RFC Liège
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Full name | Royal Football Club de Liège | ||
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Nickname(s) | Les Sang et Marine (The Blood and Marine) | ||
Founded | 1892 | ||
Ground | Stade de Rocourt, Liège | ||
Capacity | 3,500 | ||
Chairman | Jean-Paul Lacomble | ||
Manager | Gaëtan Englebert | ||
League | Challenger Pro League | ||
2022–23 | Belgian National Division 1, 2nd of 20 (promoted) | ||
Website | Club website | ||
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Royal Football Club de Liège (more commonly known as RFC Liège) is a professional
In 1990, FC Liège precipitated a ground-breaking ruling for European football, when its refusal to release Jean-Marc Bosman after his contract ran out led to the Bosman ruling, a European Court of Justice decision that caused major changes to the structure of European football.
History
It was founded in 1892 as Liège Football Club (Liège FC) and became an inaugural (1895) member of the
In 1920 the prefix Royal was, when the club changed its name to Royal Football Club Liégeois (RFC Liégeois). Its name had been shortened to RFC Liège by the time of its consecutive championships in 1952 and 1953, the only clubs able to contest a dominating streak by Anderlecht, which won the three championships before (1949–1951) and after (1954–1956). RFC Liégeois reached the 1963–64 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup semi-finals, losing in three games against the eventual winner of the Cup, Spain's Real Zaragoza. Between 1965 and 1985, there were poor results, and the club survived with the help of its own tradition: young players coming from inside the club, and faithful supporters.
At the end of the 1980s, RFC Liège played in European competitions, facing such notable clubs as
In 1995, the club faced bankruptcy when its stadium,
The club went down from the
From 1995 to 2009, the club moved between the Second and Third Divisions, with two Third Division titles in 1996 and 2008.
In 2008–09, the club played in the Second Division, but suffered back to back relegations, dropping to the Fourth Division in April 2011.
In the 2015–16 season, RFC Liège plays in Division 3.
In the 2022–23 season, RFC Liège confirmed promotion to Challenger Pro League from 2023–24 after draw 0-0 at Tienen on Matchweek 35. On 14 May 2023, the club finished runner-up of Belgian National Division 1 in 2022–23 season.
Stadium
Starting in 1921, RFC Liège played in Stade Vélodrome de Rocourt, in the suburban municipality of Rocourt. Rocourt became part of the city of Liège in 1977. The stadium was sold, and demolished, in 1995, earning RFC Liège the nickname 'homeless'.
Between 1995 and 2015, RFC Liège played in Tilleur (1995–2000), Seraing (2000–2004), Ans (2004–2008), and Seraing (Pairay Stadium, 2008–2015).
In 2015 the club returned to Rocourt, playing its home matches in the new Stade de Rocourt.
Current squad
- As of 1 February 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Staff
Head coach: Gaëtan Englebert
Assistant coach:
Goalkeeper coach: Pierre Drouguet
Honours
League
- Belgian First Division
- Belgian Second Division
- Winners: 1911–12, 1922–23, 1943–44
- Belgian Third Division
- Winners: 1942–43, 1995–96, 2006–07
- Belgian Fourth Division
- Winners: 2014–15
- Belgian National Division 1
- Runner-up: 2022–23
Cups
- Belgian Cup
- Winners: 1989–90
- Runners-up: 1986–87
- Belgian League Cup
- Winners: 1986
- Runners-up: 1973
References
- (in French) Official website