|RSC Anderlecht]], with just 3 kilometres separating the two clubs and the fixtures often taking over the mantle of the "Derby of Brussels" in the professional era due to Union's relative decline. There is a common perception that RWDM's fan base is more working-class and rooted in the northern suburbs of Brussels, in contrast to Union Saint-Gilloise, which is often associated with left-leaning 'bobo' supporters and expatriates, while R.S.C. Anderlecht attracts fans from across the country.

RWDM also have rivalries with [[S.C. Eendracht Aalst|Eendracht Aalst]], [[Lierse Kempenzonen|Lierse]],<ref>{{cite web |title=RWDM - Lierse (2002): 1-0 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf_lBrCWS7w&ab_channel=FilipVanderElst |website=youtube.com |access-date=13 July 2021 |date=17 May 2009}}</ref> and [[RFC Liège]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=RWDM zakt uiteindelijk zonder supporters af naar Luik|url=https://www.bruzz.be/sport/rwdm-zakt-uiteindelijk-zonder-supporters-af-naar-luik-2019-01-08|access-date=6 September 2020|website=www.bruzz.be|language=nl}}</ref>

RWDM drew support from across the Belgian capital due to its merger of 4 teams, as well as in the [[Brussels Periphery|Periphery]], where many ''Brusseleirs'' migrated to, in contrast to the more locally based Saint-Gilles support and the nationwide Anderlecht support.<ref>{{Cite web|title='Er is een markt voor drie Brusselse voetbalclubs in eerste klasse'|url=https://www.bruzz.be/sport/er-een-markt-voor-drie-brusselse-voetbalclubs-eerste-klasse-2019-09-11|access-date=6 September 2020|website=www.bruzz.be|language=nl}}</ref> It had high attendances for a big part of its existence as [[R.W.D. Molenbeek (1909)|RWDM]], until financial troubles and the subsequent changeover with Johan Vermeesch in charge of the new club led to the name change to [[FC Brussels]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 September 2002|title=Football - D 2 Le déménagement|url=https://www.dhnet.be/archive/football-d-2-le-demenagement-51b8517fe4b0de6db9a30d53|access-date=6 September 2020|website=DH Les Sports +|language=fr}}</ref> and caused a split in the fanbase. During their years as FC Brussels, the [[Ultras|Ultra]] group Brussels Power 05 emerged,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Interview with Brussels Power (FC Brussels - Belgium)|url=https://www.ultras-tifo.net/interviews/29-interview-with-brussels-power-fc-brussels-belgium.html|access-date=6 September 2020|website=Ultras-Tifo|language=en-gb}}</ref> while many of the "old school" [[Casual (subculture)|casuals]] "Brussels Boys" boycotted. These days both supporter groups sit in the same ''Bloc A''.

==Players==

===First-team squad=== {{Updated|3 March, 2026}}.<ref name="players and staff">{{Cite web |title=A-kern-Staff |url=https://www.rwdm.be/nl/team/noyau-a-nl/|access-date=1 January 2025 |publisher=RWDM}}</ref>  {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no= 1 |nat=BEL|pos=GK|name=[[Bill Lathouwers]]}} {{Fs player|no= 4 |nat=BEL|pos=DF|name=Djovkar Doudaev}} {{Fs player|no= 8 |nat=NIC|pos=MF|name=[[Jacob Montes]]}} {{Fs player|no= 9 |nat=CAF|pos=FW|name=Usman Simbakoli}} {{Fs player|no= 10 |nat=FRA|pos=FW|name=[[Gaëtan Robail]]}} {{Fs player|no= 11 |nat=MAR|pos=MF|name=[[Ilyes Ziani]]}} {{Fs player|no= 13 |nat=GUI|pos=DF|name=[[Madiou Keita]]}} {{fs player|no= 14 |nat=BEL|pos=MF|name=[[Olivier Dumont]]}} {{fs player|no= 17 |nat=URU|pos=FW|name=[[Valentín Adamo]]}} {{Fs player|no= 19 |nat=ARG|pos=FW|name=Francisco Montoro}} {{Fs player|no= 20 |nat=CAN|pos=FW|name=[[Kwasi Poku]]}} {{Fs player|no= 23 |nat=FRA|pos=GK|name=[[Justin Bengui]]|other={{small|on loan from [[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]]}}}} {{Fs player|no= 26 |nat=BEL|pos=FW|name=[[Pjotr Kestens]]}} {{fs mid}} {{Fs player|no= 27 |nat=FRA|pos=DF|name=Yacine Chaib|other={{small|on loan from [[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]]}}}} {{Fs player|no= 28 |nat=BEL|pos=GK|name=[[Guillaume Hubert]]}} {{Fs player|no= 29 |nat=MAR|pos=MF|name=[[Aïman Maurer]]}} {{Fs player|no= 30 |nat=MAR|pos=MF|name=Ali Loune}} {{Fs player|no= 31 |nat=BEL|pos=DF|name=Noah Dodeigne}} {{Fs player|no= 47 |nat=BEL|pos=DF|name=Manoël Verhaeghe}} {{Fs player|no= 55 |nat=NZL|pos=FW|name=Victor Barbosa}} {{Fs player|no= 59 |nat=FRA|pos=MF|name=Tom Moore}} {{Fs player|no= 60 |nat=POL|pos=MF|name=Oskar Szulc}} {{Fs player|no= 70 |nat=BDI|pos=GK|name=[[Mattéo Nkurunziza]]}} {{Fs player|no= 83 |nat=BEL|pos=DF|name=Mats Lemmens}} {{Fs player|no= 99 |nat=BEL|pos=DF|name=[[Tibo Persyn]]}} {{Fs end}}

===Out on loan=== {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=BEL|pos=DF|name=Xavier Preijs|other={{small|at [[Crossing Schaerbeek|Schaerbeek]] until 30 June 2026}}}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=BEL|pos=DF|name=Matteo Vandendaele|other={{small|at [[Diegem Sport]] until 30 June 2026}}}} {{Fs mid}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=BEL|pos=FW|name=Frederic Soelle Soelle|other={{small|at [[RFC Liège]] until 30 June 2026}}}} {{Fs end}}

==Club staff== {| class="wikitable" |- !Position<ref name="players and staff"/> !Staff |- | Chairman & Owner ||{{flagicon|USA}} [[John Textor]] |- | President ||{{flagicon|BEL}} Thierry Dailly |- | Head Coach ||{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Yannick Ferrera]] |- | Assistant Coach ||{{flagicon|BEL}} Pepijn Mertens <br> {{flagicon|BEL}} Siebe van der Bosch |- | Goalkeeper Coach ||{{flagicon|BEL}} Thierry Berghmans |}

==Honours== * '''Challenger Pro League''' **'''Winner (1):''' [[2022–23 Challenger Pro League|2022–23]]

==See also== * [[R.W.D. Molenbeek (1909)|RWD Molenbeek]] (1909)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{commons category-inline}} * {{official website|http://www.rwdm47.be}} {{in lang|fr|nl}}

[[Category:RWDM Brussels| ]] [[Category:Football clubs in Belgium]] [[Category:Association football clubs established in 2015]] [[Category:2015 establishments in Belgium]] [[Category:Molenbeek-Saint-Jean]] [[Category:Football clubs in Brussels]]