Belgian Pro League
Season2023–24
Dates28 July 2023 – 26 May 2024
Matches played104
Goals scored325 (3.13 per match)
Top goalscorerKévin Denkey
Aboubakary Koita
(both 10 goals)
Biggest home winAntwerp 6–0 Kortrijk
(11 August 2023)
Club Brugge 7–1 RWDM
(20 August 2023)
Antwerp 6–0 Standard Liège
(11 November 2023)
Biggest away winEupen 0–5 Club Brugge
(13 August 2023)
Highest scoringClub Brugge 7–1 RWD Molenbeek
(20 August 2023)
Longest winning run8 matches
Union SG
Longest unbeaten run10 matches
Gent
Genk
Longest winless run9 matches
Westerlo
Longest losing run6 matches
Westerlo
Eupen
Highest attendance26.864
Standard Liège 3–2 Anderlecht
(22 October 2023)
Lowest attendance2.351
Eupen 3–1 OH Leuven
(26 August 2023)
Total attendance1,174,150 (110 matches)
Average attendance10,674
All statistics correct as of 12 November 2023.

The 2023–24 Belgian Pro League (officially known as the Jupiler Pro League due to sponsorship reasons) will be the 121st season of top-tier football in Belgium.

Format change

After 3 seasons, Belgian Pro League returns to the "old" format featuring the number of teams reduced from 18 to 16 and with similar playoffs as it was pre-COVID-19. After the regular season the top six teams qualify for the Champions' Play-offs (commonly called "Play-offs I"), teams from 7th to 12th place will qualify for the Europe Play-offs (commonly called "Play-offs II"), but most importantly the number of teams relegating increases from one to either two or three, as the bottom four teams (13th through 16th) will play relegation playoffs after completion of which the two last teams will be relegated directly, with the team finishing 14th overall to play the 3rd-place finisher of the Challenger Pro League for the final spot in the 2024–25 Belgian Pro League.[1]

Teams

Due to the league format change which reduced the number of teams back from 18 to 16, the bottom three teams had been relegated to the Challenger Pro League: Oostende (after ten seasons), Seraing (after two seasons) and Zulte Waregem (after 18 seasons). They were replaced by RWD Molenbeek, the winner of the 2022–23 Challenger Pro League. Officially, this club will play their first-ever season in the top flight, but the club sees itself as the successor of the former RWD Molenbeek, one-time Belgian champion, which last played at the highest level in 2002. Another distinct successor team with similar name RWDM Brussels also played four seasons at the highest level from 2004 to 2008.

Stadiums and locations

Matricule Club Location Venue Capacity
35 Anderlecht Anderlecht, Brussels Constant Vanden Stock Stadium 21,500
1 Antwerp Antwerp Bosuilstadion 16,144
12 Cercle Brugge Bruges Jan Breydel Stadium 29,042
22 Charleroi Charleroi Stade du Pays de Charleroi 14,000
3 Club Brugge Bruges Jan Breydel Stadium 29,042
4276 Eupen Eupen Kehrwegstadion 8,363
322 Genk Genk Cegeka Arena 24,956
7 Gent Ghent Ghelamco Arena 20,000
19 Kortrijk Kortrijk Guldensporen Stadion 9,399
25 Mechelen Mechelen AFAS-stadion Achter de Kazerne 16,700
18 OH Leuven Leuven Den Dreef 10,000
5479 RWD Molenbeek Molenbeek, Brussels Edmond Machtens Stadium 12,266
373 Sint-Truiden Sint-Truiden Stayen 14,600
16 Standard Liège Liège Stade Maurice Dufrasne 30,023
10 Union SG Saint-Gilles, Brussels Stade Joseph Marien 9,400
2024 Westerlo Westerlo Het Kuipje 8,035

Number of teams by provinces

Number of teams Province or region Team(s)
3  AntwerpAntwerp, Mechelen and Westerlo
 BrusselsAnderlecht, RWD Molenbeek and Union SG
 West FlandersCercle Brugge, Club Brugge and Kortrijk
2  LimburgGenk and Sint-Truiden
 LiègeEupen and Standard Liège
1  East FlandersGent
 Flemish BrabantOud-Heverlee Leuven
 HainautCharleroi

Personnel and kits

Club Manager Kit Manufacturer Shirt sponsors (front) Shirt sponsors (back) Shirt sponsors (sleeve) Shorts sponsor
Anderlecht Denmark Brian Riemer Joma DVV Insurance (H)/Candriam (A) None Napoleon Games None
Antwerp Netherlands Mark van Bommel Jako betFIRST Heylen Vastgoed, Ghelamco None None
Cercle Brugge Bosnia and Herzegovina Miron Muslic Kappa Golden Palace Casino Sports Liantis, Callant Insurance Volvo Automobilia, Brugge Autoverhuur Meerschaert, Callant Insurance
Charleroi Belgium Felice Mazzù Kipsta Unibet, R-Aqua, Cairox QNT Sport None UMons
Club Brugge Norway Ronny Deila Macron Unibet Allianz BWT None
Eupen Germany Florian Kohfeldt Adidas Aspire Academy, Ostbelgien None Johnen Automobile None
Genk Belgium Wouter Vrancken Nike Beobank, EAZER CEO's 4 Climate, Carglass Aqua-Step HDM Cegeka, Carglass
Gent Belgium Hein Vanhaezebrouck Craft Bâloise Circus Belgium, Vdk bank Hyundai APF Autoparts, Vdk bank
Kortrijk Belgium Glen De Boeck [n 1] Erreà AGO Jobs & HR, Unibet Brustor, Earth Belgium, Caps Fuel Card NOVA Unibet, Caps Fuel Card
Mechelen Albania Besnik Hasi [n 2] Erreà Telenet, Groep Verelst, Play Sports, AFAS Software AFAS Software None Arco Information, Golden Palace Casino Sports
OH Leuven Spain Óscar García [n 3] Stanno Star Casino Tegel Concept Banqup None
RWD Molenbeek Brazil Caçapa Kipsta Golden Palace Casino Sports M&G Cleaning None Liften De Weghe, Tadal
Sint-Truiden Germany Thorsten Fink Macron Nishitan Clinic, DMM.com, City Creation, Maruhan Sint Truiden Asahi Kasei, Maruhan Pauli Beton, Star Casino
Standard Liège Belgium Carl Hoefkens Adidas VOO Circus Belgium Cainiao None
Union SG Germany Alexander Blessin Nike [2] Loterie Nationale/Hey! Telecom (in UEFA matches) Hey! Telecom None None
Westerlo position vacant [n 4] Nike Soudal Casino777, Arma Global Keukens Vanlommel, Voetbalshop.be Soloya

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position Replaced by Date of appointment
Club Brugge Belgium Rik De Mil Caretaker replaced[3] End of 2022–23 season[4][5][6] Pre-season Norway Ronny Deila 5 June 2023[3][n 5]
Eupen Belgium Edward Still Mutual consent Germany Florian Kohfeldt 8 June 2023[7]
Kortrijk Germany Bernd Storck Belgium Edward Still 2 July 2023[8]
Sint-Truiden Germany Bernd Hollerbach Germany Thorsten Fink 16 May 2023[9]
Standard Liège Belgium Geoffrey Valenne Caretaker replaced[3] Belgium Carl Hoefkens 16 June 2023[10]
Union SG Belgium Karel Geraerts No extension agreement found[11] 21 June 2023 Germany Alexander Blessin 3 July 2023[12]
RWD Molenbeek Belgium Vincent Euvrard Sacked 24 July 2023[13] Brazil Caçapa 25 July 2023[14]
Kortrijk Belgium Edward Still 25 September 2023[15] 16th Nigeria Joseph Akpala (caretaker) 25 September 2023
Nigeria Joseph Akpala (caretaker) Caretaker replaced 2 October 2023[16][n 6] 16th[n 7] Belgium Glen De Boeck 2 October 2023
OH Leuven Belgium Marc Brys Sacked 13 October 2023[17] 14th Belgium Eddy Vanhemel (caretaker) 13 October 2023
Mechelen Belgium Steven Defour Sacked 2 November 2023[18] 13th Belgium Frederik Vanderbiest (caretaker) 2 November 2023
OH Leuven Belgium Eddy Vanhemel Caretaker replaced 5 November 2023[19][n 8] 13th Spain Óscar García 5 November 2023
Mechelen Belgium Frederik Vanderbiest Caretaker replaced 8 November 2023[20][n 9] 14th[n 10] Albania Besnik Hasi 8 November 2023
Westerlo Belgium Jonas De Roeck Sacked 2 December 2023[21] 15th

Regular season

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Union SG 16 12 2 2 37 17 +20 38 Qualification for the Europa League and Play-off I[lower-alpha 1]
2 Anderlecht 16 10 4 2 32 17 +15 34 Qualification for the Play-off I
3 Gent 16 7 8 1 26 17 +9 29
4 Antwerp 16 7 6 3 31 13 +18 27
5 Club Brugge 16 7 5 4 29 15 +14 26
6 Cercle Brugge 16 8 1 7 18 16 +2 25
7 Genk 16 6 7 3 30 17 +13 25 Qualification for the Play-off II
8 Sint-Truiden 16 5 7 4 20 24 −4 22
9 Standard Liège 16 5 5 6 16 23 −7 20
10 Mechelen 16 5 3 8 16 21 −5 18
11 RWD Molenbeek 16 4 6 6 18 27 −9 18
12 Charleroi 16 4 5 7 17 25 −8 17
13 Eupen 16 4 3 9 19 33 −14 15 Qualification for the Relegation Play-off
14 OH Leuven 16 3 3 10 20 31 −11 12
15 Westerlo 16 2 5 9 21 32 −11 11
16 Kortrijk 16 2 4 10 11 33 −22 10
Updated to match(es) played on 3 December 2023. Source: Jupiler Pro League (in Dutch), Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away matches won; 6) Away goal difference; 7) Away goals scored; 8) Play-off.[22]
Notes:
  1. ↑ The regular season winner will qualify for the 2024–25 UEFA Europa League if not earning 2024–25 UEFA Champions League in the playoff.

Results

Home \ Away USG AND GNT ANT CLU CER GNK STR STA MEC RWD CHA EUP OHL WES KVK
Union SG 2–0 2–2 2–1 2–1 0–2 21 Jan 17 Dec 3–1 4–1 5–1 3–0
Anderlecht 1–0 1–1 27 Dec 23 Dec 10 Dec 3–1 2–1 2–1 5–1 2–1
Gent 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 19 Jan 9 Dec 2–1 21 Dec 3–2
Antwerp 17 Dec 0–0[lower-alpha 1] 1–0 3–2 6–0 0–0 21 Jan 4–1 1–0 23 Dec 6–0
Club Brugge 26 Dec a 17 Dec 2–1 0–0 1–1[lower-alpha 1] 1–1 2–0 1–1 7–1 4–2 20 Jan
Cercle Brugge 0–2 0–3 2–0 9 Dec a 0–1 2–0 2–0 3–2 2–1 20 Dec
Genk 1–1 2–2 26 Dec 20 Jan 3–3 4–0 0–0 0–1 3–1 3–3 17 Dec
Sint-Truiden 0–4 0–1 1–1 0–2 1–0 2–0 2–1 23 Dec 3 Nov 9 Dec[lower-alpha 2]
Standard Liège 0–1 3–2 2–1 0–1 1–0 27 Dec 1–1 1–1 16 Dec 0–0 20 Jan
Mechelen 4–0 0–1 0–0 10 Dec 0–2 0–2[lower-alpha 2] 20 Dec 1–0 1–0 1–2
RWD Molenbeek 2–3 1–1 22 Dec 2–1 0–4 16 Dec 1–0 0–0[lower-alpha 2] 21 Jan 1–1 1–1
Charleroi 10 Dec 1–3 3–2 1–1 1–1 27 Dec 2–1 1–1 3–2 1–0
Eupen 23 Dec 1–3 0–5 10 Dec 1–3 1–3 2–0 3–1 2–2 1–1
OH Leuven 21 Jan 1–1 1–1 0–1 16 Dec 4–0 1–2 1–2 26 Dec 0–2 3–0
Westerlo 1–3 1–3 1–3 0–3 0–1 3–3 2–3 26 Dec 15 Dec 1–0
Kortrijk 2–2 26 Dec 1–0 2–1 0–3 0–1 1–1 0–3 1–3 8 Dec[lower-alpha 2]
Updated to match(es) played on 3 December 2023. Source: Kalender eerste klasse A 2023-24
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
  1. 1 2 One of three matches postponed to allow clubs more time to prepare their European midweek matches. Originally planned for the weekend of 25-27 August 2023, now scheduled to be played end of September 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Following the draw for the Eighth Round of the 2023–24 Belgian Cup, the matches Mechelen-Sint-Truiden (from 2 to 3 December) and RWD Molenbeek-Charleroi (from 3 to 2 December) switched places on the calendar, as well as those between Kortrijk-Westerlo (from 9 to 8 December) and Sint-Truiden-OH Leuven (from 8 to 9 December).

Positions by round

The table lists the positions of teams after the completion of each round, with postponed matches only added when completed:

  • Three matches of matchday 5 were postponed because of clubs playing European qualifying matches, namely Antwerp-Gent, RWDM-Union SG, and Club Brugge-Genk. These six clubs were behind one match from matchday 5 until matchday 9 as the matches were in the end played between matchdays 8 and 9.
Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
Union SG21135694111111111
Anderlecht159741222322222222
Gent3222311123333333
Antwerp4845785654676554
Club Brugge11531243345767775
Cercle Brugge137109634586444646
Genk1656896767555467
Sint-Truiden5367101078791099898
Standard Liège1416131413141213128888989
Mechelen8131211958101011131414111010
RWD Molenbeek16108101111119910111211101111
Charleroi1014111212131414141391112131212
Eupen74984710111112141010121313
OH Leuven9121513141213121314121313141414
Westerlo6111415151516151615161615151515
Kortrijk12151616161615161516151516161616
Updated to match(es) played on 2 December 2023. Source: worldfootball.net

Play-offs

Play-off I

Play-off II

Relegation play-offs

Season statistics

As of 3 December 2023

Despite teams not playing the same amount of matches due to the play-offs, goals during the play-offs do count in determining the top scorer.

Top goalscorers

Rank Player Club Goals[23][24]
1 Togo Kévin Denkey Cercle Brugge 11
Mauritania Aboubakary Koita Sint-Truiden
3 Denmark Kasper Dolberg Anderlecht 10
4 Algeria Mohamed Amoura Union SG 9
Denmark Anders Dreyer Anderlecht
6 Netherlands Vincent Janssen Antwerp 8
7 Sweden Gustaf Nilsson Union SG 7
Denmark Andreas Skov Olsen Club Brugge
9 Germany Dennis Eckert Union SG 6
Senegal Makhtar Gueye RWDM
Morocco Tarik Tissoudali Gent

Top assists

Rank Player Club Assists[23]
1 Spain Cameron Puertas Union SG 9
2 Belgium Théo Leoni Anderlecht 6
3 Belgium Maxim De Cuyper Club Brugge 5
4 Ivory Coast Lazare Amani Union SG 4
Belgium Michel-Ange Balikwisha Antwerp
Ghana Joseph Paintsil Genk
Belgium Killian Sardella Anderlecht
Algeria Adem Zorgane Charleroi
9 14 players 3

Clean sheets

Rank Player Club Clean
sheets[25]
1 France Jean Butez Antwerp 8
2 Brazil Warleson Cercle Brugge 7
3 Belgium Maarten Vandevoordt Genk 6
4 Belgium Gaëtan Coucke Mechelen 5
Luxembourg Anthony Moris Union SG
Belgium Simon Mignolet Club Brugge
7 Turkey Sinan Bolat Westerlo 3
Belgium Théo Defourny RWD Molenbeek
Burkina Faso Hervé Koffi Charleroi
10 5 players 2

Discipline

Player

Notes

  1. ↑ Belgium Edward Still was the manager for matchdays 1 through 8, Nigeria Joseph Akpala was caretaker manager on matchday 9.
  2. ↑ Belgium Steven Defour was the manager for matchdays 1 through 12,Belgium Frederik Vanderbiest acted as caretaker manager for matchdays 12 through 14
  3. ↑ Belgium Marc Brys was the manager for matchdays 1 through 10, Belgium Eddy Vanhemel acted as caretaker manager on matchdays 11 through 13.
  4. ↑ Belgium Jonas De Roeck was the manager for matchdays 1 through 16.
  5. ↑ While the announcement of Ronny Deila's signature at Club Brugge was already made on 25 May 2023, Rik De Mil remained in charge for the last few matches of the season and Deila thus only officially took up the position as soon as the 2022–23 season ended.
  6. ↑ While the announcement of Glen De Boeck's signature at Kortrijk was already made on 28 September 2023, it was added that he would only take over on 2 October 2023, meaning caretaker Joseph Akpala remained in charge for the match of 29 September 2023.
  7. ↑ At the time of the announcement of Glen De Boeck's signature at Kortrijk the team was in last place. When he actually took over a few days later the team had moved into 15th.
  8. ↑ While the announcement of Óscar García's signature at OH Leuven was already made on 3 November 2023, caretaker Vanhemel remained in charge for the match of 4 November and García took over only after that match.
  9. ↑ While the announcement of Basnik Hasi's signature at KV Mechelen was already made on 8 November 2023, caretaker Vanderbiest remained in charge for the match of 11 November and Hasi took over only after that match.
  10. ↑ At the time of the announcement of Besnik Hasi's signature at Mechelen the team was in 14th place. When he actually took over a few days later the team had moved into 11th.

References

  1. ↑ "Witte rook over nieuwe competitieformule in 1A: 16 ploegen, tot 3 dalers, halvering blijft" [White smoke on new competition format in 1A: 16 teams, up to 3 teams facing relegation, halving of points remains] (in Dutch). 17 June 2022.
  2. ↑ "Union Saint Gilloise Announce "Sustainable" Nike Kit Deal - Fewer New Kits & Lower Prices". Footy Headlines. 1 May 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "OFFICIEEL: Ronny Deila is de nieuwe coach van Club Brugge na zijn vertrek bij Standard" [OFFICIAL: Ronny Deila is the new manager of Club Brugge after his departure at Standard] (in Dutch). stvv.com. 2023-05-25.
  4. ↑ "Edward Still neemt na de pandoering op de slotspeeldag "in onderling overleg" afscheid van Eupen" [Edward Still bids farewell to Eupen "by mutual agreement" after 7–0 loss on final matchday] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2023-04-25.
  5. ↑ "Bernd Storck trekt na zondag de deur achter zich dicht bij Kortrijk" [Bernd Storck departs forgood at Kortrijk after next Sunday] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2023-04-21.
  6. ↑ "Coach Bernd Hollerbach verlaat STVV op het einde van het seizoen" [Manager Bernd Hollerbach to leave STVV at the end of the season] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2022-12-15.
  7. ↑ "Eupen haalt met Florian Kohfeldt ex-Bundesliga-trainer binnen" [Eupen brings in former Bundesliga manager Florian Kohfeldt] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2023-06-08.
  8. ↑ "EDWARD STILL NIEUWE HOOFDCOACH KV KORTRIJK" [EDWARD STILL NEW HEAD COACH KV KORTRIJK] (in Dutch). kvk.be. 2023-07-02.
  9. ↑ "Fink is een Bink" (in Dutch). stvv.com. 2023-05-16.
  10. ↑ "Carl HOEFKENS nouveau T1 des Rouches" [Carl HOEFKENS new T1 of the Reds] (in French). sporza.be. 2023-06-16.
  11. ↑ "Union en Karel Geraerts gaan uit mekaar: "Afscheid van topcoach en mooi persoon"" [Union and Karel Geraerts part ways: "Goodbye to top manager and beautiful person"] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2023-06-21.
  12. ↑ "Union kiest voor Alexander Blessin als opvolger van Karel Geraerts" [Union chooses Alexander Blessin to succeed Karel Geraerts] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2023-07-03.
  13. ↑ "Donderslag bij heldere hemel: RWDM ontslaat coach Vincent Euvrard 1 week voor competitiestart" [A bolt from the blue: RWDM fires coach Vincent Euvrard 1 week before the start of the competition] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2023-07-24.
  14. ↑ "RWDM heeft nieuwe trainer beet: Braziliaan neemt over, De Camargo assistent" [RWDM has a new manager: Brazilian takes over, De Camargo assistant] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2023-07-25.
  15. ↑ "KV Kortrijk zet Edward Still aan de deur na 2 op 24, Akpala neemt voorlopig over" [KV Kortrijk sends Edward Still to the door after 2 on 24, Akpala takes over for the time being] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2023-09-25.
  16. ↑ "KV Kortrijk tovert Glen De Boeck tevoorschijn als nieuwe trainer" [KV Kortrijk conjures up Glen De Boeck as its new trainer] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2023-09-28.
  17. ↑ "OH Leuven en Marc Brys gaan uit elkaar: "Prestaties blijven onder de verwachtingen"" [OH Leuven and Marc Brys split: "Results remain below expectations"] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2023-10-13.
  18. ↑ "KV Mechelen neemt afscheid van coach Steven Defour: "Het belang van de club op de 1e plaats gezet"" [KV Mechelen says goodbye to manager Steven Defour: "The interests of the club come first"] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2023-11-02.
  19. ↑ "OH Leuven haalt met Oscar Garcia ex-aanvaller van Barcelona binnen als nieuwe coach" [OH Leuven has brought in ex-Barcelona striker Oscar Garcia as its new manager] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2023-11-03.
  20. ↑ "Daar is de opvolger van Steven Defour: KV Mechelen legt zijn lot in handen van Besnik Hasi" [There is Steven Defour's successor: KV Mechelen places its fate in the hands of Besnik Hasi] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2023-11-08.
  21. ↑ "De nederlaag te veel: Jonas De Roeck ontslagen bij Westerlo" [One loss too many: Jonas De Roeck fired at Westerlo] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2023-12-02.
  22. ↑ "Bondsreglement Titel 7: Competities" [Association Rules Title 7: Competitions] (PDF). Royal Belgian Football Association. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 September 2020.
  23. 1 2 3 4 "Pro League Top Scorers | FootyStats". footystats.org. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  24. ↑ "Pro Scorer". Jupiler Pro League. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  25. ↑ "Belgium Pro League 2023/24 Table & Stats | FootyStats". footystats.org. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
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