Belgium
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Belgium is a federal state in Western Europe, bordered by France and Luxembourg to the south, Germany to the east, and the Netherlands to the north. Belgium is home to two main linguistic groups, the Dutch-speakers (about 60%), mostly Flemish, and the French-speakers (about 40%), mostly Walloons. The country has a population of 11 million people and the capital is Brussels. Football is the country's most popular sport and has been played in Belgium since the end of the 19th century.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (Koninklijke Belgische Voetbalbond) is the governing body of football in Belgium and is based in Brussels. The KBVB oversees all aspects of football in the country including the men's, women's and youth national teams and the Belgian football league system. The organisation was founded in 1895 and became affiliated to FIFA in 1904 and to UEFA in 1954. The Belgian Pro League (officially known as Jupiler Pro League) is the top league competition for association football clubs in Belgium. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Belgian Second Division. The competition was created in 1895 by the Royal Belgian Football Association and was first won by FC Liégeois. The Belgian Second Division (officially known as Belgacom League) is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. The Belgian Third Division has two divisions which are fed at the fourth tier by the four divisions of the Belgian Promotion. The fifth and lower tiers comprises the Provincial Leagues. |
There is a system of promotion and relegation between the respective tiers. RSC Anderlecht are the most successful team in Belgian football, having won numerous league titles. Other leading title winners include Club Brugge KV, Royal Union Saint-Gilloise and Royal Standard Liege. The Belgian Cup is known as the Coupe de Belgique (in French) and Beker van België (in Dutch). The first competition was held in 1911-12 and was won by Racing Club de Bruxelles. The most successful club in the competition is Club Brugge KV followed by RSC Anderlecht and Royal Standard Liège. |
Main league tables & results
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See Current League Tables - for more coverage
Season by season matrix
See Historic League Tables - for more coverage
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