2012–13 in Belgian football

With no less than four players winning individual awards as best player in their league following conclusion of the 2011–12 season, namely Eden Hazard (in France), Vincent Kompany (in England), Kevin Mirallas (in Greece) and Jan Vertonghen (in the Netherlands), questions were raised how it was possible that Belgium had not managed to qualify for the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament. Moreover, this raised the belief that Belgium would qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, even with rather unexperienced head coach Marc Wilmots in charge after Georges Leekens quit in May 2012.

In a friendly before the actual qualifying campaign, the Red Devils managed to beat the Netherlands by a score of 4-2, with Dries Mertens the man of the match, scoring once and giving two assists. For once, a decent start was made, as Belgium won in Wales and kept Croatia to a 1-1 draw at home. The team continued on their good spirits, following up with a 0-3 win in Serbia, the biggest ever loss for the Serbian team, and a 2-0 win at home against Scotland. This left Belgium and Croatia together in the lead with 10 points out of 12 and with the other four teams trailing 6 or more points behind it already looked like they would be battling it out for first place. Also, by November Belgium moved into position 20 on the FIFA World Rankings, their highest position since 2004. Belgium finished the year 2012 with a 2-1 friendly loss in Romania.

In 2013, Belgium started with a 2-1 win against Slovakia, due to a last minute goal by Dries Mertens, before winning twice against Macedonia to keep their unbeaten status in the FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. In June, while having risen to a record high 12th position in the FIFA World Rankings, Belgium first beat United States 2-4 in a friendly in Cleveland, before winning their final qualifying match at home against Serbia 2-1. At the same time, Croatia lost at home to Scotland, allowing Belgium to take a three point lead.

2014 FIFA World Cup qualification

7 September 2012	Wales	0 – 2	Belgium	Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff
19:45 UTC+1		Report	Kompany 42' Vertonghen 83'	Attendance: 20,156 Referee: Stefan Johannesson (Sweden)

11 September 2012	Belgium	1 – 1	Croatia	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
20:45 UTC+2	Gillet 45+1'	Report	Perišić 6'	Attendance: 39,987 Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain)

12 October 2012	Serbia	0 – 3	Belgium	Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade
20:30 UTC+2		Report	Benteke 34' De Bruyne 68' Mirallas 90+1'	Attendance: 21,650 Referee: Pavel Královec (Czech Republic)

16 October 2012	Belgium	2 – 0	Scotland	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
20:45 UTC+2	Benteke 68' Kompany 71'	Report		Attendance: 44,132 Referee: Tom Harald Hagen (Norway)

22 March 2013	Macedonia	0 – 2	Belgium	Philip II Arena, Skopje
20:45 UTC+1		Report	De Bruyne 26' Hazard 62' (pen.)	Attendance: 15,947 Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Germany)

26 March 2013	Belgium	1 – 0	Macedonia	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
20:45 UTC+1	Hazard 62'	Report		Attendance: 44,230 Referee: Olegário Benquerença (Portugal)

7 June 2013	Belgium	2 – 1	Serbia	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
20:45 UTC+2	De Bruyne 13' Fellaini 60'	Report	Kolarov 87'	Attendance: 45,844 Referee: Stéphane Lannoy (France)

Friendlies

15 August 2012	Belgium	4 – 2	Netherlands	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
20:45 CEST	Benteke 20' Mertens 75' Lukaku 77' Vertonghen 80'	Report	Narsingh 54' Huntelaar 55'	Attendance: 46,000 Referee: Marijo Strahonja (Croatia)

14 November 2012	Romania	2 – 1	Belgium	Arena Națională, Bucharest
20:00 CET	Maxim 32' Torje 66' (pen.)	Report	Benteke 23'	Referee: Mauro Bergonzi (Italia)

6 February 2013	Belgium	2 – 1	Slovakia	Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges
20:45 CET	Hazard 10' (pen.) Mertens 90'	Report	Lásik 87'	Referee: Alon Yefet (Israel)

30 May 2013	United States	2 – 4	Belgium	FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland
2:11 CET	Cameron 24' Dempsey 80' (pen.)	Report	Mirallas 8' Benteke 57', 71' Fellaini 65'	Attendance: 27,720 Referee: Jeffrey Solís (Costa Rica)

Promotion and relegation

Team promoted to 2012–13 Belgian Pro League

Belgian Second Division Champions: Charleroi
Playoff winners: Waasland-Beveren

Teams relegated from 2011–12 Belgian Pro League

15th Place: Westerlo (lost playoff)
16th Place: Sint-Truiden

Teams promoted to 2012–13 Belgian Second Division

Belgian Third Division A Champions: Mouscron-Péruwelz
Belgian Third Division B Champions: Dessel Sport
Playoff winners: Oudenaarde

Teams relegated from 2011-12 Belgian Second Division

16th Place, lost playoff: Tienen
17th Place: Dender EH
18th Place: Wetteren

League competitions

Belgian Third Division

Belgian Third Division A

			P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
P	1	Hoogstraten VV	34	22	8	4	73	31	42	74
E	2	KRC Mechelen	34	18	10	6	55	37	18	64
E, P	3	Verbroedering Geel-Meerhout	34	17	10	7	65	37	28	61
	4	K. Rupel Boom FC	34	16	8	10	56	45	11	56
	5	K. Berchem Sport 2004	34	15	7	12	50	46	4	52
	6	R. Cappellen FC	34	14	9	11	57	38	19	51
	6	Torhout 1992 KM	34	14	9	11	42	37	5	51
	8	KFC Vigor Wuitens Hamme	34	12	12	10	49	44	5	48
	9	KVV Coxyde	34	12	10	12	54	42	12	46
	10	KSV Bornem	34	11	12	11	51	53	-2	45
	11	KSV Temse	34	11	10	13	39	51	-12	43
	12	K. Standaard Wetteren	34	10	12	12	46	56	-10	42
E	13	KMSK Deinze	34	10	9	15	51	60	-9	39
	13	K. Olsa Brakel	34	10	9	15	44	56	-12	39
	15	KV Turnhout	34	9	7	18	53	66	-13	34
	15	KFC Izegem	34	9	7	18	49	67	-18	34
R	17	KSK Ronse	34	8	7	19	47	73	-26	31
R	18	K. Racing Waregem	34	8	4	22	42	84	-42	28

Belgian Third Division B

			P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
P	1	R. Excelsior Virton	36	23	10	3	76	28	48	79
E	2	K. Bocholter VV	36	22	8	6	73	37	36	74
E	3	K. Patro Eisden Maasmechelen	36	18	13	5	63	36	27	67
	4	UR La Louvière Centre	36	18	9	9	70	34	36	63
	5	RFC Huy	36	14	10	12	51	43	8	52
	5	KSC Grimbergen	36	14	10	12	58	53	5	52
	7	RFC Union La Calamine	36	14	9	13	61	52	9	51
	7	Heppignies-Lambusart-Fleurus	36	14	9	13	50	51	-1	51
	9	FCV Dender EH	36	13	12	11	57	47	10	51
R	9	KVK Tienen	36	13	12	11	50	44	6	51
	11	RU Wallonne Ciney	36	14	8	14	52	58	-6	50
E	12	KV Woluwe-Zaventem	36	13	8	15	52	57	-5	47
	13	K. Diegem Sport	36	12	9	15	58	56	2	45
	14	RFC Tournai	36	12	7	17	46	51	-5	43
	15	R. Géants Athois	36	11	10	15	54	59	-5	43
	16	RCS Verviétois	36	9	14	13	42	54	-12	41
	17	R. Union Saint-Gilloise	36	9	11	16	46	53	-7	38
R	18	R. Entente Bertrigeoise	36	6	8	22	37	77	-40	26
R	19	FC Bleid-Gaume	36	3	1	32	12	128	-116	10

Third division play-off

All teams marked E entered a promotion playoff.

Only Verbroedering Geel-Meerhout succeeded in being promoted to the 2013-14 Belgian Second Division.

Transfers

Main article: List of Belgian football transfers summer 2012

Main article: List of Belgian football transfers winter 2012–13

European Club results

Champions Anderlecht and runners-up Club Brugge start in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League, while league numbers three and four, Genk and Gent play in the Europa League together with cup winners Lokeren.

Date	Team	Competition	Round	Leg	Opponent	Location	Score	Belgian Team Goalscorers
19 July 2012	Gent	Europa League	Qual. Round 2	Leg 1, Away	Differdange	Stade du Thillenberg, Differdange	0-1	Arzo
26 July 2012	Gent	Europa League	Qual. Round 2	Leg 2, Home	Differdange	Jules Ottenstadion, Ghent	3-2	Melli, Conté, Kola
1 August 2012	Anderlecht	Champions League	Qual. Round 3	Leg 1, Home	Ekranas	Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht	5-0	De Sutter, Kanu, Mbokani (2), Jovanović
1 August 2012	Club Brugge	Champions League	Qual. Round 3	Leg 1, Away	Copenhagen	Parken Stadium, Copenhagen	0-0
2 August 2012	Genk	Europa League	Qual. Round 3	Leg 1, Home	Aktobe	Cristal Arena, Genk	2-1	Vossen, Joseph-Monrose
2 August 2012	Gent	Europa League	Qual. Round 3	Leg 1, Away	Videoton	Sóstói Stadion, Székesfehérvár	1-0
8 August 2012	Anderlecht	Champions League	Qual. Round 3	Leg 2, Away	Ekranas	Aukštaitija Stadium, Panevėžys	0-6	Kljestan, Praet, Iakovenko, De Sutter, Molins, Canesin
8 August 2012	Club Brugge	Champions League	Qual. Round 3	Leg 2, Home	Copenhagen	Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges	2-3	Figueras, Odjidja
9 August 2012	Genk	Europa League	Qual. Round 3	Leg 2, Away	Aktobe	Aktobe Central Stadium, Aktobe	1-2	Benteke, Buffel
9 August 2012	Gent	Europa League	Qual. Round 3	Leg 2, Home	Videoton	Jules Ottenstadion, Ghent	0-3
21/22 August 2012	Anderlecht	Champions League	Play-off Round	Leg 1, Away	AEL Limassol	Tsirion Stadium, Limassol	2-1	Mbokani
23 August 2012	Club Brugge	Europa League	Play-off Round	Leg 1, Away	Debrecen	Stadion Oláh Gábor Út, Debrecen	0-3	Blondel, Refaelov, Bacca
23 August 2012	Genk	Europa League	Play-off Round	Leg 1, Away	Luzern	Swissporarena, Lucerne	2-1	Vossen
23 August 2012	Lokeren	Europa League	Play-off Round	Leg 1, Home	Viktoria Plzeň	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels	2-1	Harbaoui, Mij. Marić
28 August 2012	Anderlecht	Champions League	Play-off Round	Leg 2, Home	AEL Limassol	Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht	2-0	Mbokani, Iakovenko
30 August 2012	Club Brugge	Europa League	Play-off Round	Leg 2, Home	Debrecen	Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges	4-1	Larsen, Vázquez, Tchité, Bacca
30 August 2012	Genk	Europa League	Play-off Round	Leg 2, Home	Luzern	Cristal Arena, Genk	2-0	Fernández, Masika
30 August 2012	Lokeren	Europa League	Play-off Round	Leg 2, Away	Viktoria Plzeň	Stadion města Plzně, Plzeň	1-0
18 September 2012	Anderlecht	Champions League	Group Stage	Matchday 1, Away	AC Milan	San Siro, Milan	0-0
20 September 2012	Club Brugge	Europa League	Group Stage	Matchday 1, Away	Bordeaux	Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux	4-0
20 September 2012	Genk	Europa League	Group Stage	Matchday 1, Home	Videoton	Cristal Arena, Genk	3-0	Vossen, Buffel, De Ceulaer
3 October 2012	Anderlecht	Champions League	Group Stage	Matchday 2, Home	Málaga	Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht	0-3
4 October 2012	Club Brugge	Europa League	Group Stage	Matchday 2, Home	Marítimo	Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges	2-0	Bacca, Vleminckx
4 October 2012	Genk	Europa League	Group Stage	Matchday 2, Away	Basel	St. Jakob-Park, Basel	2-2	De Ceulaer, Vossen
24 October 2012	Anderlecht	Champions League	Group Stage	Matchday 3, Away	Zenit Saint Petersburg	Petrovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg	0-1
25 October 2012	Club Brugge	Europa League	Group Stage	Matchday 3, Away	Newcastle United	St James' Park, Newcastle	0-1
25 October 2012	Genk	Europa League	Group Stage	Matchday 3, Home	Sporting CP	Cristal Arena, Genk	2-0	De Ceulaer, Barda
6 November 2012	Anderlecht	Champions League	Group Stage	Matchday 4, Home	Zenit Saint Petersburg	Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht	1-0	Mbokani
8 November 2012	Club Brugge	Europa League	Group Stage	Matchday 4, Home	Newcastle United	Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges	2-2	Tričkovski, Jørgensen
8 November 2012	Genk	Europa League	Group Stage	Matchday 4, Away	Sporting CP	Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon	1-1	Plet
21 November 2012	Anderlecht	Champions League	Group Stage	Matchday 5, Home	AC Milan	Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht	1-3	De Sutter
22 November 2012	Club Brugge	Europa League	Group Stage	Matchday 5, Home	Bordeaux	Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges	1-2	Lestienne
22 November 2012	Genk	Europa League	Group Stage	Matchday 5, Away	Videoton	Sóstói Stadion, Székesfehérvár	1-0	Barda
4 December 2012	Anderlecht	Champions League	Group Stage	Matchday 6, Away	Málaga	La Rosaleda Stadium, Málaga	2-2	Jovanović, Mbokani
6 December 2012	Club Brugge	Europa League	Group Stage	Matchday 6, Away	Marítimo	Estádio dos Barreiros, Funchal	2-1	Refaelov
6 December 2012	Genk	Europa League	Group Stage	Matchday 6, Home	Basel	Cristal Arena, Genk	0-0
14 February 2013	Genk	Europa League	Round of 32	Leg 1, Away	Stuttgart	Mercedes-Benz Arena, Stuttgart	1-1	Plet
21 February 2013	Genk	Europa League	Round of 32	Leg 2, Home	Stuttgart	Cristal Arena, Genk	0-2

Other honours

Competition	Winner
Cup	Genk
Supercup	Anderlecht
Third division A	Hoogstraten
Third division B	Virton
Promotion A	Gent-Zeehaven
Promotion B	Londerzeel
Promotion C	Oosterzonen Oosterwijk
Promotion D	Sprimont-Comblain

European qualification for 2013-14 summary

Competition	Qualifiers	Reason for Qualification
UEFA Champions League Group Stage	Anderlecht	1st in Jupiler League
UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round for Non-Champions	Zulte Waregem	2nd in Jupiler League
UEFA Europa League Play-off Round	Genk	Cup winner
UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round	Club Brugge	3rd in Jupiler League
UEFA Europa League Second Qualifying Round	Standard Liège	Europa League Playoff winner

References

2012–13 in Belgian football

« 2011–12 2013–14 »

League competitions	Pro League Second Division

Cup competitions	Belgian Cup (Final) Super Cup

Transfers	Summer 2012 Winter 2012–13 Summer 2013

UEFA competitions	Champions League Europa League

Related to national team	2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying (Group A) Marc Wilmots

Club seasons

Pro League	Anderlecht Beerschot Cercle Brugge Charleroi Club Brugge Genk Gent Kortrijk Lierse Lokeren Mechelen Mons OH Leuven Standard Liège Waasland-Beveren Zulte-Waregem

Belgian Second Division	Aalst Antwerp Boussu Dour Brussels Dessel Eupen Heist Lommel United Mouscron-Péruwelz Oostende Oudenaarde Roeselare Sint-Niklaas Sint-Truiden Tubize Visé Westerlo WS Woluwe

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Football in Belgium

Royal Belgian Football Association

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League system

Men	Pro League Second division Third division (A, B) Fourth Division (A, B, C, D) Belgian Provincial leagues

Women	Super League Vrouwenvoetbal First Division Second Division Third Division BeNe League (2012-2015, with the Netherlands)

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Men	Belgian Cup Belgian Super Cup Belgian League Cup (defunct)

Women	Belgian Women's Cup BeNe Super Cup (2012-2015, with the Netherlands)

Awards

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