2019–20 Belgian First Division A

The 2019–20 Belgian First Division A (officially known as Jupiler Pro League) was the 117th season of top-tier football in Belgium.

Belgian First Division A
Season2019–20
Dates26 July 2019 – 7 March 2020
ChampionsClub Brugge
Champions LeagueClub Brugge
Gent
Europa LeagueCharleroi
Antwerp
Standard Liège
Matches played232
Goals scored658 (2.84 per match)
Top goalscorerJonathan David
Dieumerci Mbokani
(18 goals each)
Biggest home winAnderlecht 7–0 Zulte Waregem
(7 March 2020)
Biggest away winMechelen 0–5 Club Brugge
(28 September 2019)
Longest winning run5 matches
Club Brugge
Longest unbeaten run15 matches
Club Brugge
Longest winless run9 matches
Waasland-Beveren
Longest losing run5 matches
Cercle Brugge
Highest attendanceRegular season
26,769[1]
Club Brugge 1–1 Genk
(1 September 2019)
Lowest attendanceRegular season
2,154[1]
Eupen 1–1 Waasland-Beveren
(2 August 2019)
Total attendance1,011,903
Average attendanceRegular season
10,765
All statistics correct as of 6 October 2019.

On 2 April 2020, the Jupiler Pro League's board of directors agreed to propose to cancel the season early during the COVID-19 pandemic. Should this proposal be accepted, Club Brugge will be awarded the title.[2] In the meantime UEFA has threatened to ban teams in Europe in case their respective leagues were terminated early without trying to have all remaining matches completed.[3] The decision of whether to accept this proposal was initially meant to be decided by a vote at a meeting on 15 April 2020, but had been postponed three times.[4]

The proposal was finally accepted by the General Assembly on 15 May 2020, confirming Club Brugge as 2019–20 First Division A champions.[5]

Team changes

As 2018–19 Belgian First Division B champions, Mechelen would have replaced relegated Lokeren. However, as part of the 2017–19 Belgian football fraud scandal, Mechelen were found guilty of match-fixing at the end of the 2017–18 season, resulting in the club being relegated back to the First Division B and runners-up Beerschot taking the spot of Mechelen instead. Mechelen appealed the decision with the Belgian Court of Arbitration for Sports, which confirmed that KV Mechelen was indeed guilty of match-fixing, but that according to the rules of the Royal Belgian Football Association, relegation is no longer a possible penalty as the match-fixing occurred more than one season ago. KV Mechelen was thus allowed to play in the Belgian First Division A, but did get banned from participating in the UEFA Europa League and the Belgian Cup for one season.

Format change

While the regular season remains unchanged, the end of season play-offs have been altered somewhat, specifically the Europa League play-offs will now be played by 16 instead of 12 teams. Taking part will be the bottom ten teams together with the six top teams from the Belgian First Division B, to be divided in four groups of four teams. The four group winners will play semi-finals and a final to determine the team which will play the fourth (or fifth) placed team from the championship play-offs for the remaining ticket into the UEFA Europa League. This change allows both the team relegating from the 2019–20 Belgian First Division A and the 2019–20 Belgian First Division B champion to take part in the Europa League play-offs, allowing these teams to bridge the gap of nearly six months without any matches as used to be the case in previous seasons.[6]

Teams

Stadiums and locations
Locations of the 2019–20 Belgian First Division A teams
Matricule Club Location Venue Capacity
35 Anderlecht Anderlecht Constant Vanden Stock Stadium 21,500
1 Antwerp Antwerp Bosuilstadion 12,975
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 08,363
322 Genk Genk Luminus Arena 24,956
7 Gent Ghent Ghelamco Arena 20,000
19 Kortrijk Kortrijk Guldensporen Stadion 09,399
25 Mechelen Mechelen AFAS-stadion Achter de Kazerne 16,700
216 Mouscron Mouscron Stade Le Canonnier 10,571
31 Oostende Ostend Versluys Arena 08,432
373 Sint-Truiden Sint-Truiden Stayen 14,600
16 Standard Liège Liège Stade Maurice Dufrasne 30,023
4068 Waasland-Beveren Beveren Freethiel Stadion 08,190
5381 Zulte Waregem Waregem Regenboogstadion 12,500

Personnel and kits
Club Manager Kit Manufacturer Sponsors
Anderlecht Belgium Vincent Kompany (player/manager) and Belgium Franky Vercauteren[n 1] Joma BNP Paribas Fortis
Antwerp Romania László Bölöni Jako Ghelamco
Cercle Brugge Germany Bernd Storck[n 2] Erima Napoleon Games
Charleroi France Karim Belhocine Kappa Proximus
Club Brugge Belgium Philippe Clement Macron Unibet
Eupen Spain Beñat San José Nike Aspire Academy
Excel Mouscron Germany Bernd Hollerbach[n 3] Uhlsport Star Casino
Genk Germany Hannes Wolf[n 4] Nike Beobank
Gent Denmark Jess Thorup Craft Vdk bank
Kortrijk Belgium Yves Vanderhaeghe Jako AGO Jobs & HR
Mechelen Belgium Wouter Vrancken Jartazi Telenet
Oostende Bosnia and Herzegovina Adnan Čustović[n 5] Joma DIAZ Be
Sint-Truiden Slovenia Miloš Kostić[n 6] Umbro Golden Palace
Standard Liège Belgium Michel Preud'homme New Balance VOO
Waasland-Beveren Belgium Dirk Geeraerd (caretaker) [n 7] Uhlsport Star Casino
Zulte-Waregem Belgium Francky Dury Patrick Willy Naessens Group

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position Replaced by Date of appointment
Oostende Belgium Franky Van der Elst (caretaker) Replaced End of 2018–19 season Pre-season Norway Kåre Ingebrigtsen 6 May 2019[7]
Mouscron Germany Bernd Storck End of contract End of 2018–19 season Germany Bernd Hollerbach 22 May 2019[8]
Anderlecht France Karim Belhocine (caretaker) Replaced End of 2018–19 season Wales Simon Davies and Belgium Vincent Kompany 25 May 2019[9] and 19 May 2019[10]
Club Brugge Croatia Ivan Leko End of contract[11] End of 2018–19 season Belgium Philippe Clement 24 May 2019[12]
Genk Belgium Philippe Clement Moved to Club Brugge[12] End of 2018–19 season Belgium Felice Mazzù 3 June 2019[13]
Cercle Brugge Belgium José Jeunechamps (caretaker) End of caretaker spell[14] End of 2018–19 season France Fabien Mercadal 19 June 2019[15]
Charleroi Belgium Felice Mazzù Moved to Genk[13] End of 2018–19 season France Karim Belhocine 21 June 2019[16]
Eupen France Claude Makélélé Mutual consent 14 June 2019[17] Spain Beñat San José 24 June 2019[18]
Waasland-Beveren Bosnia and Herzegovina Adnan Čustović Sacked 26 August 2019[19] 16th Belgium Dirk Geeraerd (caretaker) 26 August 2019[19]
Waasland-Beveren Belgium Dirk Geeraerd (caretaker) Caretaker replaced 2 September 2019[n 8][20] 16th France Arnauld Mercier 2 September 2019[20]
Anderlecht Wales Simon Davies Replaced 3 October 2019[n 9][21] 13th Belgium Jonas De Roeck (caretaker) 3 October 2019
Anderlecht Belgium Jonas De Roeck (caretaker) Replaced 7 October 2019[21] 13th Belgium Franky Vercauteren 7 October 2019
Cercle Brugge France Fabien Mercadal Sacked 7 October 2019[22] 16th Germany Bernd Storck 12 October 2019[23]
Genk Belgium Felice Mazzù Sacked 12 November 2019[24] 9th Germany Hannes Wolf 18 November 2019[25]
Sint-Truiden Belgium Marc Brys Sacked 25 November 2019[26] 11th Belgium Nicky Hayen (caretaker) 25 November 2019[26]
Oostende Norway Kåre Ingebrigtsen Became manager at APOEL FC 28 December 2019[27] 14th Netherlands Dennis van Wijk 31 December 2019[28]
Sint-Truiden Belgium Nicky Hayen (caretaker) Caretaker replaced 2 January 2020[29] 11th Slovenia Miloš Kostić 2 January 2020[29]
Mouscron Germany Bernd Hollerbach Temporarily replaced due to illness 5 February 2020[30] 11th Belgium Philippe Saint-Jean (caretaker) 5 February 2020[30]
Waasland-Beveren France Arnauld Mercier Sacked 23 February 2020[31] 16th Belgium Dirk Geeraerd (caretaker) 23 February 2020[31]
Mouscron Belgium Philippe Saint-Jean (caretaker) Hollerbach recovered from illness 25 February 2020[32] 10th Germany Bernd Hollerbach 25 February 2020[32]
Oostende Netherlands Dennis van Wijk Sacked 2 March 2020[33] 15th Bosnia and Herzegovina Adnan Čustović 3 March 2020[34]

Regular season

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Club Brugge (C) 29 21 7 1 58 14 +44 70 Qualification for the Champions League group stage
2 Gent 29 16 7 6 59 34 +25 55 Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round
3 Charleroi 29 15 9 5 49 23 +26 54 Qualification for the Europa League third qualifying round
4 Antwerp (Y) 29 15 8 6 49 32 +17 53 Qualification for the Europa League group stage[lower-alpha 1]
5 Standard Liège 29 14 7 8 47 32 +15 49 Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round
6 Mechelen 29 13 5 11 46 43 +3 44
7 Genk 29 13 5 11 45 42 +3 44
8 Anderlecht 29 11 10 8 45 29 +16 43
9 Zulte Waregem 29 10 6 13 41 49 −8 36
10 Excel Mouscron 29 9 9 11 38 40 −2 36
11 Kortrijk 29 9 6 14 40 44 −4 33
12 Sint-Truiden 29 9 6 14 36 53 −17 33
13 Eupen 29 8 6 15 28 51 −23 30
14 Cercle Brugge 29 7 2 20 27 54 −27 23
15 Oostende 29 6 4 19 29 58 −29 22
16 Waasland-Beveren[lower-alpha 2] (T) 29 5 5 19 21 60 −39 20 Reprieved from relegation
Source: Belgian First Division A (in Dutch), Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away goals scored; 6) Away matches won; 7) Play-off.[36]
(C) Champions; (T) Reprieved; (Y) Croky Cup winner
Notes:
  1. Antwerp qualified for the Europa League group stage as the 2019–20 Belgian Cup winners.[35]
  2. Waasland-Beveren would have been relegated due to finishing last, however following legal proceedings the Belgian Pro League eventually voted in favour of expanding the 2020–21 Belgian First Division A to 18 teams, meaning Waasland-Beveren was spared and both OH Leuven and Beerschot were promoted from the 2019–20 Belgian First Division B.

Results
Home \ Away AND ANT CER CHA CLU EUP EXM GNK GNT KVK KVM OOS STA STR W-B ZWA
Anderlecht — 1–2 2–1 0–0 1–2 6–1 1–0 2–0 3–3 0–0 0–0 1–2 1–0 4–1 0–0 7–0
Antwerp 0–0 — 3–1 1–1 2–1 1–0 — 1–1 3–2 3–1 1–0 3–1 2–2 2–0 4–1 2–1
Cercle Brugge 1–2 1–2 — 0–3 0–2 1–2 2–2 1–2 1–0 1–3 3–2 — 0–2 2–1 1–0 2–0
Charleroi 1–2 2–1 3–0 — 0–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 1–1 — 2–1 5–0 2–0 0–3 2–0 4–0
Club Brugge 2–1 1–0 2–1 1–0 — 0–0 1–0 1–1 4–0 3–0 3–0 2–0 1–1 6–0 2–1 4–0
Eupen 0–0 1–4 1–0 1–1 — — 2–1 2–0 2–3 1–2 0–2 1–0 1–2 0–2 1–1 1–1
Excel Mouscron 0–0 3–1 0–1 1–1 0–1 2–0 — 2–2 2–1 2–0 1–2 3–1 2–2 1–3 1–0 2–2
Genk 1–0 2–2 1–0 1–0 1–2 2–1 2–1 — 0–2 2–1 — 3–1 1–3 1–2 4–1 0–2
Gent 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–4 1–1 6–1 3–1 4–1 — 2–0 3–0 2–0 3–1 4–1 2–0 2–0
Kortrijk 4–2 0–1 1–0 1–1 2–2 1–2 1–2 0–1 0–2 — 2–3 2–2 3–1 4–0 1–3 2–0
Mechelen 2–0 3–1 3–1 2–2 0–5 1–1 2–2 3–1 0–3 1–1 — 1–0 2–3 1–2 4–0 0–2
Oostende 3–2 1–1 3–1 0–1 0–2 2–3 2–2 2–4 2–1 0–3 2–1 — 1–4 1–0 0–1 1–1
Standard Liège 1–1 1–0 2–1 1–1 0–0 3–0 4–1 1–0 0–1 2–1 1–2 2–1 — 0–0 2–0 4–0
Sint-Truiden — 1–1 0–1 1–3 1–2 5–2 0–1 3–3[lower-alpha 1] 0–0 2–0 0–3 1–0 2–1 — 1–1 0–0
Waasland-Beveren 0–3 0–4 1–1 0–4 1–3 0–1 1–1 0–4 — 1–2 1–3 3–1 2–1 1–0 — 1–2
Zulte Waregem 1–2 2–0 6–0 3–1 0–2 1–0 1–2 0–3 2–2 2–2 0–2 2–0 — 5–1 5–0 —
Source: Belgian Pro League (in Dutch)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
  1. The match between Sint-Truiden and Genk was suspended with the score at 3–3 due to supporter violence. Initially, no points were awarded and the Belgian FA demanded to replay the match entirely behind closed doors and further penalize both clubs with an additional match behind closed doors, a two points penalty and a fine of 5000 Euro.[37] On 4 December 2019, after both clubs had appealed the decision citing an incorrectly followed procedure in which the referee had stopped the match too soon, the final verdict was that the 3–3 result stood as final and both clubs were penalized 5000 Euro and were forced to play their next home match with part of their stand closed.[38]

Season statistics

Notes
  1. Previous managers at Anderlecht during the 2019–20 season include Wales Simon Davies & Belgium Vincent Kompany (matchday 1 to 9) and caretaker Belgium Jonas De Roeck & Belgium Vincent Kompany on matchday 10. Kompany & Vercauteren have been in charge from matchday 11.
  2. Prior to Storck, France Fabien Mercadal was in charge for matchdays 1 through 10.
  3. Hollerbach started the season at Excel Mouscron but became ill, with his duties taken over since matchday 22 by sports advisor Albania Rudi Vata, without Vata being appointed officially as manager. For matchdays 24 through 27, Belgium Philippe Saint-Jean was in charge, having been appointed as caretaker manager. After having recovered, Hollerbach took up his position again from matchday 28.
  4. Belgium Felice Mazzù was in charge for matchdays 1 through 15, although Genk had at that point only played 14 matches as the away match at Antwerp had been postponed.
  5. Norway Kåre Ingebrigtsen was in charge for matchdays 1 through 21. For matchdays 22 through 28, Netherlands Dennis van Wijk took over before being replaced by Adnan Čustović
  6. Belgium Marc Brys was in charge for matchdays 1 through 16, while Belgium Nicky Hayen held the caretaker position for matchdays 17 through 20.
  7. Previous managers at Waasland-Beveren during the 2019–20 season include Bosnia and Herzegovina Adnan Čustović (matchday 1 to 5), caretaker Belgium Dirk Geeraerd on matchday 6, France Arnauld Mercier (matchday 7 to 27) and again Geeraerd from matchday 28.
  8. The announcement of Mercier coming in was made on 30 August 2019, however Geeraerd remained caretaker for the match of 31 August against Charleroi and Mercier would start the job only on September 2nd.
  9. The announcement of Vercauteren coming in was made on 3 October 2019, however Jonas De Roeck was appointed caretaker manager for the match of 4 October 2019 against Charleroi and Vercauteren would start the job only on October 7th.

References
  1. "Belgian First Division A statistics". Jupiler Pro League. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  2. Smith, Emma (2020-04-02). "Belgium's Pro League cancelled and Club Brugge set to be declared champions due to coronavirus". Goal.com. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  3. "UEFA threatens Belgian league with European expulsion". Sports.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  4. "Belgian Pro League Delays Vote on Ending Season for the Third Time". news18.com. 4 May 2020.
  5. "Communicatie na de Algemene Vergadering". Jupiler Pro League. 15 May 2020.
  6. "Pro League heeft beslist: Play-off I blijft ongewijzigd, Play-off II met 16 clubs" [Pro League has decided: Play-off I remains unchanged, Play-off II with 16 clubs]. sporza.be. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  7. "KV Oostende stelt Noorse coach Ingebrigtsen voor: "We zullen een woordje meepraten"" [KV Oostende presents Norwegian manager Ingebrigtsen: "We'll have a say as well"] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-05-06.
  8. Opnieuw een Duitse coach voor Moeskroen: Bernd Hollerbach is opvolger van Bernd Storck, Het Nieuwsblad, 22 May 2019
  9. "Kompany neemt Simon Davies mee naar Anderlecht als hoofdcoach" [Kompany brings Simon Davies with him to Anderlecht as manager] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-05-25.
  10. "Kompany keert als speler-trainer terug naar Anderlecht" [Kompany returns as player-manager to Anderlecht] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-05-19.
  11. "Club haalt bezem door technische staf: Leko en al zijn assistenten vertrekken" [Club changes technical staff entirely: Leko and all his assistants depart] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-05-21.
  12. "Het is zover: Clement keert terug naar Club Brugge: "Wil kroon op het werk zetten"" [Finally done: Clement returns to Club Brugge: "Want to complete my work"] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-05-24.
  13. "Racing Genk stelt Felice Mazzu voor: "De ideale nieuwe T1"" [Racing Genk presents Felice Mazzu: "Ideal new head coach"] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-06-03.
  14. "Laurent Guyot niet langer trainer van Cercle Brugge, Jeunechamps neemt over tot einde van het seizoen" [Laurent Guyot no longer head coach of Cercle Brugge, Jeunechamps takes over until the end of the season] (in Dutch). hln.be. 2019-05-02.
  15. "Cercle Brugge kiest weer voor een Franse trainer" [Cercle Brugge again chooses French manager] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-06-19.
  16. "Belhocine verlaat Anderlecht en wordt coach van Charleroi" [Belhocine leaves Anderlecht and becomes Charleroi manager] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-06-21.
  17. "Wegen van Eupen en coach Claude Makelélé scheiden na twee seizoenen" [Ways of Eupen and coach Claude Makelélé part after two seasons] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-06-14.
  18. "Jonge Spaanse coach volgt Makelélé op bij Eupen" [Young Spanish coach succeeds Makelélé at Eupen] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-06-24.
  19. "WAASLAND-BEVEREN EN ADNAN CUSTOVIC GAAN UIT MEKAAR" [WAASLAND-BEVEREN AND ADNAN CUSTOVIC PART WAYS] (in Dutch). waasland-beveren.be. 2019-08-26. Archived from the original on 2019-08-26. Retrieved 2019-08-26.
  20. "Arnauld Mercier moet punten pakken bij Waasland-Beveren" [Arnauld Mercier to score points at Waasland-Beveren] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-08-30.
  21. "Nieuwe stoelendans bij Anderlecht: Vercauteren komt, Arnesen gaat" [New position switch at Anderlecht: Vercauteren in, Arnesen out] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-10-03.
  22. "Trainer Mercadal krijgt de rekening gepresenteerd bij Cercle Brugge" [Coach Mercadal has to pay for poor results at Cercle Brugge] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-10-07.
  23. "Storck moet Cercle Brugge in hoogste afdeling houden" [Storck to maintain Cercle Brugge in highest division] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-10-12.
  24. "Kampioen Genk neemt afscheid van coach Mazzu: "Negatieve trend"" [Champion Genk say goodbye to coach Mazzu: "Negative trend"] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-11-12.
  25. "Genk gaat voor Hannes Wolf, Wijnants: "Genk worstelt met identiteit"" [Genk chooses Hannes Wolf, Wijnants: "Genk struggling with identity"] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-11-18.
  26. "STVV stuurt trainer Marc Brys de laan uit" [STVV sends coach Marc Brys away] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-11-12.
  27. "Opvallend bericht tijdens match KVO: coach Ingebrigtsen stapt zelf op" [Remarkable news during KVO match: coach Ingebrigtsen quits] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-12-28.
  28. "Oude bekende Dennis van Wijk moet KV Oostende redden" [Old familiar Dennis van Wijk to rescue KV Oostende] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2019-12-31.
  29. "STVV heeft een nieuwe coach: de 48-jarige Sloveen Milos Kostic" [STVV has new manager: 48-year old Slovene Milos Kostic] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2020-01-02.
  30. "Hollerbach langer out bij Moeskroen, Saint-Jean vervangt hem ad interim" [Hollerbach out for longer at Mouscron, Saint-Jean to replace him temporarily] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2020-02-05.
  31. "Waasland-Beveren neemt in volle degradatiestrijd afscheid van Mercier" [Waasland-Beveren says goodbye to Mercier in the midst of relegation battle] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2020-02-23.
  32. "Bernd Hollerbach is opnieuw hoofdcoach van Moeskroen na ziekte" [Bernd Hollerbach again manager at Mouscron following illness] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2020-02-25.
  33. "Ook paniekvoetbal bij KV Oostende? Coach Dennis van Wijk is ontslagen" [Panic at KV Oostende as well? Manager Dennis van Wijk sacked] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2020-03-02.
  34. "Adnan Custovic en Franck Berrier moeten KV Oostende in 1A houden" [Adnan Custovic and Franck Berrier to maintain KV Oostende in 1A] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2020-03-03.
  35. "Communication à la suite de l'Assemblée Générale". Jupiler Pro League. 15 May 2020.
  36. "First Division A 2019/2020". Soccerway. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  37. Weyters, Gert-Jan (10 October 2019). "Bondsparket vordert match achter gesloten deuren tegen STVV en Genk" [FA request match without supporters for STVV and Genk] (in Dutch). Jupiler Pro League.
  38. Weyters, Gert-Jan (4 December 2019). "Gestaakte STVV-Genk van 28 september wordt niet herspeeld" [Suspended match STVV-Genk of 28 september will not be replayed] (in Dutch). sporza.be.
  39. "Jupiler Pro League Top Scorer". Archived from the original on 12 September 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  40. "Jupiler Pro League Clean Sheets". Archived from the original on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  41. "Jupiler Pro League Pro Assist". Archived from the original on 24 April 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
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