K.V. Kortrijk - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Koninklijke Voetbalclub Kortrijk (often simply called Kortrijk or KVK) is a Belgian

Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

professional football club based in Kortrijk

Kortrijk

Kortrijk ; , ; ) is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province West Flanders...

, West Flanders. They have been playing in the Belgian Pro League since the 2008-09 season

Belgian First Division 2008-09

The 2008–09 season of the Belgian First Division was the 106th season of top-tier football in Belgium. The regular season began on 16 August 2008 and ended on 16 May 2009...

, and they achieved they best ranking ever during the 2009-10 season, finishing 4th after the play-offs. Kortrijk was founded in 1971, though their roots can be traced to 1901. They are registered to the Royal Belgian Football Association with matricule number 19. The club colours are red and white. They play their home matches at the Guldensporenstadion, named after the Battle of the Golden Spurs

Battle of the Golden Spurs

The Battle of the Golden Spurs, known also as the Battle of Courtrai was fought on July 11, 1302, near Kortrijk in Flanders...

which took place in Kortrijk in 1302.

Kortrijk enjoyed a first spell in the first division in the early 20th century, between 1906-07

Belgian First Division 1906-07

-Overview:It was contested by 10 teams, and Union Saint-Gilloise won the championship.-League standings:...

and 1910-11

Belgian First Division 1910-11

-Overview:It was contested by 12 teams, and C.S. Brugeois won the championship.-League standings:...

. They eventually had to wait 65 years to return at the highest level, when they enjoyed 15 seasons at the top flight, interrupted by a season in the second division (between 1976-77

Belgian First Division 1976-77

-League standings:...

and 1978-79

Belgian First Division 1978-79

-League standings:...

and between 1980-81

Belgian First Division 1980-81

-League standings:...

and 1991-92

Belgian First Division 1991-92

-Relegated teams:These teams were relegated to the second division at the end of the season:*K.V. Kortrijk*Eendracht Aalst-Final league table:-Top goal scorers:...

). Kortrijk also played the 1998-99 season in the first division before they returned in 2008-09.

History

In 1901 SC Courtraisien was founded. The club merged with FC Courtraisien in 1918. They received in 1951 the name Koninklijke Kortrijk Sport. They had the matricule n°19 like the oldest club SC Courtraisien. Stade Kortrijk was founded in 1923 with matricule n°161. Because Stade Kortrijk and Koninklijke Kortrijk Sport didn't play well anymore, they merged in 1971. They could play with matricule n°19 and the new name was KV Kortrijk.

Due to a bankruptcy, KV Kortrijk had to relegate in 2001 to the third division

Belgian Third Division

The Belgian Third Division is the third highest level in Belgian football. It has two leagues of 18 teams each at the same level. This competition, known as the Belgian Promotion was first played in the 1926-27 season with three leagues, then with four leagues between 1931 and 1952. From 1952...

. From 2004 to 2008 KV Kortrijk played in the second division, however in the 2007-08 season they managed to get promoted to the first division. The club is also home to the majority of Swansea City A.F.C.

Swansea City A.F.C.

Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...

fans from Belgium.

Honours

Belgian Second Division
Belgian Second Division
The Belgian Second Division 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. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,...

:
- Winners (2): 1905-06, 2007–08
- Runners-up (2): 1979-80, 1997–98
Belgian Second Division Final Round
Belgian Second Division Final Round
The Belgian Second Division Final Round is the playoff part of the Belgian Second Division. It is a contested by four teams, the winner being promoted to the first division.-Eligibility:...

:
- Winners (3): 1976, 1980, 1998

Colours & badge

KV Kortrijk's colours are generally red and white. The home kit is usually all red with a white trim, and red shorts. The away kit is similar, except in blue. The club's logo is a white shield, split into thirds by a red upside-down, V-like shape, and the letters "KVK" are split into each third, in a red font. On top of the shield is a crown.

Stadium

KV Kortrijk play their home matches at the Guldensporen Stadion. It is located in Kortrijk, Belgium, and the current capacity of the ground is 9,399. In the summer of 2008, the grounds capacity was increased from 6,896 to 9,399, after Kortrijk's elevation into the Belgian First Division. Guldensporenstadion literally means "Stadium of the Golden Spurs". The stadium is named after this in reference to the Battle of the Golden Spurs

Battle of the Golden Spurs

The Battle of the Golden Spurs, known also as the Battle of Courtrai was fought on July 11, 1302, near Kortrijk in Flanders...

which, in 1302, was fought in Kortrijk. The stadium has a traditional local stadium look about it, and is single-tiered all around the ground.

Current squad

Famous former players

Christian Benteke

Christian Benteke is a Congolese-Belgian football player, he currently plays for K.R.C. Genk.-Career:He transferred in September 2007 at the age of 16 from Standard Liège to K.R.C. Genk, in the season 2007/2008 played 251 minutes, after two year by K.R.C. Genk, turned back to Standard Liège...

Laurent Ciman

Laurent Ciman is a professional football who plays as a defender for Standard Liège. He was transferred from R. Charleroi S.C. to Club Brugge in June 2008 and signed a 3 year contract for the Belgian team, he was loaned to K.V. Kortrijk for the 2009-2010...

Philippe Desmet

Philippe Desmet is a retired Belgian international footballer.-References:*...

Michel De Wolf

Michel Jean de Wolf is a retired Belgian footballer who played as a left defender.-Club career:...

Stijn Meert

Stijn Meert is a Belgian football midfielder. He spent most of his club career playing for S.V. Zulte-Waregem in the Jupiler League.-References:*...

Émile Mpenza

Eka Basunga Lokonda "Émile" Mpenza is a Belgian footballer who plays for Neftchi Baku as a striker. He has been capped at international level by Belgium. His older brother, Mbo, was also a footballer who represented Belgium....

Mbo Mpenza

Mbo Jérôme Mpenza is a retired Belgian footballer who played as a striker. He was capped by Belgium at international level, scoring three goals in 56 appearances...

Axel Smeets

Axel Smeets is a former football defender, who could also play as a midfielder. During his career he played for several Belgian clubs and also played overseas for UD Salamanca, Sheffield United and MKE Ankaragücü, where he had several experiences and ended his career in Norway with HamKam due to...

Lorenzo Staelens

Lorenzo Jules Staelens is a retired Belgian footballer and a current manager.Having started his career as a defensive midfielder, he finished it as sweeper at nearly 40, and scored more than 100 goals overall....

Stefaan Tanghe

Stefaan Tanghe is a Belgian footballer who plays for KBS Poperinge.-Career:Tanghe made his debut in professional football in the 1997-98 season when playing for Excelsior Moeskroen. He also played competitive matches for FC Utrecht.-External links:*...

David Vandenbroeck

David Vandenbroeck David Vandenbroeck David Vandenbroeck (born 12 July 1985 is a Belgian football defender who currently plays for K.V. Kortrijk on loan from R. Charleroi S.C. in Belgium.-References:*...

Adlène Guedioura

Adlène Guedioura is an Algerian international footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers.Guedioura is the son of former Algerian international striker, Nacer Guedioura...

Djamel Zidane Aurelio Vidmar

Aurelio Vidmar

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Petar Aleksandrov

Petar Aleksandrov is a Bulgarian former footballer who played for various clubs in Bulgaria, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland during the 1980s and 1990s...

Aloys Nong

Aloys Bertrand Nong is a Cameroonian footballer, who currently plays for Standard Liege in Belgium.-Career:He previously played for Kadji Sports Academy, RFC Liège, CS Visé, FC Brussels, KV Kortrijk and Y.R. K.V. Mechelen....

Cédric Bétrémieux

Cédric Bétrémieux is a French football player currently playing for R.R.C. Peruwelz in the Belgian Third Division B on loan from K.V. Kortrijk.-External links:...

William Prunier

William Prunier is a French former footballer. He played in the centre back position.-Career:Prunier was a product of a famous AJ Auxerre youth team which also included Eric Cantona, Basile Boli, Pascal Vahirua and Daniel Dutuel, all under the tutelage of Guy Roux...

Foeke Booy

Foeke Booy is a Dutch former football player and current football manager, who was born in the Frisian town of Leeuwarden. On Tuesday 18 December 2007 Booy was named as the Sparta Rotterdam coach after having guided Al Nasr in Saudi Arabia for only eight league matches during the summer of 2007...

Anton Janssen

Anton Janssen is a retired Dutch footballer who played for PSV Eindhoven and was part of their European Cup victory in 1988. Janssen also played for NEC Nijmegen, Fortuna Sittard, and K.V. Kortrijk. Currently, Jannsen is doing an internship at NEC Nijmegen to receive his Professional Soccer Coach...

Hendrie Krüzen

Hendrik "Hendrie" Krüzen is a retired Dutch footballer who played as a left midfielder.-Club career:Krüzen made his senior debuts at only 16, with hometown's Heracles Almelo...

Elimane Coulibaly

Elimane Coulibaly is a Senegal football striker who plays for K.A.A. Gent. He joined K.M.S.K. Deinze in 2001, he came from K.V.K. Ninove....

Salif Keita

Salif Keita (Senegalese footballer)

Salif Keita is a Senegalese professional football player, who currently plays for AS Douanes.-Notes:...

Cheikhou Kouyaté Xavier Chen

Xavier Chen

Xavier Chen is a Belgian-born Taiwanese footballer who plays mostly as a right back. He currently plays for Y.R. K.V. Mechelen. He previously played for R.S.C. Anderlecht and K.V. Kortrijk and captained the Belgium national under-19 football team.Chen was born to a Taiwanese father and a French...

Damir Desnica

Damir Desnica is a former Croatian and Yugoslav association football player. He got 1 cap for Yugoslavia. Although he was an excellent footballer, he is best known for being one of the very few deaf pro footballers.-External links:...

External links

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