2022–23 Challenger Pro League

The 2022–23 season of the Challenger Pro League began in August 2022 and ended in May 2023. It was the first season under its new name after being renamed from First Division B.

Challenger Pro League
Season2022–23
ChampionsRWD Molenbeek
PromotedRWD Molenbeek
RelegatedVirton

Team changes

In

Out

Name change

Format changes

Four U23 teams were added to the league as part of a two-season trial, expanding the league from 8 to 12 teams. These twelve teams will play each other twice in a regular competition, after which the league is split, with the top and bottom six teams playing separate competitions from that point, continuing with the points gained. At the top end, only the champion is promoted as three teams are relegated from the 2022–23 Belgian First Division A to reduce the size back from 18 to 16 teams. At the bottom end, the team finishing last will be relegated. U23 teams cannot be promoted to the Belgian First Division A, but can suffer relegation, furthermore they always have to play at least one level below their A team counterparts, hence could be relegated despite not finishing last.

Team information

Stadiums and locations
Locations of the 2022–23 Challenger Pro League teams
Matricule Club City First season of
current spell at
second level		 Coming from 2021-22 result Stadium Capacity
35 RSCA Futures Anderlecht, Brussels 2022–23 U23 competition 2nd U23 competition King Baudouin Stadium 38,000
13 K Beerschot VA Antwerp 2022–23 Belgian First Division A 18th (D1A) Olympic Stadium 12,771
4068 S.K. Beveren Beveren 2021–22 Belgian First Division B 3rd (D1B) Freethiel Stadion 8,190
3 Club NXT Bruges[lower-alpha 1] 2022–23 U23 competition 3rd U23 competition Schiervelde Stadion 8,340
818 K.M.S.K. Deinze Deinze 2020–21 Belgian First Amateur Division 4th (D1B) Burgemeester Van de Wiele Stadion 7,515
3900 F.C.V. Dender E.H. Denderleeuw 2022–23 Belgian National Division 1 1st (NatD1) Van Roystadion 6,429
322 Jong Genk Genk 2022–23 U23 competition 1st U23 competition Luminus Arena 24,956
3970 Lierse Kempenzonen Lier 2020–21 Belgian First Amateur Division 5th (D1B) Herman Vanderpoortenstadion 14,538
2554 Lommel SK Lommel 2018–19 Belgian First Amateur Division 6th (D1B) Soevereinstadion 8,000
5479 RWD Molenbeek Molenbeek, Brussels 2020–21 Belgian First Amateur Division 2nd (D1B) Edmond Machtens Stadium 12,266
16 SL16 FC Liège 2022–23 U23 competition 4th U23 competition Stade Maurice Dufrasne 30,023
200 R.E. Virton Virton 2021–22 Belgian Division 2 8th (D1B) Stade Yvan Georges 4,015

Personnel and kits
Club Manager Kit Manufacturer Sponsors
Beerschot Austria Andreas Wieland Erreà Yelo
Beveren Belgium Wim De Decker Uhlsport Star Casino
Club NXT Belgium Hayk Milkon [n 1] Macron Alheembouw
Deinze Belgium Marc Grosjean [n 2] Jako PlaysiaTV
Dender EH Belgium Regi Van Acker Nike Drankendiscount Stravbier
Jong Genk Belgium Hans Somers Nike Beobank
Lierse Kempenzonen Belgium Tom Van Imschoot Jako Keukens Van Lommel
Lommel England Steve Bould Masita Bingoal
RSCA Futures Belgium Guillaume Gillet [n 3] Joma DVV Insurance (home)
Candriam (away)
RWD Molenbeek Belgium Vincent Euvrard Joma Facebank
SL16 FC Germany Joseph Laumann Adidas VOO
Virton Belgium José Jeunechamps [n 4] Kipsta Leopard Natural

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position Replaced by Date of appointment
Deinze Belgium Wim De Decker Mutual consent [1] End of 2021–22 season Pre-season Japan Takahisa Shiraishi 19 May 2022 [2]
Beerschot Belgium Greg Vanderidt Replaced [3] Austria Andreas Wieland 23 May 2022 [3]
Lommel England Brian Eastick End of contract [4] England Steve Bould 3 June 2022 [4]
Beveren Spain Jordi Condom End of contract [5] Belgium Wim De Decker 5 June 2022 [5]
Club NXT Belgium Rik De Mil Promoted to Club Brugge as assistant [6] Belgium Nicky Hayen 15 June 2022 [5]
Virton Uruguay Pablo Correa End of contract [7] France Christian Bracconi 9 July 2022 [7]
SL16 FC Belgium Geoffrey Valenne Replaced [8] Germany Joseph Laumann 11 July 2022 [8]
Deinze Japan Takahisa Shiraishi Resigned [9] 29 September 2022 12th Spain Antonio Calderón (caretaker) 30 September 2022 [10]
Deinze Spain Antonio Calderón (caretaker) Caretaker replaced[11] 24 October 2022 12th Belgium Marc Grosjean 24 October 2022[11]
RSCA Futures Netherlands Robin Veldman Promoted to Anderlecht as caretaker [12] 24 October 2022 5th Belgium Guillaume Gillet 24 October 2022 [13]
Dender EH Belgium Regi Van Acker Sacked [14] 7 February 2023 9th Belgium Pieter De Bot (caretaker) 7 February 2023 [14]
Virton France Christian Bracconi Sacked [14] 7 February 2023 12th Belgium José Jeunechamps 7 February 2023 [14]
Dender EH Belgium Pieter De Bot Caretaker replaced [15] 13 February 2023 10th Belgium Timmy Simons 13 February 2023 [15]
Club NXT Belgium Nicky Hayen Promoted to Club Brugge as assistant [16] 15 March 2023 4th Belgium Hayk Milkon 15 March 2023 [17]

  1. Club NXT did not play its home matches at the same venue as the A-squad of Club Brugge (the Jan Breydel Stadium) but rather they moved to Roeselare to play in the Schiervelde Stadion.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 RWD Molenbeek (C, P) 32 21 6 5 65 29 +36 69 Promoted to Pro League
2 Beveren 32 20 8 4 75 33 +42 68
3 Beerschot 32 15 4 13 43 41 +2 49
4 Club NXT[lower-alpha 1] 32 14 7 11 51 48 +3 49
5 Lierse Kempenzonen 32 14 4 14 53 59 −6 46
6 RSCA Futures[lower-alpha 1] 32 9 10 13 45 55 −10 37
7 Lommel 32 16 3 13 53 46 +7 51
8 Deinze 32 15 4 13 49 47 +2 49
9 Dender EH 32 11 6 15 41 47 −6 39
10 SL16 FC[lower-alpha 1] 32 5 12 15 31 60 −29 27
11 Jong Genk[lower-alpha 1] 32 6 8 18 35 57 −22 26
12 Virton (R) 32 5 10 17 32 51 −19 25 Relegated to National Division 1
Source: Challengr Pro League
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.[18]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ineligible for promotion.

    Positions by round

    The table lists the positions of teams after the completion of each matchday, even if due to postponed matches this means the teams have an unequal number of games played. Coloured cells for matchdays 1 through 22 refer to being in the promotion play-offs (green) or relegation play-offs (red), after that only the 1st and last position are highlighted as these mean promotion and relegation respectively.

    Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132
    RWD Molenbeek64774766432222333321111111111111
    Beveren10101163553121111222212222222222222
    Beerschot32625214545533111133333334444333
    Club NXT51181099107666669876667454443333444
    Lierse Kempenzonen117211142213355444555545555555555
    RSCA Futures91346321354444557776766666666666
    Lommel16132435777776665444677777777777
    Deinze83581011129111210898788888888888888888
    Dender EH1212121212129111298987999999910101199999999
    SL16 FC48458678889101010101010101010101111101111111111111010
    Jong Genk259911101112101112121111111111111211119991010101010101111
    Virton7910117881091011111212121212121112121212121212121212121212
    Source: worldfootball.net

    Matches 1–22
    Home \ Away RWD BEV BEE LIE NXT AND LOM DEI GNK DEN STA VIR
    RWD Molenbeek 3–1 2–0 3–0 0–2 2–2 5–0 2–1 1–1 1–0 3–1 3–1
    Beveren 1–1 2–0 5–0 1–0 4–1 2–3 2–1 3–0 5–2 2–1 2–2
    Beerschot 0–1 1–0 2–3 1–0 1–2 0–2 2–0 3–2 1–1 1–0 3–0
    Lierse Kempenzonen 1–2 1–5 1–0 3–1 2–3 3–1 4–1 4–2 2–1 2–0 2–2
    Club NXT 2–1 2–2 1–2 1–0 2–2 2–1 2–0 3–1 4–1 2–2 1–0
    RSCA Futures 1–2 2–2 1–2 3–3 1–1 2–2 0–0 2–0 0–2 3–0 3–1
    Lommel 2–1 0–2 1–3 0–2 3–4 0–2 1–0 2–1 1–1 0–1 3–1
    Deinze 1–2 1–4 3–2 2–1 2–1 2–3 3–0 3–2 0–2 4–1 1–1
    Jong Genk 2–0 2–2 1–2 4–1 1–2 3–2 0–3 0–0 0–2 2–2 0–1
    Dender EH 0–1 0–3 2–3 2–3 3–2 2–1 1–4 0–1 0–1 0–1 3–4
    SL16 FC 1–4 2–2 2–2 2–4 0–0 1–3 0–3 1–2 2–2 1–1 2–1
    Virton 1–1 0–0 1–2 0–0 3–3 1–3 0–1 0–1 0–1 1–1 0–2
    Source: Flashscore
    Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

    Matches 23–32

    Season statistics

    Top scorers
    As of end of season[19]
    Rank Player Club Goals
    1 France Thierno Barry Beveren 20
    2 Martinique Mickaël Biron RWD Molenbeek 16
    3 Belgium Lucas Stassin RSCA Futures 15
    4 Democratic Republic of the Congo Dieumerci Mbokani Beveren 14
    5 Belgium Thibo Baeten Beerschot 13
    Brazil Lucas Ribeiro Costa Beveren
    Belgium Thibaut Van Acker Lierse Kempenzonen
    8 Portugal Leandro Rocha Lierse Kempenzonen 11
    9 Brazil Cauê Lommel 9
    Belgium Romeo Vermant Club NXT
    8 goals (4 players)
    7 goals (3 players)
    6 goals (12 players)
    5 goals (8 players)
    4 goals (12 players)
    3 goals (25 players)
    2 goals (41 players)
    1 goal (57 players)
    1 own goal (11 players)

    Team of the season

    Upon completion of the regular season a team of the season award was compiled, based upon the results of the team of the week results throughout the season, constructed based on nominations from managers, assistant-managers, journalists and analysts. The results were announced from 22 May 2023, with one player revealed each day.

    Pos PlayerClubRef
    GKNetherlandsBeau ReusBeveren[20]
    RBAlgeriaRafik BelghaliLommel[21]
    CBRepublic of IrelandJake O'BrienRWD Molenbeek[22]
    CBSerbiaAleksandar VukotićBeveren[23]
    LBBelgiumJoaquin SeysClub NXT[24]
    MFBelgiumRyan SanusiBeerschot[25]
    MFBelgiumYoussef ChalloukRWD Molenbeek[26]
    MFBelgiumGuillaume De SchryverLierse Kempenzonen[27]
    LWBelgiumKylian HazardRWD Molenbeek[28]
    FWFranceThierno BarryBeveren[29]
    RWBelgiumZakaria El OuahdiRWD Molenbeek[30]

    Number of teams by provinces
    Number of teams Province or region Team(s)
    3  East FlandersDeinze, Dender EH and Beveren
    2  AntwerpBeerschot and Lierse Kempenzonen
     BrusselsRSCA Futures and RWD Molenbeek
     LimburgJong Genk and Lommel
    1  LiègeSL16 FC
     LuxembourgVirton
     West FlandersClub NXT

    Notes
    1. Belgium Nicky Hayen was the manager for the regular season and the first three matchdays of the promotion play-off.
    2. Japan Takahisa Shiraishi was the manager for matchdays 1 through 6, Spain Antonio Calderón was caretaker manager from matchday 7 to 9.
    3. Netherlands Robin Veldman was the manager for matchdays 1 through 10.
    4. France Christian Bracconi was the manager for matchdays 1 through 16.

    References
    1. "De wegen van Wim De Decker en Deinze scheiden na dit seizoen" [Ways of Wim De Decker and Deinze part after this season]. Sporza (in Dutch). 2022-04-18.
    2. "Deinze maakt opmerkelijke trainerskeuze: onbekende Japanner hoofdcoach, volledig buitenlandse staf" [Deinze makes remarcable choice: unknown Japanese manager, entirely foreign staff]. Sporza (in Dutch). 2022-05-19.
    3. "Oostenrijkse coach Andreas Wieland moet Beerschot weer naar 1A stuwen" [Austrian manager Andreas Wieland to push Beerschot back to 1A]. Sporza (in Dutch). 2022-06-03.
    4. "SK Lommel trekt Steve Bould (ex-Arsenal) aan als nieuwe hoofdtrainer" [SK Lommel hires Steve Bould (ex-Arsenal) as new manager]. Sporza (in Dutch). 2022-06-03.
    5. "Waasland-Beveren rekent op Wim De Decker om club naar 1A te loodsen" [Waasland-Beveren count on Wim De Decker to guide the club back to 1A]. Sporza (in Dutch). 2022-06-05.
    6. "Club NXT haalt Nicky Hayen (41) terug uit Wales, hij volgt Rik De Mil op" [Club NXT brings back Nicky Hayen (41) from Wales, to succeed Rik De Mil]. Sporza (in Dutch). 2022-06-15.
    7. "Welgaume back Christian !" [Welcome back Christian!] (in French). R.E. Virton. 2022-07-09.
    8. "Joseph Laumann, nouveau coach des U23 au Standard" [Joseph Laumann, new manager of Standard U23]. DH/Les Sports+ (in French). 2022-07-11.
    9. "Japanse coach van Deinze houdt het voor bekeken na slecht seizoensbegin" [Japanse manager of Deinze resigns after poor start of season]. Sporza (in Dutch). 2022-09-29.
    10. "Voorbeschouwing Beerschot – KMSK Deinze: Nieuw begin na de 'interlandbreak'" [Preview Beerschot – KMSK Deinze: New start after 'international break'] (in Dutch). KMSK Deinze. 2022-09-30.
    11. "Marc Grosjean is de nieuwe hoofdcoach van KMSK Deinze" [Marc Grosjean new head coach of KMSK Deinze]. kmskdeinze.be (in Dutch). 2022-10-24.
    12. "Officieel: Anderlecht zet coach Felice Mazzu op straat, Veldman neemt tijdelijk over". 24 October 2022.
    13. "Guillaume Gillet nouveau coach des «RSCA Futures»: «J'ai été surpris par la proposition du club»". 30 October 2022.
    14. "FCV Dender neemt afscheid van Regi Van Acker, coach die hen naar 1B bracht" [FCV Dender says goodbye to Regi Van Acker, manager that brought them to 1B] (in Dutch). Sporza. 2023-02-07.
    15. "Timmy Simons volgt Regi Van Acker op: ex-Rode Duivel moet FC Dender in Challenger Pro League houden" [Timmy Simons succeeds Regi Van Acker: former Red Devil to maintain FC Dender in Challenger Pro League] (in Dutch). gva. 2023-02-13.
    16. "Rik De Mil kent zijn assistenten: Hayen en Colpaert zullen nieuwe coach van Club Brugge bijstaan" [Rik De Mil knows his assistants: Hayen and Colpaert to assist new Club Brugge manager]. hln.be (in Dutch). 2023-03-15.
    17. "Nieuwe T1 Hayk Milkon boekt eerste zege met swingend Club NXT: "Mooie apotheose na zware week"" [New T1 Hayk Milkon books first win with swinging Club NXT: "Nice apotheosis after tough week"]. nieuwsblad.be (in Dutch). 2023-03-19.
    18. "General terms Belgian competition" (PDF). kbvb.be. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
    19. "Spelersstatistieken". Retrieved 14 August 2021.
    20. "'XI van het Jaar' CPL // Beau REUS (doelman - SK Beveren)" ['XI of the year' CPL // Beau REUS (goalkeeper - SK Beveren)]. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
    21. "'XI van het Jaar' CPL // Rafik BELGHALI (rechtsachter - Lommel SK)" ['XI of the year' CPL // Rafik BELGHALI (rightback - Lommel SK)]. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
    22. "'XI van het Jaar' CPL // Jake O'BRIEN (centrumverdediger - RWDM)" ['XI of the year' CPL // Jake O'BRIEN (central defender - RWDM)]. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
    23. "'XI van het Jaar' CPL // Aleksandar VUKOTIC (centrumverdediger - SK Beveren)" ['XI of the year' CPL // Aleksandar VUKOTIC (central defender - SK Beveren)]. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
    24. "'XI van het Jaar' CPL // Joaquin SEYS (linksachter - Club NXT)" ['XI of the year' CPL // Joaquin SEYS (leftback - Club NXT)]. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
    25. "'XI van het Jaar' CPL // Ryan SANUSI (centrale middenvelder - Beerschot VA)" ['XI of the year' CPL // Ryan SANUSI (central midfielder - Beerschot VA)]. 27 May 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
    26. "'XI van het Jaar' CPL // Youssef CHALLOUK (centrale middenvelder - RWDM)" ['XI of the year' CPL // Youssef CHALLOUK (central midfielder - RWDM)]. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
    27. "'XI van het Jaar' CPL // Guillaume DE SCHRYVER (linksachter - Lierse)" ['XI of the year' CPL // Guillaume DE SCHRYVER (leftback - Lierse)]. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
    28. "'XI van het Jaar' CPL // Kylian HAZARD (linksbuiten - RWDM)" ['XI of the year' CPL // Kylian HAZARD (left winger - RWDM)]. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
    29. "'XI van het Jaar' CPL // Thierno BARRY (spits - SK Beveren)" ['XI of the year' CPL // Thierno BARRY (striker - SK Beveren)]. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
    30. "'XI van het Jaar' CPL // Zakaria EL OUAHDI (rechtsbuiten - RWDM)" ['XI of the year' CPL // Zakaria EL OUAHDI (right winger - RWDM)]. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
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