Royal Antwerp FC is champion of Belgium for the first time since 1957. We summarize the inimitable season of the club with base number 1 in ten moments.
04/06/2023 at 21:34
Sport
Moment 1: Coach change and crucial transfers
After a disappointing season under Brian Priske, Mark van Bommel is appointed as trainer. The Dutchman immediately makes his mark at Antwerp and ensures what would later turn out to be a series of top transfers. Former Red Devil Toby Alderweireld was the summer purchase, but Van Bommel also lured a trio of compatriots to the Bosuil. Vincent Janssen came to strengthen the Antwerp attack: he became the top scorer this season Great Old. Jurgen Ekkelenkamp made the switch from Ajax and right winger Calvin Stengs was loaned from OGC Nice for a season. In the crucial last game at Genk, more than half of Van Bommel’s starting eleven consisted of summer purchases.
Moment 2: Bye, bye Europa
In the 21-22 season, Antwerp finished in fourth place. As a result, it was allowed to go to the qualifying rounds of the Conference League. The Great Old first eliminated Kosovar FC Drita, then it was Lillestrøm SK from Norway. But Antwerp’s European adventure ended at the end of August. Istanbul Basaksehir turned out to be too strong over two games. The first disappointment of the season was a fact, but maybe it would turn out to be a lucky accident. No European mid-week football also meant a good number of fewer matches. All eyes were now on the domestic competition.
Moment 3: A whirlwind start…
Antwerp started the season very strongly, with 27 out of 27 – a club record. During that period, Van Bommel’s troops achieved some important victories against direct rivals. Antwerp won 1-2 against Ghent and at home Union lost 4-2. In the end, their superior series only came to an end after ten games. A 2-1 loss to KV Kortrijk meant the first loss of points for the Reds.
Moment 4: …followed by many loss of points
After the loss in the Guldenspoorstadion, Antwerp immediately seemed to straighten its back and won at STVV and at home against Ostend. But it did not get through that period until the international break due to the World Cup in Qatar without a struggle. The Great Old lost with clear figures against Standard (3-0), lost against Genk (1-3) in front of the home crowd, lost with the smallest difference at Charleroi (1-0) and couldn’t beat Anderlecht (0-0) and from Club Brugge (2-2). A meager 8 out of 24 was the result.
Moment 5: Exit Radja Nainggolan
For Radja Nainggolan, his passage in Belgium was not a success. At Antwerp he could never really break pots. During his stay in Deurne-Noord, the Antwerp water was also discredited several times due to his controversial behavior. For example, Nainggolan was photographed on the bench with an e-cigarette before the match at Standard, which was eventually lost. The result? The former Red Devil was sent to the B-squad. His contract was terminated a few weeks later. The marriage between Antwerp and Nainggolan was over a year and a half after his controversial transfer.
Moment 6: The Vermeeren phenomenon
Opinions are undivided: the discovery in the Jupiler Pro League this season is none other than Arthur Vermeeren. During the European qualifying match against Lillestrøm, the then seventeen-year-old Belgian made his first appearance, but then Vermeeren had to wait until matchday 13 for his first competition appearance. Ultimately, it was Nainggolan’s kamikaze actions that contributed to the breakthrough of the undeniable talent.
He was immediately thrown to the lions against Club Brugge, but Vermeeren played football as if he had been active at the highest level for years. The eighteen-year-old immediately handed over his business card. The young Belgian therefore seems to be wanted on the transfer market.
Moment 7: Alderweireld falls out, panic on the Tawny Owl?
At the end of February, Toby Alderweireld suddenly falls out with a hamstring injury. The captain of Antwerp would be out for a month and miss four games. At the Reds they were not convinced, and rightly so. Alderweireld was one of the most important pawns at the Great Old this season. Without their captain, Mark Van Bommel and his men started a difficult four-part. They win against KV Mechelen and Seraing, but lose against Charleroi and draw against OH Leuven. Alderweireld’s replacement, the young lad Zeno Van Den Bosch, makes a strong impression.
Moment 8: Cup win at the Heysel
At the end of April, the first prize was won for the Great Old. In the final of the Belgian Cup, it relatively easily put KV Mechelen aside with 0-2. The course covered strengthens the belief in the title chances, because the Reds knocked out their competitors in the competition en route to the finals.
Moment 9: Favorite for the title
Antwerp starts third in the Champions’ Play-offs, but immediately turns out to be the title favourite. It is going to win 0-2 against Union and come home against Genk from behind (2-1). However, the match against Club Brugge defies all imagination. The Great Old is 0-2 behind against a blue-black that surprisingly takes off, but turns the tide in the second half. In the absolute ending it is Arthur Vermeeren who makes the Tawny Owl explode. With his first professional goal, he still puts the 3-2 on the scoreboard. Antwerp is now really in pole position for the title.
Moment 10. Belgium and Antwerp turn red and white
At the first match ball against Union on the penultimate match day of the play-offs, Antwerp still loses it, but on the final match day it still takes the title after a sensational scenario. Only in the deep end of the game did Toby Alderweireld score the redeeming goal. The first national title since 1957 is a fact.
