K.V. Kortrijk
| File:KV Kortrijk logo 2016.svg | ||||
| Full name | Koninklijke Voetbalclub Kortrijk | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | De Kerels (The Guys) | |||
| Founded | 1901 | |||
| Ground | Guldensporenstadion, Kortrijk | |||
| Capacity | 9,399[1] | |||
| Owner | Vincent Tan | |||
| Chairman | Ken Choo | |||
| Head coach | Michiel Jonckheere | |||
| League | Challenger Pro League | |||
| 2024–25 | Belgian Pro League, 15th of 16 regular season 3rd of 4, Relegation round (relegated) | |||
| Website | kvk | |||
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Koninklijke Voetbalclub Kortrijk (often simply called KV Kortrijk or KVK) is a Belgian professional football club based in Kortrijk, West Flanders. They play in the Belgian Pro League and they achieved their best ranking ever during the 2009–10 season, finishing fourth after the play-offs. KV Kortrijk was founded in 1971, though their roots can be traced to 1901. They are registered to the Royal Belgian Football Association with matricule number 19. The club colours are red and white. They play their home matches at the Guldensporenstadion, named after the Battle of the Golden Spurs which took place in Kortrijk in 1302.
KV Kortrijk first entered the first division in the early 20th century, between 1906–07 and 1910–11. They eventually had to wait 65 years to return at the highest level, when they spent 15 seasons at the top flight, interrupted by a season in the second division (between 1976–77 and 1978–79 and between 1980–81 and 1991–92). KV Kortrijk also played the 1998–99 season in the first division before they returned to the Belgian Pro League in the 2008–09 season.
History
[edit | edit source]In 1901 SC Courtraisien was founded. The club merged with FC Courtraisien in 1918. They received in 1951 the name Koninklijke Kortrijk Sport. They had the matricule n°19 like the oldest club SC Courtraisien. Stade Kortrijk was founded in 1923 with matricule n°161. Because Stade Kortrijk and Koninklijke Kortrijk Sport didn't play well anymore, they merged in 1971. They could play with matricule n°19 and the new name was KV Kortrijk.
Early 2000's KV Kortrijk dropped to the third division. In 2001 they went bankrupt but managed to finish the season. They even won the third division playoffs but the club did not promote to the second division as they were penalized for the bankruptcy. In 2004 KV Kortrijk promoted to the second division, and in the 2007–08 season they managed to get promoted to the first division.
KV Kortrijk was bought for €5 million by Malaysian businessman Vincent Tan on 12 May 2015.[2]
On 4 May 2025, Kortrijk secure relegation to Challenger Pro League from next season after defeat Cercle Brugge 0–2 at away games in Relegation round and ended 17 years in top tier.
Honours
[edit | edit source]- Belgian Cup
- Runners-up (1): 2011–12
- Belgian Second Division
- Winners (2): 1905–06, 2007–08
- Runners-up (2): 1979–80, 1997–98
- Belgian Second Division final round
- Winners (3): 1976, 1980, 1998
Colours and badge
[edit | edit source]
KV Kortrijk's colours are generally red and white. The home kit is usually all red with white trim and red shorts. The away kit is similar, except in blue. The club's logo is a white shield, split into thirds by a red upside-down, V-like shape, and the letters "KVK" are split into each third, in a red font. On top of the shield is a crown.
Stadium
[edit | edit source]KV Kortrijk plays their home matches at the Guldensporen Stadion. It is located in Kortrijk, Belgium, and the current capacity of the ground is 9,399. In the summer of 2008, the ground's capacity was increased from 6,896 to 9,399,[1] after Kortrijk's elevation into the Belgian First Division. Guldensporenstadion literally means "Stadium of the Golden Spurs". The stadium is named after this in reference to the Battle of the Golden Spurs which, in 1302, was fought in Kortrijk. The stadium has a traditional local stadium look about it and is single-tiered all around the ground.
Current squad
[edit | edit source]- As of 8 September 2025[3]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
[edit | edit source]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Coaching staff
[edit | edit source]| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | Belgium Michiel Jonckheere |
| Assistant Coach | Denmark Jonathan Hartmann Nigeria Joseph Akpala |
| Goalkeeper Coach | Belgium Glen Verbauwhede |
| Head of Performance | Belgium Pieter Jacobs |
| Video Analyst | Belgium Gregory De Grauwe |
| Team Manager | Belgium Claude Gezelle |
Managers
[edit | edit source]- Belgium André Van Maldeghem & Luc Maddens (1971–73)
- Belgium André Van Maldeghem & Walter Maes (1973–75)
- Belgium Georges Heylens (1975–77)
- Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Marijan Brnčić (1978–79)
- Belgium Raymond Mertens (1979)
- Netherlands Henk Houwaart (1979–83)
- Netherlands Wim Reijers (1983–84)
- Belgium André Van Maldeghem (1984–85)
- Belgium Dimitri Davidović (1985–86)
- Netherlands Aad Koudijzer (1986)
- Netherlands Han Grijzenhout (1986–87)
- Belgium Eddy Kinsabil (1987–88)
- Belgium Georges Leekens (1988–89)
- Netherlands Henk Houwaart (1989–90)
- Belgium René Desayere (1990–91)
- Belgium Boudewijn Braem (1991–92)
- Netherlands Johan Boskamp (1992 – January 1993)
- Belgium James Storme (1993–94)
- Belgium Patrick Van Geem (1994–95)
- Belgium Regi Van Acker (1995–98)
- Belgium Michel De Wolf (1998–99)
- Belgium Luc Vanderschommen (1999 – September 1999)
- Belgium Eddy Kinsabil (2000)
- Belgium Gerrit Laverge (2000–01)
- Belgium Boudewijn Braem (2001–02)
- Belgium Francky Dekenne (2002–03)
- Belgium Boudewijn Braem (2003 – February 2003)
- Netherlands Angelo Nijskens (2003 – January 2004)
- Belgium Manu Ferrera (1 July 2003 – 2004)
- Belgium Rudi Verkempinck (September 2004 – 2005)
- Belgium Manu Ferrera (2005 – 29 January 2006)
- Belgium Hein Vanhaezebrouck (1 July 2006 – 30 June 2009)
- Belgium Georges Leekens (1 July 2009 – 11 May 2010)
- Belgium Hein Vanhaezebrouck (6 June 2010 – 30 June 2014)
- Belgium Yves Vanderhaeghe (2014–15)
- Belgium Johan Walem (2015–2016)
- France Karim Belhocine (2016)
- Belgium Patrick De Wilde (2016)
- France Karim Belhocine (2016)
- Belgium Bart Van Lancker (2016–2017)
- France Karim Belhocine (2017)
- Greece Yannis Anastasiou (2017)
- Belgium Glen De Boeck (2017–2018)
- Belgium Yves Vanderhaeghe (2018–2021)
- Slovenia Luka Elsner (2021)
- France Karim Belhocine (2021–2022)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina Adnan Čustović (2022)
- Germany Bernd Storck (2022–2023)
- Belgium Edward Still (2023)
- Belgium Glen De Boeck (2023)
- Iceland Freyr Alexandersson (2024)
- Belgium Yves Vanderhaeghe (2024–2025)
- Germany Bernd Storck (2025)
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References
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b Guldensporenstadion Archived 11 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine, kvk.be (last check 30 March 2018)
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External links
[edit | edit source]
- Official website
- Kortrijk at UEFA.com (archived)