2018–19 in Belgian football


The following article is a summary of the 2018–19 football season in Belgium, which is the 116th season of competitive football in the country and runs from July 2018 until June 2019.

National teams

Belgium national football team

Following the success at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Belgium was expected to perform well in the inaugural UEFA Nations League competition but collapsed in their final match against Switzerland, losing 5–2 despite a 0–2 lead, to miss out on the Nations League Finals. The UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying Group I campaign was however started with four straight wins.

2018–19 UEFA Nations League A

Group 3

[UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying]

Friendlies

Men's football

League season

Promotion and relegation

The following teams had achieved promotion or suffered relegation going into the 2018–19 season.
LeaguePromoted to leagueRelegated from league
First Division A
  • KV Mechelen
    • First Division B
  • Lommel SK
    		• none
    First Division Amateur Division
  • Berchem Sport
  • Hamme
  • Patro Eisden Maasmechelen
    • Second Division Amateur Division
  • Couvin-Mariembourg
  • Diegem
  • Dikkelvenne
  • Eppegem
  • Francs Borains
  • Heur-Tongeren
  • La Louvière
  • Menen
  • Tilleur
  • Visé
  • Bornem
  • La Calamine
  • Pepingen-Halle
  • Sint-Lenaarts
  • Sprimont Comblain
  • Tienen
  • Torhout
  • WS Brussels
  • Zwarte Leeuw
    • Third Division Amateur Division
  • Betekom
  • Condruzien
  • CS Braine
  • Fosses
  • Jette
  • Lyra-Lierse Berlaar
  • Helson Helchteren
  • Meix-Dt-Virton
  • Oostkamp
  • Oppagne-Wéris
  • Ostiches-Ath
  • Racing Mechelen
  • Stockel
  • Symphorinois
  • Warnant
  • Zelzate
  • Zwevezele
  • Bertrix
  • Cointe-Liège
  • Diest
  • Grimbergen
  • Habay
  • Herentals
  • Hoeilaart
  • Mariekerke
  • Ninove
  • Solre
  • Spy
  • Sterrebeek
  • Vlamertinge
  • Waterloo

    • Belgian First Division A

    Regular season
    Championship play-offs

    Belgian First Division B

    Belgian First Amateur Division

    Belgian Second Amateur Division

    Division A
    Division B
    Division C

    Belgian Third Amateur Division

    Division A
    Division B
    Division C
    Division D

    Cup competitions

    Transfers

    UEFA competitions

    Champions Club Brugge qualified directly for the group stage of the Champions League, while runners-up Standard Liège started in the qualifying rounds. As Standard Liège also had won the Belgian Cup, third placed Anderlecht qualified directly for the group stage of the Europa League, while Gent and Genk started in the qualifying rounds.
    DateTeamCompetitionRoundLegOpponentLocationScoreBelgian Team Goalscorers
    26 July 2018GenkEuropa LeagueQual. Round 2Leg 1, Home Fola EschLuminus Arena, GenkMalinovskyi, Pozuelo, Trossard, Dewaest
    1 August 2018GenkEuropa LeagueQual. Round 2Leg 2, Away Fola EschStade Émile Mayrisch, Esch-sur-AlzetteZhegrova, Heynen, Gano
    7 August 2018Standard LiègeChampions LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 1, Home AjaxStade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège2–2Carcela, Emond
    9 August 2018GenkEuropa LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 1, Home Lech PoznańLuminus Arena, GenkMalinovskyi, Samatta
    9 August 2018GentEuropa LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 1, Away Jagiellonia BiałystokBiałystok City Stadium, BiałystokDavid
    14 August 2018Standard LiègeChampions LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 2, Away AjaxJohan Cruijff Arena, Amsterdam
    16 August 2018GenkEuropa LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 2, Away Lech PoznańStadion Miejski, PoznańSamatta, Trossard
    16 August 2018GentEuropa LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 2, Home Jagiellonia BiałystokGhelamco Arena, GhentAwoniyi, Yaremchuk, David
    23 August 2018GenkEuropa LeaguePlay-off roundLeg 1, Home BrøndbyLuminus Arena, GenkSamatta, Trossard
    23 August 2018GentEuropa LeaguePlay-off roundLeg 1, Home BordeauxGhelamco Arena, Ghent0–0
    30 August 2018GenkEuropa LeaguePlay-off roundLeg 2, Away BrøndbyBrøndby Stadium, BrøndbyvesterMalinovskyi, Ndongala, Dewaest, Samatta
    30 August 2018GentEuropa LeaguePlay-off roundLeg 2, Away BordeauxNouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
    18 September 2018Club BruggeChampions LeagueGroup StageMatchday 1, Home Borussia DortmundJan Breydel Stadium, Bruges
    20 September 2018AnderlechtEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 1, Away Spartak TrnavaŠtadión Antona Malatinského, Trnava
    20 September 2018GenkEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 1, Home MalmöLuminus Arena, GenkTrossard, Samatta
    20 September 2018Standard LiègeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 1, Away SevillaRamón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, SevilleDjenepo
    3 October 2018Club BruggeChampions LeagueGroup StageMatchday 2, Away Atlético MadridWanda Metropolitano, MadridGroeneveld
    4 October 2018AnderlechtEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 2, Home Dinamo ZagrebConstant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht
    4 October 2018GenkEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 2, Away Sarpsborg 08Sarpsborg Stadion, SarpsborgTrossard
    4 October 2018Standard LiègeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 2, Home AkhisarsporStade Maurice Dufrasne, LiègeEmond, Djenepo
    24 October 2018Club BruggeChampions LeagueGroup StageMatchday 3, Home MonacoJan Breydel Stadium, Bruges1–1Wesley
    25 October 2018AnderlechtEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 3, Home FenerbahçeConstant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht2–2Bakkali
    25 October 2018GenkEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 3, Away BeşiktaşVodafone Park, IstanbulSamatta, Ndongala, Piotrowski
    25 October 2018Standard LiègeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 3, Home KrasnodarStade Maurice Dufrasne, LiègeEmond, Laifis
    6 November 2018Club BruggeChampions LeagueGroup StageMatchday 4, Away MonacoStade Louis II, MonacoVanaken, Wesley, Vormer
    8 November 2018AnderlechtEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 4, Away FenerbahçeŞükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, Istanbul
    8 November 2018GenkEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 4, Home BeşiktaşLuminus Arena, Genk1–1Berge
    8 November 2018Standard LiègeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 4, Away KrasnodarKrasnodar Stadium, KrasnodarCarcela
    28 November 2018Club BruggeChampions LeagueGroup StageMatchday 5, Away Borussia DortmundWestfalenstadion, Dortmund0–0
    29 November 2018AnderlechtEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 5, Home Spartak TrnavaConstant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht0–0
    29 November 2018GenkEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 5, Away MalmöStadion, Malmö2–2Pozuelo, Paintsil
    29 November 2018Standard LiègeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 5, Home SevillaStade Maurice Dufrasne, LiègeDjenepo
    11 December 2018Club BruggeChampions LeagueGroup StageMatchday 6, Home Atlético MadridJan Breydel Stadium, Bruges0–0
    13 December 2018AnderlechtEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 6, Away Dinamo ZagrebStadion Maksimir, Zagreb0–0
    13 December 2018GenkEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 6, Home Sarpsborg 08Luminus Arena, GenkGano, Paintsil, Berge, Aidoo
    13 December 2018Standard LiègeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 6, Away AkhisarsporSpor Toto Akhisar Stadium, Akhisar0–0
    14 February 2019Club BruggeEuropa LeagueRound of 32Leg 1, Home Red Bull SalzburgJan Breydel Stadium, BrugesDenswil, Wesley
    14 February 2019GenkEuropa LeagueRound of 32Leg 1, Away Slavia PragueSinobo Stadium, Prague0–0
    21 February 2019Club BruggeEuropa LeagueRound of 32Leg 2, Away Red Bull SalzburgRed Bull Arena, Salzburg
    21 February 2019GenkEuropa LeagueRound of 32Leg 2, Home Slavia PragueLuminus Arena, GenkTrossard

    European qualification for 2019–20 summary

    Managerial changes

    This is a list of changes of managers within Belgian professional league football :
    TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPositionReplaced byDate of appointment
    Oostende Adnan ČustovićReplacedEnd of 2017–18 seasonPre-season Gert Verheyen25 April 2018
    Sint-Truiden Jonas De RoeckReplacedEnd of 2017–18 season Pre-season Marc Brys21 May 2018
    Standard Liège Ricardo Sá PintoResignedEnd of 2017–18 seasonPre-season Michel Preud'homme23 May 2018
    Union SG Marc GrosjeanMutual consentEnd of 2017–18 seasonPre-season Luka Elsner23 May 2018
    Beerschot Wilrijk Marc BrysSigned by Sint-TruidenEnd of 2017–18 seasonPre-season Stijn Vreven25 May 2018
    Cercle Brugge Franky VercauterenMutual consentEnd of 2017–18 seasonPre-season Laurent Guyot6 June 2018
    Waasland-Beveren Dirk GeeraerdCaretaker replacedEnd of 2017–18 seasonPre-season Yannick Ferrera8 June 2018
    Mechelen Dennis van WijkSacked20 August 20187th Wouter Vrancken21 August 2018
    Excel Mouscron Frank DefaysSacked30 August 201816th Bernd Storck2 September 2018
    Gent Yves VanderhaegheSacked8 October 20187th Jess Thorup10 October 2018
    Lokeren Peter MaesSacked27 October 201815th Arnar Viðarsson 27 October 2018
    Lokeren Arnar Viðarsson Caretaker replaced2 November 2018 16th Trond Sollied2 November 2018
    Roeselare Jordi CondomSacked10 November 20187th Nano12 November 2018
    Waasland-Beveren Yannick FerreraSacked11 November 201814th Adnan Čustović17 November 2018
    Kortrijk Glen De BoeckSacked15 November 201812th Yves Vanderhaeghe15 November 2018
    Anderlecht Hein VanhaezebrouckSacked16 December 20184th Karim Belhocine 16 December 2018
    Anderlecht Karim Belhocine Caretaker replaced6 January 20195th Fred Rutten6 January 2019
    Roeselare NanoRelease fee paid by Shanghai Greenland Shenhua8 January 2019Closing tournament: 4th
    Overall: 6th    		 Juanito11 January 2019
    Lokeren Trond SolliedSacked20 January 201916th Glen De Boeck20 January 2019
    OH Leuven Nigel PearsonSacked3 February 2019Closing tournament: 7th
    Overall: 8th    		 Vincent Euvrard8 February 2019
    Oostende Gert VerheyenResigned6 March 201914th Hugo Broos 6 March 2019
    Anderlecht Fred RuttenMutual consent16 April 2019Regular season: 4th
    Championship POs: 5th    		 Karim Belhocine 16 April 2019
    Oostende Hugo Broos Resigned29 April 2019Regular season: 14th
    Europa League POs: 4th    		 Franky Van der Elst 29 April 2019
    Cercle Brugge Laurent GuyotMutual consent2 May 2019Regular season: 13th
    Europa League POs: 4th    		 José Jeunechamps 2 May 2019