RFC Seraing

 

• Full Name: Royal Football Club Seraing

• Founded: 1922 (refounded in 2014 under current name after a merger and revival)

• Location: Seraing, Liège, Belgium

• Stadium: Stade du Pairay

• Capacity: Approx. 8,000

• Club Colors: Red and black

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History

RFC Seraing has a complex and storied history. The original club was founded in 1922 and played in Belgium's top divisions for several decades, including a strong presence in the 1980s and 1990s. However, due to financial difficulties, the original club merged with Standard Liège in 1996 and ceased to exist as an independent entity.

The modern RFC Seraing was formed in 2014 after a merger involving Boussu Dour Borinage, and the club quickly climbed the Belgian football ladder. By 2021, they had returned to Belgium’s First Division A for the first time in decades.

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Honours

While RFC Seraing hasn't won any major national trophies, they are notable for:

• Best League Finish (Original Club):
  🥉 3rd place in Belgian First Division – 1993–94

• Belgian Cup Finalist:
  🥈 1993–94 (lost to Anderlecht)

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Notable Players

• Victor Ikpeba – Nigerian striker, who went on to play for Monaco and Borussia Dortmund

• Alex Czerniatynski – Prolific Belgian forward in the 1990s

• Antoine Bernier – Key player in the recent campaigns (2020s)

• Georges Mikautadze – Georgian international who impressed during their promotion season

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Notable Managers

• Christophe Grégoire – Helped the club earn promotion to the top flight

• Jean-Louis Garcia – Experienced coach guiding them in recent seasons

• José Riga – Known for his tactical discipline and club rebuilding phases

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Best Campaigns – Domestic & International

• Domestic:
  In the 1993–94 season, RFC Seraing finished third in the Belgian top tier and reached the Belgian Cup Final.

• European:
  That same season, they qualified for the UEFA Cup and played against FC Dynamo Moscow, marking their most notable continental appearance.

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Current Status 

RFC Seraing was relegated from Belgium’s First Division A in 2023. As of now, they compete in the Challenger Pro League (second tier), aiming for a swift return to the top flight. The club is focused on stability, youth development, and retaining key players.

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Stade du Pairay

• Location: Seraing, Belgium

• Capacity: ~8,000

• Features: A traditional football ground, renovated in recent years to meet modern standards. Known for its loyal local fanbase and intimate matchday atmosphere.

pic: transfermarkt

KSC Lokeren-Temse

 

KSC Lokeren-Temse is a Belgian football club based in the town of Lokeren. It was formed in 2020 following the merger of KSC Lokeren and KSV Temse. The club currently competes in the lower divisions of Belgian football but carries the legacy of KSC Lokeren, a club with a rich history in Belgian football.

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History and Formation

KSC Lokeren (Past)

• KSC Lokeren was founded in 1923 as Racing Club Lokeren and became one of the most notable clubs in Belgium during the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
• Lokeren achieved significant success, including two Belgian Cup victories (in 2012 and 2014) and multiple appearances in European competitions such as the UEFA Cup.

Merger and Creation of KSC Lokeren-Temse

• Financial difficulties led to the bankruptcy of KSC Lokeren in 2020. To preserve its legacy, the club merged with KSV Temse, resulting in the formation of KSC Lokeren-Temse.
• The new entity aims to rebuild and work its way back to higher levels of Belgian football while honoring the history of its predecessors.

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Achievements and Trophies

KSC Lokeren Achievements

• Belgian Cup Wins:
  • 2012: Defeated KV Kortrijk 1–0 in the final.
  • 2014: Secured a 1–0 victory against Zulte Waregem.
• European Competitions:
  • Lokeren reached the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup quarterfinals in 1980–81, one of the club’s greatest achievements on the European stage.
  • They also participated in the UEFA Europa League during the 2010s, showcasing their competitiveness on the continental level.

Current KSC Lokeren-Temse

• The newly formed club has not yet achieved major honors but is focused on building a competitive squad to climb the Belgian football pyramid.

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Key Players and Coaches

Notable Players (KSC Lokeren Legacy)

• Preben Elkjær: A Danish striker who was a key player during Lokeren's successful European campaigns in the early 1980s.
• Arnor Gudjohnsen: The Icelandic forward and father of Eidur Gudjohnsen, who also played for the club.
• Killian Overmeire: A club legend and long-serving midfielder for Lokeren.

Influential Coaches

• Georges Leekens: Managed Lokeren during one of its successful eras, leading the team in domestic and European competitions.
• Peter Maes: Led Lokeren to its Belgian Cup victories in 2012 and 2014.

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Best Performances

Domestic

• Lokeren’s two Belgian Cup victories are the highlights of its domestic success. The club also regularly competed in the top division, achieving multiple top-five finishes.

European

• The 1980–81 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup campaign remains a standout achievement. Lokeren reached the quarterfinals, where they were eliminated by AZ Alkmaar.

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Current Status

League and Aspirations

• KSC Lokeren-Temse currently plays in the Belgian National Division 1, the third tier of Belgian football.
• The club’s focus is on steady growth, building a competitive team, and eventually returning to the top divisions of Belgian football.

Development and Community

• The club emphasizes youth development and maintaining a strong connection with its local fanbase, blending the traditions of both Lokeren and Temse.

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Stadium

• Name: Daknamstadion (formerly the home of KSC Lokeren).
  • Capacity: Approximately 12,000 spectators.
  • The stadium continues to serve as the home ground for KSC Lokeren-Temse, symbolizing the legacy of Lokeren.

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KSC Lokeren-Temse is a club rooted in the history of KSC Lokeren, which achieved significant domestic and European success. While the merged club is currently rebuilding in the lower tiers of Belgian football, its ambitions are high, and it aims to honor the legacy of its predecessors. With the Daknamstadion as its base, KSC Lokeren-Temse is committed to re-establishing itself as a competitive force in Belgian football.

pic: transfermarkt