Belgian Second Division play-offs
The Belgian Second Division play-offs were a series of
Eligibility
The 34 regular-season games in the Belgian Second Division were grouped into 3 periods: the first period contained the first 10 rounds of matches, the next period matches 11 to 22, and the remaining 12 matches were part of the third and last period. The overall leader after 34 games was automatically promoted as second division champion. The four qualifiers for the play-offs were the winners of the three periods, and the second-last team in the first division.
Exceptions to these rules were numerous, as no team is allowed to play in the first division without a professional license. Also it was frequently the case that the overall champion won one or several periods. Theoretically, a period winner might be near the bottom of the overall rankings, either relegated to the third division or in the third division playoff: such a team would also be ineligible for the second division playoff. In all these circumstances, any space in the playoffs is filled by the next-highest team in the overall regular-season.
The competition
The play-offs were a double
- number of points, with three points for a win and one for a draw;
- number of wins;
If teams were still equal, a test match needed to be organised between those teams, which last occurred in 2011.
Last winners
Below is a list of the winners of the play-offs, who thereby qualified for next season's Pro League. The first year, the two top clubs were qualified, K Lierse SK finishing first and KFC Winterslag qualifying as second-placed team. In 1996, three clubs had to qualify for Belgian First Division and the second-placed team of the second division (KRC Genk) skipped the play-offs.
- 1974: K. Lierse S.K.
- 1975: R.A.A. Louviéroise
- 1976: K.V. Kortrijk
- 1977: R.A.A. Louviéroise
- 1978: K. Berchem Sport
- 1979: K.S.C. Hasselt
- 1980: K.V. Kortrijk
- 1981: K.V. Mechelen
- 1982: K. Beerschot V.A.V.
- 1983: K. Beringen F.C.
- 1984: Racing Jet de Bruxelles
- 1985: R. Charleroi S.C.
- 1986: Racing Jet de Bruxelles
- 1987: K.F.C. Winterslag
- 1988: K. Lierse S.K.
- 1989: K.A.A. Gent
- 1990: K.R.C. Genk
- 1991: K.S.C. Eendracht Aalst
- 1992: K. Boom F.C.
- 1993: K.V. Oostende
- 1994: K.S.C. Eendracht Aalst
- 1995: K.R.C. Harelbeke
- 1996: R.E. Mouscron
- 1997: K.V.C. Westerlo
- 1998: K.V. Kortrijk
- 1999: K.F.C. Verbroedering Geel
- 2000: R.A.A. Louviéroise
- 2001: RWD Molenbeek
- 2002: Mons
- 2003: Beringen-Heusden-Zolder
- 2004: K.V. Oostende
- 2005: Roeselare
- 2006: K. Lierse S.K.
- 2007: KV Mechelen
- 2008: Tubize
- 2009: K.S.V. Roeselare
- 2010: Eupen
- 2011: Mons
- 2012: Waasland-Beveren
- 2013: Cercle Brugge
- 2014: Mouscron-Péruwelz
- 2015: Oud-Heverlee Leuven
See also
References
- (in Dutch) Sport.be website – A second division website
- (in French) Sport.be website – Same site, but in French
- (in English) Pluto website – Belgian football history
- (in French) Footbel website – Rules of the competition
- (in English) RSSSF archive – Full tables