Club Brugge KV facts for kids

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Club Brugge

Full name	Club Brugge Koninklijke Voetbalvereniging (Club Bruges Royal Football association)
Nickname(s)	Blauw-Zwart (Blue-Black), (the) Club, FCB, FC Bruges
Founded	13 November 1891; 133 years ago (1891-11-13) (as Brugsche FC) Stamnummer (matricule number) 3
Ground	Jan Breydel Stadium
Ground Capacity	29,062
President	Bart Verhaeghe
Head coach	Nicky Hayen
League	Belgian Pro League
2023–24	Belgian Pro League, 1st of 16 (champions)
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Club Brugge Koninklijke Voetbalvereniging (Dutch pronunciation: [klʏ ˈbrʏɣə ˌkoːnɪŋkləkə ˈvudbɑlvəˌreːnəɣɪŋ]), known simply as Club Brugge (in English also: Club Bruges), is a Belgian professional football club based in Bruges, Belgium. It was founded in 1891 and its home ground is the Jan Breydel Stadium, which has a capacity of 29,042. They play in the Belgian Pro League, the top domestic league in Belgian football.

One of the most decorated clubs in Belgian football, Club Brugge has been crowned Belgian league champions 19 times, second only to major rivals Anderlecht, and shares the Jan Breydel Stadium with city rival Cercle Brugge, with whom they contest the Bruges derby.

Throughout its long history, "Club" has enjoyed much European football success, reaching two European finals and three European semi-finals. Club Brugge is the only Belgian club to have played the final of the European Cup (now the UEFA Champions League) as of November 2024, losing to Liverpool in the final of the 1978 season. They also lost in the 1976 UEFA Cup Final to the same opponents. Club Brugge holds the European record for number of consecutive participations in the UEFA Europa League (20), the record number of Belgian Cups (11), and the record number of Belgian Super Cups (17).

History

In 1890, students from the Catholic school Broeders Xaverianen and the neutral school Koninklijk Atheneum joined together to form the Brugsche Football Club. The former students christened the club's founding by establishing the Latin motto 'mens sana in corpore sano' (a healthy mind in a healthy body). A year later on 13 November 1891, the club was re-created under Brugsche FC, and this is now seen as the official foundation of the current Club Brugge. In 1892, an official board was installed at the club to oversee all operations and team decisions. In 1895, the national athletics sports union was founded, predecessor of the later national football association, under the name UBSSA (Union Belge des Sociétés de Sports Athlétiques); Brugsche FC was a founding member of the UBSSSA and as such took part in the first league campaign organized in Belgian football during the 1895–96 season. Financial difficulties in the following year forced the club to leave the UBSSA, and soon after, Football Club Brugeois was formed by breakaway club members. The two sides were reunited in 1897 under the French name of Football Club Brugeois; they did not take on the Dutch title Club Brugge until 1972.

Picture of the 1919–20 squad

In 1914, FC Brugeois reached their first Belgian Cup final, but lost 2–1 to Union SG. Six years later, the club claimed their first trophy, by winning the Belgian First Division during the 1919–20 season. They celebrated by changing their title to Royal FC Brugeois – with their regal status now reflected in their modern prefix KV, standing for Koninklijke Vereniging (royal club). Only eight years later though, the club was relegated to the Belgian Second Division for the first time in their history following a relegation play-off. Further lean times followed the relegation in 1928, as they spent much of the 1940s and 1950s in the second division of Belgian football.

Following the 1958–59 season, the club earned promotion back to the First Division and have not been relegated since. The club were able to add to their trophy cabinet in 1968, winning the first of their record 11 Belgian Cup titles for the first time after defeating Beerschot A.C. 7–6 in a penalty-shootout after a 1–1 draw.

The club enjoyed their most success under legendary Austrian manager Ernst Happel as he led the club to three straight league championships from 1975–76 to 1977–78 and a Belgian Cup victory in 1976–77. Happel also guided Club Brugge to their first European final, reaching the 1976 UEFA Cup Final. Over the two-legged final against English giants Liverpool, Club Brugge fell 3–4 on aggregate. Two years later, Brugge again met Liverpool in a European final, this time in the 1978 European Cup Final at Wembley, becoming the first Belgian club to reach the final of the competition. Brugge fell to a lone second-half goal from Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool won their second European Cup and third European trophy in succession. Following the cup final loss to Liverpool, Happel left Club Brugge and would lead Netherlands later that summer to the final of the 1978 FIFA World Cup.

On 25 November 1992, Brugge player Daniel Amokachi became the first goal scorer in the Champions League. He scored in a 1–0 win over CSKA Moscow.

On 20 May 2021, Brugge drew 3–3 with rivals Anderlecht to win the Belgian First Division A title for the fourth time in six years and 17th time overall. It was the first time since 1973 that Club Brugge had been crowned champions at Anderlecht's ground and the first time since 1976–77 and 1977–78 that Brugge had won back-to-back league titles. A year later, they would become champions for a third time in a row at Antwerp's ground, the first time since 1977–79. They would go on and qualify for the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League knockout for the first time in the modern history, after losing only once and keeping 5 clean sheets in the group stage.

Crest and colours

Old and iconic logo used until the end of the 70s

The club don a blue and black home kit as has been traditional through their history. Away from home they wear a light coloured kit. Colours like white, light blue and yellow have been used in recent years. As of the 2022–23 season, the club's current kit supplier is Macron.

Logo used until 2012, inspired by the RCD Espanyol logo

Stadium

Jan Breydel Stadium

The club's original home in the Sint-Andries district of Bruges was known as the Rattenplein (rats' stadium) since it was owned by the local fox terrier club, who used it for another imported English pastime: rat baiting. This non-UEFA affiliated 'sport' involved getting dogs to chase and kill rats. In 1911, the team moved to a new ground, called De Klokke (after a nearby pub), which was renamed the Albert Dyserynckstadion after the sudden death of Club Brugge chairman Albert Dyserynck.

Their current stadium, since 1975, was rebranded in honour of local butcher and revolutionary Jan Breydel in 1998. Breydel led a rising against the city's French overlords in the 1300s. The venue – which Club Brugge share with local rivals Cercle Brugge – was previously named the Olympiastadion.

In November 2016, the club broke ground on a new training complex at Westkapelle, including four training pitches and an additional training centre for the senior squad plus the U21 and U19 teams; all in addition to the already available sports complex Molenhoek.

New stadium

Since 2007, Club Brugge has been working on developing a new stadium. Since then, there have been a number of proposed locations, but the project never really took off due to problems with ground availability and endangered animal species on the proposed grounds.

However, when a new city council and mayor were sworn into office in the city of Bruges, the project went through a rebirth. Instead of moving out of the current Jan Breydelstadium, the site on which this stadium is built will be completely reconstructed into a park with a brand new stadium next to where the current stadium is situated. Although this project has been criticised by some, it's the furthest the club has come with a project. In October 2021 the club received their building permit. The club, the city and the Flemish government aim to have a functioning stadium by mid-2023, which will hold up to 40,116 spectators.

Supporters

Tifo before the Champions League game Club Brugge-Rapid Wien in 2005

Some of the fans are part of 62 supporter clubs in Belgium, which have more than 10,000 members. The "Supportersfederatie Club Brugge KV", founded in 1967, is recognized as the official supporters club of Club Brugge. The federation is made up of 60 recognized supporters' clubs and has an elected board to steer the operation in the right direction.

In tribute to the fans, often dubbed the twelfth man in football, Club Brugge no longer assigns the number 12 to players. Club Brugge also has a TV show, CLUBtv, on the Telenet network since 21 July 2006. This twice weekly show features exclusive interviews with players, coaches and managers.

Mascot

The three Bears; mascots of Club Bruges

The official mascot of Club Bruges is a bear, symbol of the city of Bruges. The history of the bear is related to a legend of the first Count of Flanders, Baldwin I of Flanders, who had fought and defeated a bear in his youth. Since the end of 2000, a second mascot, also a bear, travels along the edge of the field during home games for fans to call and encourage both their favorites. These two bears are called Belle and Bene. In 2010, a third bear named Bibi, made its appearance. He is described as the child of the first two mascots, and is oriented towards the young supporters.

Rivalries

Like many historic clubs, Club Brugge contests rivalries with other Belgian clubs, whether at local (Cercle Brugge) or regional level (Antwerp) or nationally competitive (Anderlecht and Standard Liège).

Anderlecht

The rivalry between Club Brugge and Anderlecht has developed since the 1970s. At that time, the Brussels-based club and Club Brugge won most trophies between them, leaving little room for other Belgian teams. Matches between these two teams were often contested for the title of champion of Belgium. Three Belgian Cup finals were played between the two clubs (with Anderlecht winning once and Club Brugge twice), and they played seven Belgian Supercups (Club Bruges won five). A match between these two sides is often called 'The Hate Game'. They are arguably the most heated fixtures in Belgian football together with clashes between the other two members of the Big Three – Anderlecht and Standard Liège.

Cercle Brugge

The Bruges Derby is seen as one of the most important games of the season for a lot of fans from both teams. Every season, the game attracts a huge deal of fans which results in huge choreographies on both sides. Tifos, flags and banners made specifically for this confrontation and accompanied by flares and smoke bombs aren't a rare sight in and around the stadium. The winner of this derby is crowned "de Ploeg van Brugge", which translates to "the team of Bruges". It has become a tradition for the winning side to plant a flag with the club's crest or colours on the center spot after the game.

R. Antwerp FC

The rivalry between the oldest clubs in Flanders and Belgium, is one that dates back to the 1900s. In 1908, due to Bruges supporters attacking Antwerp players after they had lost 2–1 to what we'll later call Club Brugge, one of the biggest and fiercest rivalries in Europe came to be. Confrontations between the two sides bring a lot of fighting and havoc to the stadium and the surrounding neighbourhoods. This hatred has reached new highs ever since Antwerp gained promotion back to the first division.

Honours

•      record
• ^s shared record

Europeans Distinctions

• European Cup
  • Runners-up: 1977–78
• UEFA Cup
  • Runners-up: 1975–76
  • Semi-finalists: 1987–88
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
  • Semi-finalists: 1991–92
• UEFA Europa Conference League
  • Semi-finalists: 2023–24

Minor

• Kirin Cup
  • Winners: 1981
• Amsterdam Tournament
  • Winners: 1990

Results

Season	Division				Division	Points	Notes	Cup	Europe
	I	II	III	IV
1895–96	6				Belgian First Division A	11
1896–97							did not play
1897–98							did not play
1898–99	2				Belgian First Division A		Lost in championship final to FC Liégeois
1899–1900	2				Belgian First Division A	12	Lost in championship final to Racing Club de Bruxelles
1900–01	8				Belgian First Division A	8
1901–02	6				Belgian First Division A	2
1902–03	5				Belgian First Division A	4
1903–04	3				Belgian First Division A	4	3rd of 4 teams in final round
1904–05	3				Belgian First Division A	28
1905–06	2				Belgian First Division A	29
1906–07	3				Belgian First Division A	24
1907–08	3				Belgian First Division A	26
1908–09	3				Belgian First Division A	33
1909–10	2				Belgian First Division A	38	Lost championship final to Union SG
1910–11	2				Belgian First Division A	34
1911–12	4				Belgian First Division A	29		1/4
1912–13	7				Belgian First Division A	19		1/8
1913–14	4				Belgian First Division A	27		fin
1914–15							WWI
1915–16							WWI
1916–17							WWI
1917–18							WWI
1918–19							WWI
1919–20					Belgian First Division A	34
1920–21	4				Belgian First Division A	26
1921–22	9				Belgian First Division A	25
1922–23	8				Belgian First Division A	23
1923–24	9				Belgian First Division A	23
1924–25	11				Belgian First Division A	21
1925–26	10				Belgian First Division A	25
1926–27	8				Belgian First Division A	26		R1
1927–28	13 ↓				Belgian First Division A	22
1928–29		1 ↑			Belgian Second Division	43
1929–30	6				Belgian First Division A	27
1930–31	5				Belgian First Division A	29
1931–32	11				Belgian First Division A	24
1932–33	13 ↓				Belgian First Division A	16
1933–34		3			Belgian Second Division	34
1934–35		1 ↑			Belgian Second Division	40
1935–36	9				Belgian First Division A	23
1936–37	10				Belgian First Division A	25
1937–38	5				Belgian First Division A	27
1938–39	14				Belgian First Division A	17
1939–40							WWII
1940–41	9 ↓				Belgian First Division A	5	War competition
1941–42		3			Belgian Second Division	36
1942–43		2			Belgian Second Division	43
1943–44		3			Belgian Second Division	42
1944–45							WWII
1945–46		1 ↑			Belgian Second Division	53
1946–47	19 ↓				Belgian First Division A	22
1947–48		4			Belgian Second Division	38
1948–49		1 ↑			Belgian Second Division	49
1949–50	14				Belgian First Division A	22
1950–51	16 ↓				Belgian First Division A	21
1951–52		2			Belgian Second Division	42
1952–53		8			Belgian Second Division	30
1953–54		12			Belgian Second Division	29		1/8
1954–55		3			Belgian Second Division	38		1/4
1955–56		6			Belgian Second Division	32		1/16
1956–57		10			Belgian Second Division	28
1957–58		5			Belgian Second Division	34
1958–59		2 ↑			Belgian Second Division	39
1959–60	13				Belgian First Division A	26
1960–61	8				Belgian First Division A	29
1961–62	5				Belgian First Division A	35
1962–63	8				Belgian First Division A	30
1963–64	12				Belgian First Division A	24		1/8
1964–65	9				Belgian First Division A	28		1/16
1965–66	5				Belgian First Division A	35		1/16
1966–67	2				Belgian First Division A	45		1/8
1967–68	2				Belgian First Division A	45
1968–69	5				Belgian First Division A	35		1/8	EC2: I
1969–70	2				Belgian First Division A	45
1970–71	2				Belgian First Division A	46		1/16	EC2: 1/4
1971–72	2				Belgian First Division A	45		1/16	EC3: I
1972–73					Belgian First Division A	45		1/16	EC3: II
1973–74	5				Belgian First Division A	32		1/16	EC1: II
1974–75	4				Belgian First Division A	49		1/16
1975–76					Belgian First Division A	52		1/2	EC3: fin
1976–77					Belgian First Division A	52		win	EC1: 1/4
1977–78					Belgian First Division A	51		1/2	EC1: fin
1978–79	6				Belgian First Division A	38		fin	EC1: I
1979–80					Belgian First Division A	53		1/4
1980–81	6				Belgian First Division A	37		1/8	EC1: I
1981–82	15				Belgian First Division A	28		1/16	EC3: I
1982–83	5				Belgian First Division A	43		fin
1983–84	3				Belgian First Division A	44		1/8
1984–85	2				Belgian First Division A	48		1/8	EC3: II
1985–86	2				Belgian First Division A	52	Play-offs ended with 1–1 in Anderlecht and 2–2 in Bruges	win	EC3: II
1986–87	3				Belgian First Division A	45		1/8	EC2: I
1987–88					Belgian First Division A	51		1/4	EC3: 1/2
1988–89	4				Belgian First Division A	43		1/4	EC3: II
1989–90					Belgian First Division A	57		1/16	EC2: II
1990–91	4				Belgian First Division A	47		win	EC1: II
1991–92					Belgian First Division A	53		1/8	EC2: 1/2
1992–93	6				Belgian First Division A	40		1/8	CL: P
1993–94	2				Belgian First Division A	53		fin
1994–95	3				Belgian First Division A	49		win	EC2: 1/4
1995–96					Belgian First Division A	81		win	EC2: II
1996–97	2				Belgian First Division A	71		1/16	EC3: III
1997–98					Belgian First Division A	84		fin	EC3: II
1998–99	2				Belgian First Division A	71		1/16	EC3: III
1999–2000	2				Belgian First Division A	67		1/16	UC: I
2000–01	2				Belgian First Division A	78		1/16	UC: III
2001–02	2				Belgian First Division A	70		win	UC: III
2002–03					Belgian First Division A	79		1/4	CL+UC: III
2003–04	2				Belgian First Division A	72		win	CL+UC: IV
2004–05					Belgian First Division A	79		fin	UC: P
2005–06	3				Belgian First Division A	64		1/16	CL+UC: III
2006–07	6				Belgian First Division A	51		win	UC: P
2007–08	3				Belgian First Division A	67		1/8	UC: I
2008–09	3				Belgian First Division A	59		1/8	UC: P
2009–10	3				Belgian First Division A	41		1/4	EL: II
2010–11	4				Belgian First Division A	43		1/8	EL: P
2011–12	2				Belgian First Division A	48		1/8	EL: II
2012–13	3				Belgian First Division A	46		1/8	EL: I
2013–14	3				Belgian First Division A	48		1/8	EL: 3Q
2014–15	2				Belgian First Division A	47		win	EL: 1/4
2015–16					Belgian First Division A	54		fin	EL: I
	1A	1B	1Am	2Am			From 2016–17: 1A, 1B, 1Am, 2Am	Cup	Europe
2016–17	2				Belgian First Division A	45		1/8	CL: I
2017–18					Belgian First Division A	46		1/2	EL: P
2018–19	2				Belgian First Division A	50		1/16	EL: 1/16
2019–20					Belgian First Division A	70	Competition ended after 29 matches due to COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium	fin	EL: 1/16
2020–21					Belgian First Division A	44		1/4	EL: 1/16
2021–22					Belgian First Division A	50		1/2	CL: I
2022–23	4				Belgian Pro League	36		1/8	CL: 1/8
2023–24					Belgian Pro League	50		1/2	ECL: 1/2

Players

First-team squad

No. Position Player 2 DF Zaid Romero 4 DF Joel Ordóñez 7 FW Andreas Skov Olsen 8 FW Christos Tzolis 9 FW Ferran Jutglà 10 MF Hugo Vetlesen 14 DF Bjorn Meijer 15 MF Raphael Onyedika 16 GK Dani van den Heuvel 17 FW Romeo Vermant 19 FW Gustaf Nilsson 20 MF Hans Vanaken (captain) 21 FW Michał Skóraś

No. Position Player 22 GK Simon Mignolet 27 MF Casper Nielsen 28 DF Dedryck Boyata 29 GK Nordin Jackers 30 MF Ardon Jashari 41 DF Hugo Siquet 44 DF Brandon Mechele 55 DF Maxim De Cuyper 58 DF Jorne Spileers 64 DF Kyriani Sabbe 65 DF Joaquin Seys 66 DF Bi Abdoul Kader Yameogo 68 FW Chemsdine Talbi

Other players under contract

No. Position Player MF Kamal Sowah

No. Position Player

Out on loan

No. Position Player GK Josef Bursik (at Hibernian until 30 June 2025) MF Cisse Sandra (at Willem II until 30 June 2025)

No. Position Player FW Philip Zinckernagel (at Bodø/Glimt until 31 December 2024)

Club NXT (Reserves and Youth Academy)

Retired numbers

12 – The 12th man. Reserved for the club supporters in July 2003.

23 – François Sterchele, striker (2007–08). Posthumous; Sterchele died in a single-person car accident on 8 May 2008.

Former players

Club captains

Coaching staff

First-team staff

Position	Name
Head Coach	Nicky Hayen
Assistant Coach	Hayk Milkon Michiel Jonckheere
Goalkeeping Coach	Wouter Biebauw
Physical Coach	Carl Vandenbussche
Sports Scientist	Sander Denolf
Physical Coach	Eddie Rob
Team Manager	Michael Vijverman
Team Doctor	Bruno Vanhecke
Team Doctor	Thomas Tampere
Mental Coach	Rudy Heylen
Physiotherapist	David Bombeke
Physiotherapist	Leen Van Damme
Physiotherapist	Thomas De Jonghe
Masseur	Ronny Werbrouck
Video Analyst	Jarne Kesteloot
Video Analyst	Mathias Bernaert
Team Support	Kevin Monseré
Team Support	Pascal Plovie
Team Support	Stefaan Van Gierdeghom

Reserves staff

Position	Name
Head Coach T1	Robin Veldman
Assistant Coach T2	Steve Colpaert
Goalkeeping Coach	Gianny De Vos
Physical Coach	Dirk Laleman
Team Manager	Christophe De Nolf
Physiotherapist	Astrid Pattyn
Physiotherapist	Dimitri Vastenavondt
Video Analyst	Niels Van den Wyngaert
Team Support	Erwin Beyen
Team Support	Karel Gobert
Team Support	Kristoff Deryckere
Team Support	Lander Nolf

Club Academy staff

Head Coach U18	Siebe Blondelle
Head Coach U16	Stijn Claeys

Board of directors

Position	Name
President	Bart Verhaeghe
Board Member	Jan Boone
Board Member	Bart Coeman
Board Member	Sam Sabbe
Board Member	Peter Vanhecke
CEO	Bob Madou

See also

In Spanish: Club Brujas para niños

• Club YLA (Club Brugge women)