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Royal Antwerp F.C.

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Royal Antwerp
Full nameRoyal Antwerp Football Club
Nickname(s)The Great Old, The Reds
Founded1880; 145 years ago (1880)
GroundBosuilstadion
Capacity16,144[1]
OwnerPaul Gheysens [nl]
ChairmanPaul Gheysens
Head coachStef Wils
LeagueBelgian Pro League
2024–25Belgian Pro League, 5th of 16
Websitewww.rafc.be Edit this at Wikidata
Current season

Royal Antwerp Football Club (commonly referred to as Royal Antwerp or simply Antwerp) is a Belgian professional football club based in the city of Antwerp. They compete in the Belgian Pro League, the top flight of Belgian football. Founded in 1880, Royal Antwerp is considered to be the oldest football club in Belgium.

The team has won the Belgian league title five times and the Belgian Cup four times, including a double in 2022–23. In European competitions, it reached the final of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1992–93 and qualified for the Group stage of UEFA Champions League for the first time in 2023.

The club's home colours are red and white and, since 1923, they have played their home games at Bosuilstadion in the Deurne district of Antwerp.

History

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Early history (1880-1999)

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The Antwerp Football and Cricket Club was founded in 1880 by British workers based in Antwerp,[2] 15 years before the creation of the Royal Belgian Football Association; Antwerp is regarded as the oldest club in Belgium.[3] Initially focused on cricket and general athletic activities, the club did not establish organized football until 1887 when the football division was founded with its own board, named Antwerp Football Club. Being the oldest active club at the time, it was the first club to register to the Association in 1895. Consequently, when matricule numbers were introduced in 1926, the club received matricule number one.[4][5]

In 1900, most of the players left the club for the new neighbouring club of Beerschot A.C., becoming the start of a long rivalry between both clubs. Royal Antwerp made history by becoming the most recent Belgian team to reach a European final when they advanced to the 1993 European Cup Winners’ Cup Final. Facing Parma at London’s Wembley Stadium on 12 May 1993, Antwerp's striker Francis Severeyns equalized early, but the Belgians ultimately succumbed to a 3–1 defeat.[6][7][8]

Royal Antwerp had a long-term partnership with the English club Manchester United, taking their young players on loan so that their development can be aided with first team football, and young players who require European work-permits can benefit from Belgium's more relaxed laws.[9] An example of the latter was China international Dong Fangzhuo, who was unable to play for United immediately due to work permit problems and was loaned to allow him to gain first team experience.[10]

Decline, revival, and 5th national championship (2001-Present)

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Despite being one of Belgium's best-supported clubs, Antwerp had been under-achievers during the early 21st century. They earned promotion to the top flight in 2000, only to suffer relegation again in 2004. After 13 years in the second tier, they returned to the First Division A in 2017, securing a 5–2 aggregate victory over Roeselare in the promotion playoff.[11][12][13]

After achieving promotion back to the top flight, the club appointed experienced Romanian manager László Bölöni, and demoted his predecessor Wim De Decker to assistant.[14] In his second season, 2018–19, the club qualified for the UEFA Europa League, their first European competition for the first time in 25 years. They won 3–2 in the playoff final against Charleroi, who had led 2–0 after 12 minutes.[15] Their European campaign began with a win over Viktoria Plzeň on the away goals rule in the third qualifying round, followed by a 5–2 loss to AZ Alkmaar of the Netherlands in the playoff.[16]

In May 2020, Bölöni left at the end of his contract.[17] Four months later, under coach Ivan Leko, Antwerp captured their first major trophy in nearly 30 years by defeating Club Brugge 1–0 in the 2020 Belgian Cup final. Israel's Lior Refaelov, a former Brugge player, scored the decisive goal.[18] Ivan Leko led the team through the Europa League group stage in second place with four wins including one over José Mourinho's Tottenham Hotspur;[19] he left for Shanghai Port at the end of 2020.[13][20][21]

Former Netherlands international Mark van Bommel was appointed manager in May 2022.[22][23] He brought in several compatriots, including Vincent Janssen, who scored the first goal of a 2–0 win over neighbours Mechelen in the 2023 Belgian Cup final.[24]

The crowning moment of the revival came on 4 June 2023, when captain Toby Alderweireld scored a 94th-minute equalizer in a 2–2 draw at Genk. The dramatic goal secured Antwerp’s first national championship in 66 years; ending a title drought since 1957.[25][26][27]

Antwerp entered new territory on 30 August 2023, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time ever. They sealed the achievement by overcoming AEK Athens 3–1 on aggregate in the playoff round, with Michel‑Ange Balikwisha scoring late in Athens to send the club into the competition proper.[28][29][30]

Antwerp’s maiden UEFA Champions League group stage in 2023–24 ended a dry campaign with a historic 3–2 victory over Barcelona at the Bosuilstadion, marking their first-ever win in the competition.[31][32] They finished bottom of Group H that season. On the domestic front, they placed 6th in the Pro League and were beaten finalists in the Belgian Cup, losing 1–0 to Union Saint‑Gilloise in May 2024.[33]

Stadium

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Royal Antwerp have played their home matches at the Bosuilstadion since 1923.[34]

Rivalries

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Royal Antwerp share a fierce rivalry with city neighbours Beerschot A.C. (now K Beerschot VA). Although in the 2000s-2010s the two clubs have met sparingly, when they do, there is usually fan violence.[35] Royal Antwerp are often seen as a culture club with a diverse, cross-class support across the city while Beerschot have either heavily working class or upper class support, locally based in South Antwerp.[36] Beerschot supporters often refer to RAFC fans as "joden" or "Jews" due to the fact that to get to Antwerp's stadium they must pass through the Jewish district, while Great Old supporters refer to Beerschot followers as "the rats".

Season Division Royal Antwerp vs K Beerschot VAC K Beerschot VAC vs Royal Antwerp
Date Venue Score Attendance Date Venue Score Attendance
1976–77 First Division 28 November 1976 Bosuilstadion 2 – 1 26 November 1977 Olympisch Stadion 2 – 0
1977–78 First Division 15 April 1978 Bosuilstadion 0 – 0 26 November 1977 Olympisch Stadion 4 – 2
1978–79 First Division 10 December 1978 Bosuilstadion 2 – 2 20 May 1979 Olympisch Stadion 0 – 3
1979–80 First Division 20 January 1980 Bosuilstadion 1 – 1 15 September 1979 Olympisch Stadion 1 – 1
1980–81 First Division 5 October 1980 Bosuilstadion 3 – 2 13 February 1981 Olympisch Stadion 0 – 1
1982–83 First Division 28 November 1982 Bosuilstadion 2 – 1 9 April 1983 Olympisch Stadion 0 – 1
1983–84 First Division 15 October 1983 Bosuilstadion 0 – 1 18 February 1984 Olympisch Stadion 1 – 4
1984–85 First Division 17 April 1985 Bosuilstadion 3 – 1 8 September 1984 Olympisch Stadion 2 – 0
1985–86 First Division 20 October 1985 Bosuilstadion 2 – 2 15 March 1986 Olympisch Stadion 0 – 0
1986–87 First Division 15 February 1987 Bosuilstadion 1 – 1 13 September 1986 Olympisch Stadion 0 – 0
1987–88 First Division 4 October 1987 Bosuilstadion 2 – 1 19 March 1988 Olympisch Stadion 0 – 2
1988–89 First Division 25 February 1989 Bosuilstadion 4 – 1 2 September 1988 Olympisch Stadion 5 – 1
1989–90 First Division 17 February 1990 Bosuilstadion 4 – 0 16 September 1989 Olympisch Stadion 1 – 1
1990–91 First Division 7 October 1990 Bosuilstadion 3 – 0 23 March 1991 Olympisch Stadion 1 – 2
Season Division Royal Antwerp vs K Beerschot VA K Beerschot VA vs Royal Antwerp
Date Venue Score Attendance Date Venue Score Attendance
2017–18 Europa League playoff 15 April 2018 Bosuilstadion 2 – 0 14,194 29 April 2018 Olympisch Stadion 0 – 0 8,600
2020–21 First Division A 25 October 2020 Bosuilstadion 3 – 2 0 7 February 2021 Olympisch Stadion 1 – 2 0
2021–22 First Division A Bosuilstadion 2 – 1 16,144 5 December 2021 Olympisch Stadion 0 – 1 11,000
2024–25 Pro League 29 September 2024 Bosuilstadion 5 – 0 16,430

RAFC also have developed a long-standing rivalry with Club Brugge.[37] They also have a local rivalry with KV Mechelen, although there is mutual respect due to a shared hatred of Beerschot.[38]

Meuse/Scheldt Cup

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The best football players of Antwerp and Rotterdam contested a yearly match between 1909 and 1959 for the Meuse- and Scheldt Cup (Maas- en Schelde Beker). It was agreed to play the game at Antwerp's stadium De Bosuil in Belgium and at Sparta Rotterdam's Het Kasteel stadium in the Netherlands. The cup was provided in 1909 by P. Havenith from Antwerp and Kees van Hasselt from Rotterdam.

Honours

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Royal Antwerp F.C. honours
Type Competition Titles Seasons Ref.
Domestic Belgian First Division 5

1928–29, 1930–31, 1943–44, 1956–57, 2022–23

Belgian Second Division 2

1999–2000, 2016–17

Belgian Cup 4

1954–55, 1991–92, 2019–20, 2022–23

Belgian Super Cup 1

2023

Continental

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Further information: Royal Antwerp F.C. in European football

Players

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Current squad

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As of 7 July 2025[39]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF Belgium BEL Kobe Corbanie
3 DF Belgium BEL Björn Engels
4 MF Netherlands NED Jaïro Riedewald
5 DF Belgium BEL Olivier Deman (on loan from Werder Bremen)
6 DF Ghana GHA Denis Odoi
7 FW Suriname SUR Gyrano Kerk
8 MF Belgium BEL Dennis Praet
10 FW Belgium BEL Michel-Ange Balikwisha
11 MF England ENG Kadan Young (on loan from Aston Villa)
14 FW Ecuador ECU Anthony Valencia
15 GK Belgium BEL Yannick Thoelen
16 MF Argentina ARG Mauricio Benítez (on loan from Boca Juniors)
18 FW Netherlands NED Vincent Janssen
20 MF Mali MLI Mahamadou Doumbia
No. Pos. Nation Player
23 DF Belgium BEL Toby Alderweireld (captain)
26 DF Bulgaria BUL Rosen Bozhinov
27 FW Guinea GUI Mohamed Bayo (on loan from Lille)
30 MF Germany GER Christopher Scott
33 DF Belgium BEL Zeno Van Den Bosch
43 MF Morocco MAR Youssef Hamdaoui
46 MF Belgium BEL Milan Smits
54 DF Belgium BEL Semm Renders
75 MF Belgium BEL Andreas Verstraeten
79 FW Belgium BEL Gerard Vandeplas
81 GK Belgium BEL Niels Devalckeneer
91 GK Belgium BEL Senne Lammens
— FW Uzbekistan UZB Mukhammadali Urinboev

Other players under contract

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF Kosovo KOS Laurit Krasniqi

Young Reds Antwerp

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As of 1 March 2025[40]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
25 MF Morocco MAR Youssef Hamdaoui
31 DF Belgium BEL Michael Davis
40 FW Belgium BEL Obed Agyapong
41 GK Belgium BEL Mathis Van Gils
42 DF Belgium BEL Abderrahman Amal
46 MF Belgium BEL Milan Smits
47 MF Belgium BEL Lukas Aertbelien
49 FW Netherlands NED Nelson Egah
51 GK Belgium BEL Jaeden Fries
53 DF Belgium BEL Sofian Elmazhad
56 DF Belgium BEL Eran Tuypens
58 DF Belgium BEL Mathijs Gielkens
63 DF Belgium BEL Arne Cassaert
64 DF Belgium BEL Kyano Delaporte
No. Pos. Nation Player
66 MF Belgium BEL Adam Zaânan
68 FW Belgium BEL Khoi Pham Anh
69 FW Belgium BEL Luka Vereecken
71 GK Belgium BEL Matti Merckx
73 MF Democratic Republic of the Congo COD Nolhan Courtens
75 MF Belgium BEL Andreas Verstraeten
79 FW Belgium BEL Gerard Vandeplas
80 MF Serbia SRB Luka Bjekovic
81 GK Belgium BEL Niels Devalckeneer
83 FW Belgium BEL Jeff Godelaine
87 FW Togo TOG Abdel-Malik Aziz
88 MF Belgium BEL Jef Luyckx
93 MF Belgium BEL Mohamed Waki

Technical staff

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Position Name
Head coach Belgium Stef Wils
Assistant coach Netherlands John Stegeman
Netherlands Jürgen Dirkx
Netherlands Egid Kiesouw
Goalkeeping coach Belgium Brian Vandenbussche
Fitness coach Belgium Peter Catteeuw
Match analyst Belgium Jerry Vanacker
Physiotherapist Belgium Jan Vandenhouten
Technical director Netherlands Marc Overmars

Former players

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Main category: Royal Antwerp F.C. players

Manchester United Players loan partnership

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This is a list of former players acquired on-loan via Manchester United's partnership with Royal Antwerp from 1998 to 2013.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Bosuil mag voortaan 16.144 supporters ontvangen Archived 2 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine GVA, 7 April 2018
  2. ^ icc. "Belgium". www.icc-cricket.com. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  3. ^ "Blow for Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium's oldest football club". VRT. 14 May 2020. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  4. ^ "125 years football history". rafc.be. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  5. ^ "Wist je dat: de KBVB stamnummers uitvond?". voetbalkrant.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
  6. ^ "Parma 3, Royal Antwerp 1". AP. 12 May 1993. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  7. ^ "1992/93 European Cup Winners' Cup Final".
  8. ^ "On This Day: Parma lift Cup Winners' Cup - Football Italia". football-italia.net. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  9. ^ "Manchester United's Royal Antwerp Loanees". Five Cantonas. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  10. ^ "Dong joins Antwerp". BBC Sport. 4 February 2004. Archived from the original on 25 January 2007. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  11. ^ "New life breathed into the Great Old as Royal Antwerp return to top flight". Inside World Football. 13 March 2017. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  12. ^ Hugh, Pierce (24 April 2025). "Crowned Again: How Royal Antwerp Reclaimed Its Place Among Belgium's Best". Soccer Wizdom. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Antwerp - Soccer - BetsAPI". betsapi.com. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  14. ^ Delanoë, Régis (28 July 2017). "Antwerp, retour royal" [Antwerp, royal return]. So Foot (in French). Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  15. ^ Berger, Maxime; Bayet, Grégory (27 May 2019). "L'Antwerp retrouve la scène européenne, une première depuis 1994-1995" [Antwerp return to the European scene, for the first time since 1994-1995]. RTBF. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Officieel: Antwerp stunt en haalt 60-voudig Rode Duivel Kevin Mirallas terug naar België" [Official: Antwerp stun and bring back 60-time Red Devil Kevin Mirallas to Belgium]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 30 August 2019. Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Belgique : Laszlo Bölöni quitte le Royal Antwerp". L'Équipe (in French). 14 May 2020. Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  18. ^ "Antwerp wins Belgian Cup as soccer resumes in Belgium". The Washington Post. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  19. ^ "Ivan Leko believes Tottenham won't underestimate Royal Antwerp a second time". Express & Star. 9 December 2020. Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  20. ^ UEFA.com. "History: Antwerp 1-0 Tottenham | UEFA Europa League 2020/21". UEFA.com. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  21. ^ "Rangers handed Europa League boost as Royal Antwerp lose their manager to Shanghai SIPG". Glasgow Times. 29 December 2020. Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  22. ^ "Mark van Bommel nommé entraîneur d'Antwerp" [Mark van Bommel named manager of Antwerp]. L'Équipe (in French). 26 May 2022. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  23. ^ admin (26 May 2022). "Van Bommel confirmed as the new Royal Antwerp head coach - Football Oranje". Football Oranje. Archived from the original on 14 December 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  24. ^ Jongmans, Robin (30 April 2023). "Prijs voor Van Bommel in België: trainer wint beker met Nederlands getint Antwerp" [Prize for Van Bommel in Belgium: manager wins cup with Dutch-tinged Antwerp]. De Telegraaf (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  25. ^ "ANTWERP KAMPIOEN! Alderweireld schiet Great Old naar titel na waanzinnige rollercoaster" [ANTWERP CHAMPIONS! Alderweireld delivers championship for Great Old after insane rollercoaster]. Sporza. 4 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  26. ^ "WATCH: Ex-Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld scores 94th-minute screamer for Royal Antwerp to seal their first league title since 1957 | Goal.com US". www.goal.com. 4 June 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  27. ^ "Toby Alderweireld's screamer in 94th minute wins Belgian title for Royal Antwerp". OneFootball (in French). 5 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  28. ^ "Antwerp make history after qualifying for Champions League group stages for first time". Brussels Times. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  29. ^ "Antwerp beat AEK Athens to reach UEFA Champions League group stage". english.news.cn. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  30. ^ UEFA.com. "History: Antwerp 1-0 AEK Athens: UEFA Champions League 2023/24 PO". UEFA.com. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  31. ^ "Last-place Antwerp bids farewell to the Champions League in style with a 3-2 win against Barcelona". AP News. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  32. ^ "Antwerp 3-2 Barcelona (Dec 13, 2023) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  33. ^ "Union Saint-Gilloise end 110-year wait for Belgian Cup success". Reuters. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  34. ^ "Stadiums & Pitches". rafc.be. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  35. ^ "Politie 24/7: unieke blik achter de schermen van een gespannen Antwerpse derby". sporza.be. VRT. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  36. ^ "De derby der derby's: "Beerschot was voor het chique volk, Antwerp voor de arbeiders"". De Morgen. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  37. ^ "De rivaliteit tussen Club Brugge en Antwerp is enorm: wij gingen op zoek naar de oorzaak van die vete en kwamen in 1908 terecht". Nieuwsblad. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  38. ^ "Malinwa vs. Great Old, de 'Antwerpse derby der gelijkgezinden'". Gazet van Antwerpen. 18 October 2019. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  39. ^ "Eerste ploeg" [First team] (in Dutch). Royal Antwerp F.C. 22 July 2022. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  40. ^ "Young Reds kern". Royal Antwerp. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
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