FC Brussels
| Full name | Football Club Molenbeek Brussels |
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| Nickname(s) | Les Coalisés (The United) | ||
| Founded | November 30, 1932 | ||
| Ground | Stade Edmond Machtens, Molenbeek-Saint-Jean (Capacity: 11,266) |
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| Chairman | Johan Vermeersch | ||
| Manager | Michel De Wolf | ||
| League | Belgian Second Division | ||
| 2009–10 | Belgian Second Division, 14th | ||
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F.C. Molenbeek Brussels Strombeek, often simply referred to as FC Brussels, is a Belgian association football club based in the municipality of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean in Brussels. They have been playing in the second division since 2008–09. The club was formed in 2003 by the merger of RWD Molenbeek and KFC Strombeek, a club from the Brussels suburb of Strombeek-Bever. By taking over Strombeek's matricule n°1936, They subsequently lost Molenbeek's honours, which included a first division title. FC Brussels play at the Stade Edmond Machtens, Molenbeek's former stadium. Their highest league ranking is a 10th place in the first division in 2005–06.
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History
FC Strombeek first registered at the Royal Belgian Football Association in 1932.[1] After many seasons played at the lower levels of Belgian football, Strombeek first reached the third division by winning the Promotion D - Belgium's 4th highest level of football - in 1995–96.[2] After three seasons at that level, they won the third division A in 1999–2000, gaining promotion to the second division for the first time in their history. They finished at the 10th place in the second division in 2000–01.[3] The next season, Strombeek finished at the 9th place. At the same time, the club of RWD Molenbeek, though ranked 10th in the first division, were refused their professional license, and were subsequently relegated to the third division, struggling with financial problems. At this moment, RWD Molenbeek chairman Johan Vermeersch started trying to merge his club with KFC Strombeek, in order to clear their debts and play at the second level instead of the third level. Therefore, RWD Molenbeek was terminated, with KFC Strombeek moving from the Singelstadion, their stadium in Grimbergen to Molenbeek's stadium, the Stade Edmond Machtens.[4] KFC Strombeek finished at the 9th place again in the second division in the 2002–03 season. Finally, former RWD Molenbeek and KFC Strombeek merged, with only 2 players from Strombeek remaining at the club[5], and the new club was named FC Molenbeek Brussels Strombeek, with the aim to promote to the first division the next season.[6]
The new club won the second division right away under the coaching of Harm van Veldhoven but the manager was eventually fired in the summer. The new coach Emilio Ferrera made a bad start with the team at the highest level and was replaced by former Belgium manager Robert Waseige during the 2004–05 season. Although Waseige managed to prevent Brussels' relegation (the team finished 15th) he resigned at the end of the season. The chairman Johan Vermeersch then hired Frenchman Albert Cartier for the 2005–06 season. It turned out to be the club's best season as they reached their highest ranking in their history, the 10th place in the first division. At the end of a disastrous 2007–08 season, FC Brussels found themselves far adrift at the bottom of the table, 8 points behind Sint-Truidense with whom they were relegated to the second division.
Timeline
RWD Molenbeek had itself been created by the merger of earlier clubs. The timeline below shows visually the history of the various clubs that went into the creation of FC Brussels.
Honours
- Belgian Second Division:
- Winners (1): 2003-04
- Belgian Third Division A:
- Winners (1): 1999-2000
Players
Current squad
As of October 15, 2011[7]
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Noted players
- 2000's
Noted managers
- 2000's
References
- ^ "Belgium - Overview of teams". Pluto. http://users.skynet.be/pluto/Textbelgium/Teams.html. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
- ^ "Classements finals des divisions supérieures 1995–96". footbel.be. http://www.footbel.com/documents/COMPETITIES/Eindklassementen/S1995-1996FR.pdf. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
- ^ "Belgium - Final Tables 1895-2008". RSSSF Archive. http://www.rsssf.com/tablesb/belghist.html. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
- ^ "Le déménagement". dhnet.be. http://www.dhnet.be/dhjournal/archives_det.phtml?id=158129. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
- ^ "Longrie et Dessaer, seuls rescapés". dhnet.be. http://www.dhnet.be/dhjournal/archives_det.phtml?id=246590. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
- ^ "Autre matricule, même esprit". dhnet.be. http://www.dhnet.be/dhjournal/archives_det.phtml?id=253932. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
- ^ FC Brussels: Staff - Footgoal.net
External links
- (French) (Dutch) Official website
- (French) (Dutch) FCBrussels.net By Fred K.
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