K.A.A. Gent
Ghelamco Arena | ||||
Capacity | 20,175[1] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Chairman | Sam Baro | |||
Managing director | Michel Louwagie | |||
Manager | Hein Vanhaezebrouck | |||
League | Belgian Pro League | |||
2022–23 | Belgian Pro League, 5th of 18 | |||
Website | Club website | |||
| ||||
Koninklijke Atletiek Associatie Gent (Dutch pronunciation:
The field hockey and track and field divisions were founded in 1864, making it one of the oldest sports clubs in Belgium. The club was then known under its French name La Gantoise (and it is still referred to as such in the French-speaking part of Belgium). They changed their name to the current Dutch version in 1971. The football division opened in 1900. The nickname of the club is De Buffalo's, a term coined after a visit of the original Buffalo Bill and his Wild West circus to the city in the early 20th century.[2]
Gent enjoyed its first spell at the highest level in Belgian football between 1913–14 and 1928–29, and a second one from 1936–37 to 1966–67. In the 1970s and 1980s, the club had several promotions and relegations between the first and second divisions, before returning to the highest level in 1989. The club reached the quarter-finals of the 1991–92 UEFA Cup, which is their best achievement ever in European competitions.
Aside from football, Gent also have other sports sections in track and field and field hockey.
History
In 1864, an association called the 'Société Gymnastique la Gantoise', which was tasked with promoting gymnastics, was founded. Some branches quickly became independent and in 1891 the team merged with the Association Athlétique, which was in itself a merger of younger teams, such as Racing Club, Running Club and Red Star. The new merger team was called Association Athlétique La Gantoise, and aside from gymnastics, the activities were broadened to athletics, boxing, cricket, cycling, fencing, hockey, swimming and tennis. In this context, the athletics team KAA Gent was founded.[3]
In the last decade of the 19th century, organized football was introduced in Ghent. Different small teams were founded and some merged into Racing Club Gantois on 1 April 1899, which would later become the biggest challenger of KAA Gent. Only in 1900, a football section was founded by the students of the College of Melle, which is a place close to Ghent. The first president of the team was doctor Hector Priem. The games were played on the Carpentierplein, which was situated at the crossroads of the Kortrijksesteenweg, the Clementinalaan, the Oostendestraat and the Astridlaan. Initially, the colours black and white were chosen, but by 31 October 1900, when the team became an official member, the colours were changed to blue and white. On 15 November 1900, the first regular game was played, against Omnium Sporting Club. In January 1901, the team played against Racing Club Gantois, which was, at that time, the larger of the two. KAA Gent lost the game with 10–0. Nevertheless, at the end of the 19th century the team already became a member of the UBSSA (Union Belge des Sociétés de Sports Athlétiques or the Belgian Union of the Athletic Sports Society, and although Racing Club Gantois was the elder team in the city, KAA Gent would receive a lower matricule number than Racing Club, which would receive 11. In 1901 AA La Gantoise played its first games in the lower divisions.[4]
For the first few years, the team mostly played in the Belgian Second Division, and later on in the First Division. In 1904 the team moved to the Mussenstraat. In 1913, the World Exposition was held at that place, and the team moved once more, this time to the Albertlaan. Over there, a football pitch, training fields, tennis courts, an athletics court, galleries and other accommodations were being built. At 9 December 1915, during the First World War, the stadium completely burned down. In 1912–13, AA La Gantoise became champion in the Second Division. In 1914, the team received the royal title and was called Association Royale Athlétique La Gantoise, which was abbreviated to ARA La Gantoise. During the world exposition, the team organized several sporting events. The first season in the First League, 1913–14, was nevertheless very difficult for the team and only by means of a test match against Standard Club Liégois, relegation was avoided.[5]
In 1920, the team moved again, this time to Gentbrugge, where the
In 1971, the name of the team was translated into Flemish, as it became "Koninklijke Atletiek Associatie Gent" (commonly known as KAA Gent or AA Gent). The 1970–71 season was the start of a bad decade for Ghent. They were relegated to the Second Division six games before the season's ending, after the defeat to Club Brugge. In 1974, they even relegated to the Third Division. Ghent had ended last and couldn't assure its promotion to the Second Division in the final round.[10] After one season, they would return to the Second Division and remained there until 1980, when the team returned to the First Division.[11] The 1980s would become a much better period for the team. In 1984 they won the Belgian Cup again, and during that period the team played in European competitions four times.[12] In 1986–87, Ghent reached the Third round in the UEFA Cup. In 1988 the team fell back to the Second Division for a short while, but thanks to the promotion play-offs, they were able to return to First Division after one season.[13] A crucial role was played by a member of the Board of Directors, Marc Mortier, who consulted the Prime Minister of Belgium, Wilfried Martens, in order to establish an organisation named Foot Invest, to get the team financially back on track. Marc Mortier gathered more than 50 million Belgian francs (1.25 million euros) in sponsoring in a couple of months and introduced VDK Spaarbank as the main sponsor of the team.
In 1990–91, the team played at the top of the standings for a long time, under the guidance of René Vandereycken and players such as Frank Dauwen,
In 2004, Ghent signed coach Georges Leekens. In his first season, the team ended at the sixth spot in competition. With Leekens as a coach, KAA Gent made some impressive performances, such as the 4–1 victory over rival Club Brugge on 1 April 2006. In 2006–07, despite a weak start of the competition, the team managed to reach the fourth place in the Belgian Pro League. It repeated that achievement the following year.[18]
The next season, coach Georges Leekens left the club and joined
In 2009–10, there was a heavy battle for the second place in the Belgian Pro League between AA Gent and Club Brugge and the Champions League ticket that came with it. They played each other on 8 May 2010. Ghent won with a convincing 6–2 score and won second place because of that victory.[21] One week later, Ghent also won the Belgian Cup for the first time in 26 years, defeating the other Bruges Pro League team, Cercle Brugge.[22]
On 17 July 2013, the club officially inaugurated their new stadium, the
On 21 May 2015, Ghent clinched their first
Rivalries
KAA Gent have a fierce rivalry with Club Brugge, in what is dubbed as the "Battle of Flanders" in the media[27] as it is between Flanders' two cultural capitals (Antwerp having been historically a part of the Duchy of Brabant). There are also many Club Brugge supporters in the city of Ghent due to internal migration from West Flanders to the city, while KAA Gent pride themselves on their local identity. The nickname that KAA Gent fans give to the Club Brugge fans is the Flemish word "boeren" ("peasants"),[28] mainly because of the agricultural background of West-Flanders but also because of the insolence that Club Brugge fans have displayed in the past.
Honours
- Belgian First Division:
- Belgian Cup:
- Belgian Super Cup:
- UEFA Intertoto Cup:
- Runner-up (2): 2007
- Runner-up (2):
European record
- Accurate as of 24 August 2022
Competition | Played | Won | Drew | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Win% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UEFA Champions League | 13 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 14 | 23 | −9 | 30.77 |
Cup Winners' Cup | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 25.00 |
UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League | 81 | 28 | 21 | 32 | 108 | 122 | −14 | 34.57 |
UEFA Europa Conference League | 15 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 19 | 10 | +9 | 53.33 |
Total | 113 | 41 | 25 | 47 | 143 | 160 | −17 | 36.28 |
Legend: GF = Goals For. GA = Goals Against. GD = Goal Difference.
Matches
- Notes
- 1R: First round
- 2R: Second round
- 3R: Third round
- QR: Qualifying round
- 2Q: Second qualifying round
- 3Q: Third qualifying round
- PO: Play-off round
- KPO: Knockout round play-offs
- R32: Round of 32
- R16: Round of 16
- QF: Quarter-finals
Players
Current squad
- As of 8 February 2024[29]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Apres Maccabi Tel Aviv ( Prete au Beitar Tel aviv Ramla - Ben Yeouda Tel aviv ) Pise ou vas joue Jonathan Cohen apres Paris 2024 qui vas joue avec Israel ci Dieu veu *** 1. K.A.A Geant ( Jupiler ligue) 2. Ofi Crete ou Olympiacos ( Grece super ligue ) 3. Ogc Nice ( Uber ligue 1) 4. Beitar Jerusalem ( One zero ligue)
Technical staff & management
Name | Position |
---|---|
Hein Vanhaezebrouck | Manager |
Franky Vandendriessche | Goalkeeper Coach |
Stijn Matthys | Physical Coach |
Frank Wezenbeek | Physiotherapist |
Gunther Schepens | Technical coordinator |
Ivan De Witte | Chairman |
Michel Louwagie | Managing Director |
Manu Ferrera | Youth director |
Gilbert De Groote | Scouting director |
Patrick Lips | Commercial director |
Sébastien Ronse | Juridical & Administration Director |
Luc Adriaensens | Financial Director |
Dirk Piens | Organisational Director & Safety Officer |
Wim Beelaert | Community manager |
Xavier Louwagie | Communication Manager |
Marc Van Lysebetten | Press Officer |
Well-known former players of the team
This section needs additional citations for verification. (May 2016) |
Six players of AA Gent held top scorer positions in the
The Belgian player Roland Storme, central defender of KAA Gent in 1958–59, received the Golden Shoe award. Three other AA Gent players were presented with awards and honors: René Vandereycken got the award for trainer of the year 1991. Frédéric Herpoel was chosen as the best goalkeeper in 2004.
Maurice Willems has scored more goals than any other KAA Gent player, with 185 goals between 1952 and 1962.
Armand Seghers holds the record of the most games played in the first team of KAA Gent: 507 between 1949 and 1960.
Richard Orlans holds the most selections for the Belgium National Team, more than any other KAA Gent player. He was selected 21 times from 1955 – 1958.
Tore André Dahlum was a Norwegian international who played one year in Ghent.
Kevin De Bruyne is a Belgium international and Manchester City player who spent six years at Gent during his youth career.[30]
Congolese player
Jean-Claude Bouvy Trophy
The Jean-Claude Bouvy Trophy is an award that is annually handed out to the most valuable player of Belgian football club K.A.A. Gent. It was established in 1979 and later named after Jean-Claude Bouvy, a player of Gent who died in a car crash in 1986.[31]
Winners
Coaching history
- Hector Priem (1901–09)
- Van Steenkiste (1909–10)
- Horta (1910–12)
- Bunyan (1912–22)
- De Rijke (1922–31)
- Staff Pelsmaecker (1931–41)
- Hugi Fenichel (1941–42)
- Willibald Stejskal (1942–43)
- Fons Ferchyér (1943–45)
- Edmond Delfour (1945–51)
- Karl Mütsch (1951–52)
- Jules Vandooren (1952–56)
- Edmond Delfour (1956–59)
- Jacques Favre (1959–60)
- Louis Verstraeten (1960–64)
- Max Schirschin (1964–65)
- Julien Labeau (1965–66)
- Jules Bigot (1966–67)
- Jules Vandooren (1967–71)
- István Sztani(1971–73)
- Omer Van Boxelaer (1973–74)
- Richard Orlans (1974–76)
- Freddy Qvick (1976)
- Roland Storme (1976 –77)
- Norberto Höfling (1977–78)
- Léon Nollet (1978 – September 80)
- Han Grijzenhout (1980–81)
- Robert Goethals (1981 – January 83)
- Erwin Vanden Daele(1983 – November 83)
- Han Grijzenhout (1984 – December 86)
- Gérard Bergholtz(1987)
- Ab Fafié (1987 – April 88)
- Erwin Vandendaele (1988–89)
- René Vandereycken (31 March 1989 – 28 February 1993)
- Hans Dorjee (1993)
- Walter Meeuws (1 July 1993 – 30 June 1994)
- Lei Clijsters (1994–96)
- Johan Boskamp (30 November 1996 – 30 September 1998)
- Herman Vermeulen (interim) (1998 – December 98)
- Trond Sollied (1 January 1999 – 30 June 2000)
- Henk Houwaart (1 July 2000 – 30 September 2000)
- Patrick Rémy(1 July 2000 – 30 June 2002)
- Herman Vermeulen (interim) (2001–02)
- Jan Olde Riekerink (1 July 2002 – 3 November 2003)
- H. Vermeulen (interim) (5 November 2003 – 17 May 2004)
- Georges Leekens (18 May 2004 – 30 June 2007)
- Trond Sollied (1 July 2007 – 30 June 2008)
- Michel Preud'homme (1 July 2008 – 30 June 2010)
- Francky Dury (1 July 2010 – 30 June 2011)
- Trond Sollied (1 July 2011 – 23 October 2012)
- Manu Ferrera (interim) (23 October 2012 – 1 November 2012)
- Bob Peeters (1 November 2012 – 3 January 2013)
- Manu Ferrera (interim) (January 2013)
- Víctor Fernández (9 January 2013 – 30 September 2013)
- Mircea Rednic (1 October 2013 – 9 April 2014)
- Peter Balette (interim) (9 April 2014 – 1 July 2014)
- Hein Vanhaezebrouck (2014 – 27 September 2017)
- Yves Vanderhaeghe (October 2017 – 9 October 2018)
- Jess Thorup (10 October 2018 – 20 August 2020)
- László Bölöni (20 August 2020 – 14 September 2020)
- Wim De Decker (14 September 2020 – 4 December 2020)
- Hein Vanhaezebrouck (4 December 2020 – present)
Presidents
Years | President |
---|---|
1901 | Hector Priem |
1902–08 | Adolphe Dangotte |
1908–12 | Adolf Gaeremijnck |
1912 | Hector Priem |
1912–13 | Jacques Feyerick |
1913–29 | Pierre Van Bleyenberghe |
1929–39 | Adrien Stassart |
1939–64 | Achiel Delongie |
1964–67 | René Hoste |
1967–76 | Freddy Mastelinck |
1976–85 | Albert De Meester |
1985–88 | Robert Naudts |
1988–99 | Jean Van Milders |
1999–2023 | Ivan De Witte |
2023– | Sam Baro |
Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors
Period | Kit supplier | Shirt sponsor (chest) |
---|---|---|
1977–1980 | Beton-Wegenbouw Gent | |
1980–1984 | Le Coq Sportif | |
1984–1986 | Bellewaerde Park
| |
1986–1988 | Maes-Pils | |
1988–1996 | adidas | vdk bank |
1996–2004 | Umbro | |
2004–2007 | Nike | |
2007–2013 | Jako | |
2013–2015 | Masita | |
2015–2018 | Jartazi
| |
2018–2023 | Craft | |
2023– | Baloise |
References
- ^ De Ghelamco Arena kaagent.be (last check 30 March 2018)
- ^ "KAA Gent and Their Unusual Nickname". 18 February 2016.
- ISBN 978-90-9024650-5.
- ^ "Een stukje clubgeschiedenis" [A little piece of the club's history] (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
- ^ "Een stukje clubgeschiedenis" [A little piece of the club's history] (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
- ^ "Een stukje clubgeschiedenis" [A little piece of the club's history] (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
- ^ Rombaut, Heli (1998). "Chapter 2: The end of the golden years". Bruilofstraat 42 (in Dutch). p. 14.
- ^ Rombaut, Heli (1998). "Chapter 3: To fall and rise with youthful talent". Bruilofstraat 42 (in Dutch). pp. 21–31.
- ^ Rombaut, Heli (1998). "Chapter 4: Shot at title ends in... second division". Bruilofstraat 42 (in Dutch). pp. 38–49.
- ^ Rombaut, Heli (1998). "Chapter 6: Travel to Hell". Bruilofstraat 42 (in Dutch). pp. 73–88.
- ^ Rombaut, Heli (1998). "Chapter 8: After Hell and Purgatory... finally Heaven!". Bruilofstraat 42 (in Dutch). pp. 117–139.
- ^ Rombaut, Heli (1998). "Chapter 9: Three phenomenal seasons". Bruilofstraat 42 (in Dutch). pp. 140–171.
- ISBN 978-90-9024650-5.
- ISBN 978-90-9024650-5.
- ^ Rombaut, Heli (1998). "Chapter 13: The demise of a rich football tradition". Bruilofstraat 42 (in Dutch). pp. 235–253.
- ISBN 978-90-9024650-5.
- ISBN 978-90-9024650-5.
- ISBN 978-90-9024650-5.
- ISBN 978-90-9024650-5.
- ISBN 978-90-9024650-5.
- ^ "KAA Gent 6–2 Club Bruges: match report". Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
- ^ "Cercle Bruges 0–3 KAA Gent: match report". Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
- ^ "KAA Gent opent Ghelamco Arena met zege tegen Stuttgart" [KAA Gent opens Ghelamco Arena with victory against Stuttgart] (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
- ^ "Champions League 2015–16: team by team guide to the group stage". Guardian. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
- ^ "Wembley: 1000 extra tickets dankzij topreputatie supporters! | KAA Gent Website". KAA Gent (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- ^ "Ook de Spurs-Belgen waren donderdag onder de indruk van het Gentse legioen: "Ze maakten er een fantastische sfeer van"". Voetbalkrant.com (in Dutch). 25 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- ^ "Bewogen Slag om Vlaanderen blijft onbeslist: Club Brugge en AA Gent schieten weinig op met punt". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). 3 February 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
- ^ "Radio 2 Mysteries: Waarom worden de supporters van Club Brugge boeren genoemd?". radio2 (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- ^ "KAA Gent (team)". K.A.A. Gent. 2017.
- ^ "Kevin De Bruyne: the stubborn boy who developed into a world beater".
- ^ "Trofee Jean-Claude Bouvy" [Jean-Claude Bouvy Trophy] (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 October 2015.
- ^ "Beknopte geschiedenis van KAA Gent". Archived from the original on 9 July 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2007.