K.S.K. Beveren

Beveren

Full name	Koninklijke Sportkring Beveren
Nickname(s)	Leeuwen (Lions)[citation needed]
Founded	1 July 1934 (creation) 6 September 1935 (registration)
Ground	G-terrein Freethielcomplex, Beveren
Capacity	700
Manager	Kristof Smet
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours

KSK Beveren (Royal Sporting Club of Beveren) is a Belgian football club from Beveren in East Flanders with founded number 2300 and with yellow and blue as colors. The club became national champion twice in its existence and won the Belgian Cup twice. The men's branch of the club was temporarily discontinued in 2010, until 2022 only the women's team played at the Royal Belgian Football Association under founding number 2300. In 2022, after an agreement with Waasland-Beveren, the founding number was released again for men's football, so the club has been active since the 2022–23 season again with a men's team.^[1] KSK Beveren is the first football club in Belgium that is completely controlled by supporters and is bound by the principles of Supporters Direct.^[2]

History

1922–1949 Origins and early years

Association football has a history in Beveren that goes back to the year

SK Beveren-Waes needed little time to adapt to life in the national divisions. It took the club only three years to eventually promote from the Belgian Fourth Division to the Belgian Third Division predominantly using local players and often counting on the heroics of their goalkeeper Walter De Winter. In the second game of the playoffs for promotion Beveren had already enough with a 2–1 win against Willebroek to secure their rise to a higher division.^{[citation needed]}

Between 1952 and 1960 the club stayed in the Belgian Third Division, regularly battling against relegation and at the end losing the battle by only reaching 15th place in the 1959–1960 season. However, SK Beveren would come back stronger than ever before. During its three-year stay in the Belgian Fourth Division the club started to give chances to a group of local players who would become known as the golden generation of SK Beveren. Most of them learned playing the game on a local playing field, nicknamed 't Congoken due to its sandy pitch, similar to the local public image of playing fields in Africa at that time and referring to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a former colony of Belgium. The former site now serves as a parking lot, but is still remembered with two sculptures representing goals. Amongst the players were prolific striker Robert Rogiers, playmaker Omer Janssens, winger Jean Janssens, centre back Freddy Buyl and central midfielder Wilfried Van Moer.^{[citation needed]}

In

In the summer of 1970, the club again participated in the Rappan Cup, finishing as third in a group with Östers, Werder Bremen and LASK. The 1970–71 season proved to be average at the national level, but the club had a remarkable run in the 1970–71 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. After beating Wiener Sport-Club in the round of 32, Beveren met Spanish giant Valencia in the next round, achieving a historic win in Spain thanks to a goal of Hugo De Raeymaeker. In the return game, Beveren held Valencia to a 1–1 draw (again a goal of De Raeymaeker), obtaining a spot in the next round. Beveren was eventually eliminated by powerhouse Arsenal, losing 4–0 at Highbury and drawing 0–0 at home.^[5]

Against all expectations, Beveren ended the

The club changed its name, to SK Beveren, in 1978 (following the name change of the municipality of Beveren in the 1977 Fusion of the Belgian municipalities). The 1978-1979 season became the most successful in the club's history. The departed coach Urbain Braems, who moved to archrival KSC Lokeren, was replaced by the duo Robert Goethals and Rik Pauwels, who respectively served as technical advisor and field trainer. The unknown German forward Erwin Albert was acquired for approximately 1.5 million Belgian francs from Hertha BSC and became the top scorer in the Belgian First Division that season with 28 goals. Goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff, now also the established goalkeeper of the Belgian national football team, won the Belgian Golden Shoe in January. SK Beveren, whose majority of the squad consists of amateur players with full-time day jobs (unlike the traditional top clubs of the country), clinched its very first national title on May 12, 1979, with two matchdays remaining, securing it with a 0–0 draw against Beringen. In the same season, Beveren also had a miraculous run in the 1978–79 European Cup Winners' Cup. After eliminating Ballymena United and HNK Rijeka in the early rounds, they faced the mighty Inter Milan in the quarter-finals. Following a 0–0 draw at San Siro, Beveren qualified on March 21, 1979, with a 1–0 victory at the Freethiel. The legendary goal in the 85th minute was scored by Bob Stevens, assisted by Wim Hofkens. In the semi-finals, Beveren faced the eventual champions, Barcelona. They suffered defeats both at the Camp Nou and at home with a score of 1–0. The goals in both matches were scored from penalties, respectively by Carles Rexach and Hans Krankl.

Beveren managed to retain its successful team, but failed to meet expectations in the 1979–1980 season. The club, a frequent participant in international summer tournaments, reached the final of the Trofeo Colombino only to lose to the host, Recreativo. On August 22, 1979, Beveren became the first winner of the Belgian Super Cup after a penalty shootout, defeating the home team Beerschot at the Olympisch Stadion (1–1 in regular time). The 1979-80 Belgian First Division was far from a success for Beveren, as the reigning champions finished in eleventh place. In the 1979-80 European Cup, Beveren was eliminated in the first round by Servette. However, the club did reach the Belgian Cup final for the second time, after defeating teams like KSC Lokeren, Club Brugge, and Standard Liège. Despite being the favorite, Beveren unexpectedly lost to Thor Waterschei in the final. Erwin Albert did equalize the 1–0 lead (scored by Pier Janssen) from a penalty kick, but seven minutes before the end, Jos Heyligen scored the decisive 2-1 goal from a free-kick. A very inconsistent season was brightened by an experienced club legend: in January, Jean Janssens won the Belgian Golden Shoe. At 35 years old, he was the oldest winner of the prestigious award for quite some time until he was surpassed by Lorenzo Staelens, who was only a few months older, in 2000.

Beveren strengthened themselves in the summer of 1980, among others, with Wilfried Van Moer. The 35-year-old midfielder returned to his former club and finished fourth in the 1980 Ballon d'Or voting on December 30, 1980. On August 24, 1980, Beveren lost the Belgian Super Cup to reigning champion Club Brugge at the Heysel Stadium after penalty kicks (1–1 in regular time). Losing Belgian Cup finalist Beveren played in the Super Cup because Thor Waterschei was not a member of the Pro League. During pre-season Beveren did however win its first Beker van Vlaanderen, beating Kortrijk in the final. Beveren finished the 1980-81 Belgian First Division season in fourth place, thus qualifying once again for European football. The season was largely overshadowed by an incident in the quarter-finals of the Belgian Cup against KSC Lokeren. After the match, assistant referee Rene Thirion accused goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff of giving him a knee blow in the dressing rooms. Although Pfaff has always denied this, the accusation resulted in a heavy suspension of six months for the goalkeeper. This punishment was remarkable due to its severity and because Pfaff was one of the most well-known and beloved players in Belgium at that time. Pfaff was also one of the key figures of the Belgian national team.

In 1984, the club's name changed to K.S.K. Beveren.^[7]

Early 2000s: the resurgence with the Ivorian players

During the 2001–2002 season, Beveren finished in eighteenth place but were saved from relegation because Eendracht Aalst and RWDM were not licensed. Chairman Frans van Hoof then appointed Jean-Marc Guillou as technical director and gave him great freedom with regard to the club's policy. Beveren, which was in financial and sporting trouble, was revived in the following seasons thanks to the arrival of many young Ivorian players from the ASEC Mimosas football academy of Guillou from Abidjan, (Ivory Coast). And a collaboration realized by Guillou with Arsenal, where his friend Arsène Wenger was a trainer, as a result of which players such as Graham Stack and Igors Stepanovs were rented out to KSK Beveren. However, it became clear from the start that the collaboration with Arsenal did not bring what was expected of it, for example, players of lesser quality were placed in Beveren in dribs and drabs. Fortunately, the young Ivorian players were of an exceptionally high level. Some of them ended up at the absolute European top after their passage at KSK Beveren, such as Emmanuel Eboué and Gervinho at Arsenal, Arthur Boka at VfB Stuttgart and Romaric at Sevilla to name the most important. Yaya Touré even managed to win the 2008–09 UEFA Champions League with Barcelona and became the second former Beveren player to win the highest European prize.^[8][9]

In the 2003/04 season, Beveren played the

In 2006, they were threatened with the loss of their professional licence and subsequent relegation to the third division, but eventually won an appeal to preserve their status. In 2007, however, the club ended last in the Jupiler League and was forced to go to the second division.[10]

2010: the temporary end of the first team

In 2009, by bringing Johan Boskamp back to the club and having him sign for three seasons, they tried to draw up a three-year plan, in which a major role was reserved for Belgian youth players. However, Boskamp was fired on 27 December 2009 due to disappointing results, partly caused by his long absence due to a serious lung infection. At that time, the ambitious Beveren was in penultimate place in the Belgian Second Division. Boskamp was replaced ad interim by David Penneman. On 22 April 2010, it became known that Beveren would not apply for a license for the Second Division, the club voluntarily relegated to the Third Division. In the spring of 2010, under pressure from Beveren mayor Marc Van de Vijver, the first team and youth teams wanted to merge with RS Waasland. Because the application had not been submitted in time according to the regulations of the Belgian Football Association, they had to postpone the merger until after the 2010/11 season. However, instead Beveren decided not to give in to political pressure and to keep the honor to itself by no longer entering the competition with the men's team the following season, but only with its youth teams. As a result, the merger fell through. To gain a foothold in Beveren, RS Waasland changed into KVRS Waasland - SK Beveren and this club played in the stadium of Beveren in the 2011/12 season. Partly because of this, the 75th anniversary of the first team of Beveren came to a temporary end.^[11]

The founding number was not deleted: Beveren had started a women's team in 2009, so that the club with founding number 2300 could remain active in women's football. In January 2011, supporters of KSK Beveren who could not agree with the disappearance of the original men's team founded the non-profit association Eskabee 1935 to revive KSK Beveren as a full-fledged football club. The non-profit association Eskabee 1935 succeeded in its aim and joined the KBVB with the new football club Yellow Blue Beveren and founding number 9577. From 2011/12, that club started at the very lowest level, Fourth provincial.^[12][13]

2022: a new start

Due to the agreement between

Between 2001 and 2006, the club had a co-operation agreement with English Premier League club Arsenal. Several players were loaned between the teams and friendlies were played. The agreement expired on 1 July 2006.^[20]

Subsequent to an investigation by BBC Television's Newsnight, FIFA requested the English Football Association investigate the relationship between the two clubs.^[21]

In 2001, Belgian police concluded that a loan of over €1.5 million had been made by Arsenal to the company Goal, which helped secure Beveren's financial position. Newsnight have alleged this may breach club ownership rules under FIFA regulations. The accusation is refuted by Arsenal, who states that the payment was an interest-free loan and has no effect on the administration of the club.^[22] The FA and FIFA cleared both clubs of any wrongdoing.^[23]

Several players have been loaned between the two clubs or had trials. Only Emmanuel Eboué completed a permanent move between the clubs in this time period, from Beveren to Arsenal.^[24]

Former players

• Lambert Šmíd

Noted managers

• 1966–1969: Guy Thys
• 1974–1975:
  Jef Jurion
• 1975–1978: Urbain Braems
• 1981–1984: Urbain Braems
• 1986–1988: Ladislav Novák
• 1988–1989: René Desaeyere
• 1990–1992: Johan Boskamp
• 1992–1995: Jos Daerden
• 1995–1996:
  Dimitri Davidovic, Barry Hulshoff
• 1999–2001: Emilio Ferrera
• 2001–2002:
  Regis Laguesse, Thierry Pister
• 2005–2006: Vincent Dufour
• 2006–2007: Walter Meeuws
• 2007–2009:
  Alex Czerniatynski
• 2009–2010: Johan Boskamp
• 2022–2023: Kristof Smet
• 2023–present: Mathias Smet

Honours

• Belgian First Division
  :
  • Winners (2): 1978–79, 1983–84
• Belgian Second Division:
  • Winners (4): 1966–67, 1972–73, 1990–91, 1996–97
• Belgian Cup:
  • Winners (2): 1977–78, 1982–83
  • Runners-up (3): 1979–80, 1984–85,
    2003–04
• Belgian Supercup
  :
  • Winners (2): 1979, 1984
  • Runners-up (2): 1980, 1983

European record

As of 5 March 2006:

Players

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to K.S.K. Beveren.

• (in English) UEFA page