F. C. Molenbeek Brussels Strombeek
Encyclopedia
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.
by winning the Promotion D
- Belgium's 4th highest level of football - in 1995–96. 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. 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. 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, and the new club was named FC Molenbeek Brussels Strombeek, with the aim to promote to the first division the next season.
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.
Steve Colpaert
Bertrand Crasson
Igor de Camargo
Eric Deflandre
Dieter Dekelver
Alan Haydock
Patrick Nys
Kristof Snelders
Zola Matumona
Richard Culek
Julien Gorius
Bjørn Helge Riise
Cheikhou Kouyaté Dalibor Veselinović
Olof Guterstam
Hervé Oussalé
Dedryck Boyata
Robert Waseige
Albert Cartier
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
association football club based in the municipality of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean
Molenbeek-Saint-Jean
Sint-Jans-Molenbeek or Molenbeek-Saint-Jean is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium.-Rural beginnings:...
in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. They have been playing in the second division
Belgian Second Division
The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,...
since 2008–09
2008–09 in Belgian football
The following article presents a summary of the 2008–09 football season in Belgium, which is the 115th season of competitive football in the country.-Honours:-Belgian Second Division:-European Club Results:...
. The club was formed in 2003 by the merger of RWD Molenbeek and KFC Strombeek, a club from the Brussels suburb of Strombeek-Bever
Strombeek-Bever
Strombeek-Bever is an urbanised town with about 11,500 inhabitants in the municipality of Grimbergen, in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium. A suburb on the north side of Brussels, it is separated from Grimbergen proper by the R0 ring road around the city...
. 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.
History
FC Strombeek first registered at the Royal Belgian Football Association in 1932. After many seasons played at the lower levels of Belgian football, Strombeek first reached the third divisionBelgian Third Division
The Belgian Third Division is the third highest level in Belgian football. It has two leagues of 18 teams each at the same level. This competition, known as the Belgian Promotion was first played in the 1926-27 season with three leagues, then with four leagues between 1931 and 1952. From 1952...
by winning the Promotion D
Belgian Promotion D
The Belgian Promotion D is one of the four leagues at the fourth level of the Belgian football league system, the other ones being the Belgian Promotion A, B and C. This division has existed since the 1952-53 season and is played every year with 16 clubs in each league.The season is divided into...
- Belgium's 4th highest level of football - in 1995–96. After three seasons at that level, they won the third division A
Belgian Third Division A
The Belgian Third Division A is one of the two leagues at the third level of the Belgian football league system, the other one being the Belgian Third Division B. This division has existed since the 1952-53 season and is played every year with 16 clubs...
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. 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
Belgian professional football license
The Belgian professional football license is a license that any team qualified to play the Belgian Pro League must have obtained. If a qualified team does not obtain the license, it is relegated to the third division. When the license was introduced, it was decided that a team without the license...
, and were subsequently relegated to the third division
Belgian Third Division
The Belgian Third Division is the third highest level in Belgian football. It has two leagues of 18 teams each at the same level. This competition, known as the Belgian Promotion was first played in the 1926-27 season with three leagues, then with four leagues between 1931 and 1952. From 1952...
, 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
Grimbergen
Grimbergen is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The municipality comprises the towns of Beigem, Grimbergen, Humbeek and Strombeek-Bever. On January 1, 2006 Grimbergen had a total population of 33,965. The total area is...
to Molenbeek's stadium, the Stade Edmond Machtens. 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, and the new club was named FC Molenbeek Brussels Strombeek, with the aim to promote to the first division the next season.
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
Emilio Ferrera
Emilio Ferrera is a Belgian former football player and coach of Panthrakikos F.C..-Player:*1975–1982 Crossing Club de Schaerbeek*1982–1983 RSC Anderlecht*1983–1986 Eendracht Aalst*1986–1987 SC Wolvertem...
made a bad start with the team at the highest level and was replaced by former Belgium manager Robert Waseige
Robert Waseige
Robert Waseige is a Belgian football manager and a former player. He became the coach of Belgium before the Euro 2000 and lead Belgium to the second round at the 2002 World Cup....
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
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Albert Cartier
Albert Cartier
Albert Cartier, born November 22, 1960, in Vagney, Vosges, is a former football player and manager.-Coaching career:He was fired from FC Brussels on January 2008 for bad results and did not reach a new agreement with RAEC Mons. On 12 January 2010 the French coach has left Panthrakikos, a...
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 DivisionBelgian Second DivisionThe Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,...
:- Winners (1): 2003-04
- Belgian Third Division ABelgian Third Division AThe Belgian Third Division A is one of the two leagues at the third level of the Belgian football league system, the other one being the Belgian Third Division B. This division has existed since the 1952-53 season and is played every year with 16 clubs...
:- Winners (1): 1999-2000
Current squad
As of October 15, 2011Noted players
2000'sSteve Colpaert
Steve Colpaert
Steve Colpaert is a Belgian international footballer who plays professionally for Zulte Waregem, as a defender.-Career:Born in Etterbeek, Colpaert began his senior career during the 2004-05 season with FC Brussels....
Bertrand Crasson
Bertrand Crasson
Bertrand Crasson is a former Belgian footballer, in the position of right/center back.He started his career at Anderlecht , moving abroad to Serie A's Napoli in 1996-98, before rejoining his previous side for five more seasons...
Igor de Camargo
Igor De Camargo
Igor de Camargo is a naturalized Belgian football player, currently playing for Borussia Mönchengladbach in the German Bundesliga.-Career:...
Eric Deflandre
Eric Deflandre
Eric Deflandre is a former Belgian football right fullback.-Club career:Deflandre first signed to Wandre Union but after one year he joined Liège side R.F.C. de Liège. He then left for Germinal Ekeren in 1995. In 1996, he signed for Club Brugge.In 2000, Deflandre moved to Olympique Lyonnais in...
Dieter Dekelver
Dieter Dekelver
Dieter Dekelver is a Belgian football player who currently is attached to VC Westerlo. He is known to be an easily scoring striker....
Alan Haydock
Alan Haydock
Alan John Steve Haydock is a Belgian football player of British descent who plays in the midfield. He currently plays for A.F.C. Tubize....
Patrick Nys
Patrick Nys
Patrick Nys is a Belgian former football goalkeeper who lasted played for F.C. Brussels. As of the summer of 2010, he is a goalkeeper coach with Antwerp FC.-References:...
Kristof Snelders
Kristof Snelders
Kristof Snelders is a Belgian professional football player. He is usually fielded as a striker, although he is also able to play as right winger....
Zola Matumona
Zola Matumona
Zola Matumona is a Congolese footballer. He is currently playing in the Belgian Pro League for R.A.E.C. Mons. He also plays for the Democratic Republic of Congo.-Career:...
Richard Culek
Richard Culek
Richard Culek is a Czech football midfielder. He currently plays for FK Viktoria Žižkov although prior to that he was at FC Brussels....
Julien Gorius
Julien Gorius
Julien Gorius is a French footballer currently playing at KV Mechelen. He used to play for FC Metz and F. C. Molenbeek Brussels Strombeek.-References:*...
Bjørn Helge Riise
Bjørn Helge Riise
Bjørn Helge Semundseth Riise is a Norwegian professional footballer. He plays his club football for Fulham. He plays either a central midfielder or a right winger having joined Fulham in July 2009 from Norwegian club Lillestrøm, and is the brother of his Fulham team-mate John Arne...
Cheikhou Kouyaté Dalibor Veselinović
Dalibor Veselinovic
Dalibor Veselinović is a Serbian football striker who plays for Anderlecht. He is 1.98m and weighs 94 kg.-Club career:...
Olof Guterstam
Olof Guterstam
Olof Guterstam is a Swedish footballer, who is currently playing for IK Frej.-Club career:He came to Brommapojkarna in 2002, previously he has played for Enskede IK and Älvsjö AIK as a midfielder and as a winger...
Hervé Oussalé
Hervé Oussalé
Hervé Oussalé is a Burkinabé football player. He currently plays for MC Alger in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1.- Career :...
Dedryck Boyata
Dedryck Boyata
Anga Dedryck Boyata , is a Belgian footballer of Congolese descent who plays for Bolton Wanderers, on loan from Manchester City, as a centre back or right back.-Early Career:...
Noted managers
2000's Harm van Veldhoven Emilio FerreraEmilio Ferrera
Emilio Ferrera is a Belgian former football player and coach of Panthrakikos F.C..-Player:*1975–1982 Crossing Club de Schaerbeek*1982–1983 RSC Anderlecht*1983–1986 Eendracht Aalst*1986–1987 SC Wolvertem...
Robert Waseige
Robert Waseige
Robert Waseige is a Belgian football manager and a former player. He became the coach of Belgium before the Euro 2000 and lead Belgium to the second round at the 2002 World Cup....
Albert Cartier
Albert Cartier
Albert Cartier, born November 22, 1960, in Vagney, Vosges, is a former football player and manager.-Coaching career:He was fired from FC Brussels on January 2008 for bad results and did not reach a new agreement with RAEC Mons. On 12 January 2010 the French coach has left Panthrakikos, a...