R. Charleroi S.C.

Sporting du Pays de Charleroi (often simply known as Charleroi or Sporting Charleroi, or by their nickname Les Zèbres) is a Belgian football club based in the city of Charleroi, in the province of Hainaut. Charleroi plays in the Belgian Pro League and their current spell at the highest level in Belgian football has started in the 1985–86 season. Charleroi was founded in 1904 and they first reached the first division in 1947–48. Their highest finish was runner-up in the 1968–69 season. They also reached twice the Belgian Cup final, losing in 1977-78 to Beveren and in 1992-93 to Standard Liège.

Sporting Charleroi have a long-standing rivalry with city other club ROC de Charleroi-Marchienne, currently playing in the third division. Charleroi play their home matches at the Stade du Pays de Charleroi, which was refurbished for the UEFA Euro 2000. The stadium hosted 3 group stage games in the Euro 2000 among which the 1-0 victory of England against Germany. Charleroi have been recruiting several French players in recent years, including Michaël Ciani, Cyril Théréau and goalkeeper Bertrand Laquait.

History

Charleroi Sporting Club was founded in 1904 and they received the matricule n°22 following their registration to the Royal Belgian Football Association on November 24, 1907. Twenty years after their foundation, they qualified to play in the Promotion (then the second level in Belgian football) and in 1929, the club changed its name to Royal Charleroi Sporting Club. Rivals from Olympic Charleroi were playing in the first division in the late 1930s and the 1940s, while Sporting Charleroi was playing one level down, until they promoted in 1947. In 1949, Sporting Charleroi finished 4th (2 points behind Standard Liège) whereas Olympic Charleroi was 14th. But Olympic took the lead again until 1955 and their relegation to the second division. At the end of the 1956–57 season, Olympic Charleroi had promoted to the first division but Sporting Charleroi finished last in the first division and was thus relegated to the second division. A spell of 9 seasons in the second division followed and in 1966–67 Sporting Charleroi was back at the top level. They finished at the second place in 1968-69 5 points behind Standard Liège but within two years they were relegated again.

In 1974 the first division was changing from 16 to 20 teams and Sporting Charleroi was chosen to play at the top level. Olympic Charleroi promoted too as they had won the second division right before but they remained at the top level for just one season. Sporting underwent a new relegation in 1979–80 (17th on 18) but was back five years later. Their best result since then in the first division is a 4th place in 1993–94. In September 2005, the G-14 took FIFA to court over the 8 month injury incurred by Abdelmajid Oulmers whilst on international duty with Morocco.

Colours and badge

The colours of Charleroi are black and white with a shirt generally striped, which lead to the team being nicknamed The Zebras. In the 2005-06 season the team's away kit was pink.

Stadium

Main article: Stade du Pays de Charleroi

The actual ground was baptized in 1939 with a match Sporting-Union du Centre and it was located near the coal mine named Mambourg. In 1985 the stadium was slightly modernized as the club had qualified for the first division. It was then heavily renewed in the late 1990s in view of the 2000 European Football Championship. The name changed on May 24, 1999 from Stade du Mambourg to Stade du Pays de Charleroi. During the tournament, the full capacity of the stadium was up to 30,000 seats. The Stade du Pays de Charleroi hosted notably the match between Germany and England. The highest stand was eventually reduced and the capacity is now 25,000.

Honours

• Belgian First Division:
  • Runners-up (1): 1968-69
• Belgian Second Division:
  • Winners (1): 1946-47
  • Runners-up (1): 1965-66
• Belgian Second Division Final Round:
  • Winners (1): 1985
• Belgian Cup:
  • Runners-up (2): 1977-78, 1992–93

European record

As of December, 2008.

A = appearances, B = matches played, C = won, D = drawn, E = lost, F = goals for, G = goals against.

Players

Current squad

As of 2 July, 2011

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

For recent transfers, see List of Belgian football transfers summer 2011.

Noted players

Managers

• Aimé Anthuenis (1987–89)
• Georges Leekens (1994–95)
• Robert Waseige (1992–94, 1997–2000 and 2003–04)
• Jacky Mathijssen (2004–07 and 2010)
• Philippe Vande Walle (2007)
• Thierry Siquet (2007–08)
• John Collins (2008–09)
• Stéphane Demol (2009)
• Tommy Craig (2009–10)
• Jacky Mathijssen (2009)
• Stéphane Demol (2009)
• Jos Daerden (2011)

References

External links

• (French) Official Website
• (English) Charleroi SC at UEFA.com
• Charleroi SC at EUFO.DE
• Charleroi SC at Weltfussball.de
• Charleroi SC at Playerhistory.com
• Charleroi SC at Transfermarkt.de
• Charleroi SC at Football Squads.com
• Charleroi SC at National Football Teams.com
• Charleroi SC at Football-Lineups.com