2021–22 Belgian First Division A

The 2021–22 Belgian First Division A (officially known as Jupiler Pro League due to sponsorship reasons) is the 119th season of top-tier football in Belgium.

Belgian First Division A
Season2021–22
Dates23 July 2021 – 22 May 2022
Matches played153
Goals scored468 (3.06 per match)
Top goalscorerDeniz Undav
(16 goals)
Biggest home winGent 6–1 Club Brugge
(29 August 2021)
RSC Anderlecht 7–2 KV Mechelen
(12 September 2021)
Biggest away winOostende 1–7 Union SG
(21 November 2021)
Highest scoringRSC Anderlecht 7–2 KV Mechelen
(12 September 2021)
Longest winning run5 matches
Union SG
Longest unbeaten run8 matches
Antwerp
Club Brugge
Longest winless run12 matches
Beerschot
Longest losing run7 matches
Beerschot
All statistics correct as of 5 December 2021.

Team changes

On the final matchday of the previous season, Royal Excel Mouscron was overtaken by Waasland-Beveren, pushing them into a direct relegation spot and thus causing the Mouscron team to return to the second level after six seasons. Waasland-Beveren would eventually face the same fate as a few weeks later they lost the Relegation play-off against Seraing, ending a span of nearly a decade at the top level.

The team from Seraing is a newcomer at the highest level, although a former team with the same name, R.F.C. Seraing (1904), last played at the top level 25 seasons ago and many supporters see the current Seraing as a continuation of the former. The place of Excel Mouscron was taken by 2020–21 Belgian First Division B champions and former Belgian giants Union SG, who return to the top level after 48 years and already gained 11 Belgian Championship titles, mostly in the 1900s and 1930s.

Format change

Originally, as decided in 2020, the clubs agreed to reduce the number of teams again to 16 following the 2021–22 season, as due to the COVID-19 pandemic exceptionally no teams were relegated from the 2019–20 Belgian First Division A, which causing the league to temporarily expand to 18. This would mean that there would be three teams relegating from the 2021–22 Belgian First Division A with only one team promoted from the 2021–22 Belgian First Division B. However, on 14 June 2021, the clubs agreed to keep playing with 18 teams at the highest level up to (and including) the 2022–23 season, meaning that the 2021–22 Belgian First Division would continue the format of the previous season, with only one team relegating and the penultimate team playing a play-off match against the runner-up up the 2021–22 Belgian First Division B to avoid relegation. The title and Europa League playoffs remain shortened, with only the top four teams playing for the title and number 5 through 8 playing the Europa League playoffs. For the teams finishing in positions 9 through 16, the season ends immediately following the regular season. The request to keep playing with 18 teams at the highest level mainly came from the smaller teams which were already struggling following the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bigger clubs agreed to continue the current format but demanded that U23 teams be permanently added to the lower leagues. As such, the intention is that from the 2022–23 season on, there will be 4 U23 teams playing added to each of the second, third and fourth level of Belgian football, with the final standings of the 2021–22 U23 league to determine which team will start at which level.[1]

Teams

Stadiums and locations
Locations of the 2021–22 Belgian First Division A teams
Matricule Club Location Venue Capacity
35 Anderlecht Anderlecht Lotto Park 21,500
1 Antwerp Antwerp Bosuilstadion 16,144
13 Beerschot Antwerp Olympic Stadium 12,771
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
31 Oostende Ostend Versluys Arena 08,432
18 Oud-Heverlee Leuven Leuven Den Dreef 10,000
167 Seraing Seraing Stade du Pairay 8,207
373 Sint-Truiden Sint-Truiden Stayen 14,600
16 Standard Liège Liège Stade Maurice Dufrasne 30,023
10 Union SG Saint-Gilles Stade Joseph Marien 8,000
5381 Zulte Waregem Waregem Regenboogstadion 12,500

Personnel and kits
Club Manager Kit Manufacturer Sponsors
Anderlecht Vincent Kompany Joma DVV Insurance (home)
Candriam (away)
Antwerp Brian Priske Jako Ghelamco
Beerschot Javier Torrente [n 1] XIII[n 2] Yelo
Cercle Brugge Dominik Thalhammer [n 3] Kappa Napoleon Games
Charleroi Edward Still Kappa Lotto
Club Brugge Philippe Clement Macron Unibet
Eupen Stefan Krämer Adidas Qatar Airways
Genk Bernd Storck [n 4] Nike Beobank
Gent Hein Vanhaezebrouck Craft VDK Bank
Kortrijk Karim Belhocine [n 5] Jako AGO Jobs & HR
Mechelen Wouter Vrancken Erreà Telenet
OH Leuven Marc Brys Adidas King Power
Oostende Alexander Blessin Kipsta Star Casino
Seraing Jordi Condom Kappa Star Casino
Sint-Truiden Bernd Hollerbach Macron DMM.com
Standard Liège Luka Elsner [n 6] Adidas VOO
Union SG Felice Mazzù Le Coq Sportif Lotto
Zulte-Waregem Francky Dury Patrick Napoleon Games

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position Replaced by Date of appointment
Charleroi Karim Belhocine Sacked[2] End of 2020–21 season [n 7] Pre-season Edward Still 16 May 2021[3]
Eupen Beñat San José Left[4] Stefan Krämer 9 June 2021[5]
Beerschot Will Still Replaced[6] Peter Maes 20 May 2021[6]
Seraing Emilio Ferrera Left for coaching position at Gent[7][8] Jordi Condom 28 May 2021[9]
Sint-Truiden Peter Maes Left for Beerschot[6] Bernd Hollerbach 5 June 2021[10]
Antwerp Franky Vercauteren Replaced by Priske[11] Brian Priske 29 May 2021[11]
Beerschot Peter Maes Sacked[12] 15 September 2021 18th Marc Noë (caretaker) 15 September 2021[12]
Beerschot Marc Noë Caretaker replaced[13] 21 September 2021 18th Javier Torrente 21 September 2021[13]
Standard Liège Mbaye Leye Sacked[14] 5 October 2021 12th Luka Elsner 7 October 2021[15]
Kortrijk Luka Elsner Signed for Standard Liège[15] 7 October 2021 8th Karim Belhocine 12 October 2021[16]
Cercle Brugge Yves Vanderhaeghe Sacked[17] 28 November 2021 17th Dominik Thalhammer 28 November 2021[18]
Genk John van den Brom Sacked[19] 6 December 2021 8th Bernd Storck 7 December 2021[20]

Number of teams by provinces
Number of teams Province or region Team(s)
5  West FlandersCercle Brugge, Club Brugge, Kortrijk, Oostende and Zulte Waregem
3  Antwerp

Antwerp, Beerschot and Mechelen

 LiègeEupen, Seraing and Standard Liège
2  BrusselsAnderlecht and Union SG
 Limburg

Genk and Sint-Truiden

1  East FlandersGent
 Flemish BrabantOud-Heverlee Leuven
 HainautCharleroi

Regular season

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Union SG 18 13 1 4 45 18 +27 40 Qualification for the Europa Conference League and Play-offs I[lower-alpha 1]
2 Club Brugge 18 10 6 2 35 23 +12 36 Qualification for the Play-offs I
3 Anderlecht 19 9 7 3 41 24 +17 34
4 Antwerp 18 10 3 5 32 21 +11 33
5 Charleroi 18 9 5 4 32 22 +10 32 Qualification for the Play-offs II
6 Gent 18 9 3 6 28 17 +11 30
7 Kortrijk 19 7 7 5 22 22 0 28
8 Mechelen 18 8 3 7 29 31 −2 27
9 Eupen 18 7 4 7 28 26 +2 25
10 Standard Liège 18 6 5 7 21 31 −10 23
11 Genk 18 6 4 8 31 30 +1 22
12 Cercle Brugge 19 6 4 9 24 25 −1 22
13 Sint-Truiden 19 6 3 10 19 29 −10 21
14 Oostende 19 6 2 11 21 39 −18 20
15 OH Leuven 18 4 8 6 23 29 −6 20
16 Seraing 19 6 1 12 23 38 −15 19
17 Zulte Waregem 18 4 5 9 27 41 −14 17 Qualification for the Relegation play-off
18 Beerschot 18 2 3 13 15 32 −17 9 Relegation to First Division B
Updated to match(es) played on 14 December 2021. 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.[21]
Notes:
  1. The regular season winners will qualify for the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League if they do not qualify for the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League in the playoffs or for the 2022–23 UEFA Europa League through the 2021–22 Belgian Cup.

Positions by round

The table lists the positions of teams after completion of each round.

Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920
Union SG271141225311111111
Club Brugge746323111422233332
Antwerp1318131141512103243322223
Charleroi12489748121197555544
Anderlecht161796312756786686655
Gent1414171214111516131412910107766
Mechelen481415101316129655444477
Eupen8115412642134879898
Kortrijk312955867810899119109
Standard Liège123127363711121313121312121310
Genk91310564534561076810811
Sint-Truiden5611131614911891112131110111112
Oostende181032681191010711111213151213
OH Leuven111216171717171717161615141414131414
Seraing1791516119101314131416161615141515
Cercle Brugge657101216131416171717171717171716
Zulte Waregem10168141310141515151514151516161617
Beerschot1515181818181818181818181818181818181818
Updated to match(es) played on 12 December 2021. Source: worldfootball.net

Results
Home \ Away USG CLU AND ANT CHA GNT KVK KVM EUP STA GNK CER STR OHL OOS SER ZWA BEE
Union SG — 0–1 1–2 4–0 26 Dec 2–0 2–0 4–0 18 Dec 1–3 4–2 2–1
Club Brugge — 19 Dec 2–0 2–2 2–2 1–1 14 Jan 1–1 3–0 3–2 3–0 3–2
Anderlecht 1–3 1–1 — 1–1 1–1 7–2 16 Jan 2–0 2–2 3–0 3–2 4–2
Antwerp 1–1 2–0 — 16 Jan 1–0 0–1 16 Dec 2–3 4–2 2–2 3–0 2–1
Charleroi 0–1 1–3 1–1 — 0–2 3–0 2–0 0–0 27 Dec 1–0 5–2
Gent 0–2 6–1 2–3 — 15 Jan 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–0 2–1 18 Dec 2–2
Kortrijk 26 Dec 2–2 1–0 — 2–2 1–2 0–2 2–1 1–0 2–0 1–1
Mechelen 3–1 2–1 3–2 15 Dec — 1–3 3–1 1–1 0–1 2–0 27 Dec 2–2
Eupen 2–3 1–1 0–1 19 Dec 2–2 — 3–2 16 Jan 2–1 1–2 1–1 1–0
Standard Liège 0–1 2–5 0–3 1–1 1–0 — 1–1 1–2 2–2 1–0 26 Dec 15 Dec
Genk 1–1 2–3 1–0 19 Dec 16 Dec 0–3 — 1–1 4–0 3–4 3–0 16 Jan
Cercle Brugge 0–3 26 Dec 1–2 0–1 1–2 3–1 1–2 1–1 — 0–1 1–1 2–0
Sint-Truiden 1–2 1–2 2–2 2–1 2–1 0–2 27 Dec 1–2 1–2 — 1–1 1–3
OH Leuven 15 Dec 1–1 0–1 2–1 15 Jan 1–4 19 Dec 4–1 — 1–0 1–3 1–1 0–0
Oostende 1–7 2–2 0–3 1–0 0–2 2–4 2–1 26 Dec 2–1 — 0–2 3–1
Seraing 15 Jan 0–5 1–3 0–0 17 Dec 1–0 0–1 2–1 2–0 2–3 — 5–1
Zulte Waregem 15 Dec 0–4 2–1 2–2 1–2 2–2 18 Dec 1–2 2–6 2–4 15 Jan — 2–0
Beerschot 0–3 27 Dec 0–1 0–1 0–3 0–1 2–0 0–1 0–1 18 Dec 3–0 —
Updated to match(es) played on 14 December 2021. Source: Jupiler Pro League (in Dutch), Soccerway
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Results by round
Team ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
AnderlechtLDWWDLWWDDDWDLDWWWW
AntwerpLLWDWDWWWWLDWWLWWL
BeerschotLDLLLLLLLDLLWDWLLL
Cercle BruggeWDDLLLWLLLLDLDLWWWW
CharleroiWDDDDWWLLDWWWLWLWW
Club BruggeDWDWWLWWDDWDWDLWWW
EupenDDWWWLLWWWLLLDLDLW
GenkDLWWLWDWWLLLWDLLDL
GentLDLWDWLLWLWWLDWWWW
KortrijkWWLLWDLWDDLWDDDDLWW
MechelenWLLLWDLWWWWDWLWLDL
OH LeuvenDDDLLDWLDDDWDWLWLL
OostendeLWWWLLLWDDWLLLLLWLL
Union SGWLWWLWDWLWWWWWWLWW
SeraingLWLLWWLLLWLLLDWWLLL
Sint-TruidenWDLLLWWLWDDLLWWLLLL
Standard LiègeDWLWWLWLLLDDDDWLLW
Zulte WaregemDLWLDWLLDLWDLDLWLL
Updated to match(es) played on 14 December 2021. Source: Soccerway

Season statistics
As of 14 December 2021

Top scorers & assists

Source: Soccerway

Assists ranking
Rank Player Club Assists
1 Jean-Luc Dompé Zulte Waregem 9
2 Noa Lang Club Brugge 8
Deniz Undav Union SG
Dante Vanzeir Union SG
5 Sergio Gómez Anderlecht 7
6 6 players 6

Notes
  1. Peter Maes was the manager for matchdays 1 through 7, while Marc Noë took the honours as caretaker manager on matchday 8.
  2. An apparel brand made by club.
  3. Yves Vanderhaeghe was the manager for matchdays 1 through 16.
  4. John van den Brom was the manager for matchdays 1 through 17.
  5. Luka Elsner was the manager for matchdays 1 through 10 before moving to Standard Liège.
  6. Mbaye Leye was the manager for matchdays 1 through 10.
  7. Belhocine and Charleroi announced their separation on 20 April 2021, but Belhocine would remain in charge for the remaining training sessions. Charleroi had no more matches left as it had not qualified for any of the play-offs and hence was in no rush to appoint a new manager.

References
  1. "Pro League kiest voor nog minstens 2 seizoenen 1A met 18 teams". 14 June 2021.
  2. "Charleroi ontslaat trainer Karim Belhocine na slechte resultaten" [Charleroi sacks manager Karim Belhocine following poor results] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2021-04-20.
  3. "Edward Still (30) debuteert als hoofdcoach in Charleroi" [Edward Still (30) to make debut as manager at Charleroi] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2021-05-16.
  4. "Eupen ziet zijn Spaanse coach vertrekken: "Tijd voor nieuwe uitdaging"" [Eupen sees Spanish manager depart: "Time for new challenge"] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2021-04-27.
  5. "Eupen heeft nieuwe trainer beet: Duitser Stefan Krämer neemt over" [Eupen snatches new manager: German Stefan Krämer takes over] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2021-06-09.
  6. "Peter Maes neemt het stuur over bij Beerschot, STVV "betreurt" die beslissing" [Peter Maes takes control at Beerschot, STVV "regrets" decision] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2021-05-20.
  7. "Emilio Ferrera Quitte Seraing" [Emilio Ferrera Quitte Seraing] (in French). Walfoot.be. 2021-05-17.
  8. "Emilio Ferrera (53) ruilt promovendus Seraing voor een job bij AA Gent" [Emilio Ferrera (53) exchanges promoted Seraing for a job at AA Gent] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2021-05-26.
  9. "Seraing trekt met Jordi Condom als coach naar 1A" [Seraing moves to 1A with Jordi Condom as manager] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2020-05-28.
  10. "Bernd Hollerbach (ex-Moeskroen) volgt Peter Maes op als coach van STVV" [Bernd Hollerbach (ex-Mouscron) succeeds Peter Maes as manager of STVV] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2020-06-05.
  11. "Officieel: Brian Priske volgt Frank Vercauteren op als coach van Antwerp" [Official: Brian Priske succeeds Frank Vercauteren as manager of Antwerp] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2021-05-29.
  12. "Beerschot zorgt voor eerste trainersontslag: Peter Maes moet weg na 1 op 21" [Beerschot causes first managerial sacking: Peter Maes told to go after 1 out of 21] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2021-09-15.
  13. "Argentijn Javier Torrente moet Beerschot in de hoogste klasse houden" [Argentinian Javier Torrente to maintain Beerschot in highest division] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2021-09-21.
  14. "Zieltogend Standard doet niet meer voort met Mbaye Leye na drama in Mechelen" [Moribund Standard no longer continues with Mbaye Leye after drama in Mechelen] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2021-10-05.
  15. "Luka Elsner verbreekt contract bij Kortrijk en wordt coach van Standard" [Luka Elsner terminates contract at Kortrijk to become manager of Standard] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2021-10-07.
  16. "KV Kortrijk verwelkomt Karim Belhocine opnieuw als coach en start kort geding tegen KBVB" [KV Kortrijk welcomes Karim Belhocine again as manager and starts legal proceedings against Belgian FA] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2021-10-12.
  17. "Cercle Brugge zet Yves Vanderhaeghe op straat ondanks zege tegen KVM" [Cercle Brugge sacks Yves Vanderhaeghe despite win against KVM] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2021-11-28.
  18. "Oostenrijker Dominik Thalhammer is opvolger van Yves Vanderhaeghe" [Austrian Dominik Thalhammer is successor of Yves Vanderhaeghe] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2021-11-28.
  19. "Van den Brom moet nu toch vertrekken bij Genk, T2 Riddersholm neemt over" [Van den Brom to leave Genk after all, assistant Riddersholm takes over] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2021-12-06.
  20. "Racing Genk rekent op oude bekende Bernd Storck om het tij te keren" [Racing Genk counting on old familiar Bernd Storck to turn the tide] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2021-12-07.
  21. "Bondsreglement Titel 7: Competities" [Associtation Rules Title 7: Competitions] (PDF). Royal Belgian Football Association. p. 19. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
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