Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
Updated: 5/24/2026, 7:29:08 PM Wikipedia source
Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (French: [y ɔ̃ sɛ̃.ʒil ] ), also known as Union Saint-Gilloise, Union SG, USG, RUSG or simply Union, is a Belgian professional football club from Brussels based in Forest. Founded in 1897 in the neighbouring Saint-Gilles, the club has played its home matches at the historic Joseph Marien Stadium since the 1920s. One of the most successful clubs in Belgian football history, Union won eleven national titles between 1904 and 1935, dominating the domestic game before World War II. From 1933 to 1935, they went 60 league matches unbeaten—a national record that still stands. After a long decline that saw the club fall as low as the fourth tier, Union experienced a resurgence in the 2020s following a takeover by British businessman Tony Bloom, also chairman of Brighton & Hove Albion. In 2021, they returned to the Belgian Pro League after 48 years and finished top of the regular-season table in their first campaign back—a first for a newly promoted side. Though they narrowly missed out on the championship in 2022, 2023, and 2024, Union clinched their twelfth league title in 2025, ending a 90-year championship drought—one of the longest in European football. Alongside a resurgence in domestic competition, the club has returned to regular participation in European competitions. It reached the quarter-finals of the 2022–23 UEFA Europa League and later qualified for the UEFA Champions League league phase for the first time. Union Saint-Gilloise has also been noted for its inclusive stadium atmosphere and has been regarded as a notable recent example of sporting and organizational progress in Belgian football.
Infobox
Full name
Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
Nicknames
Les Unionistes The Old Lady Union 60 The Apaches
Founded
1 November 1897 (1897-11-01)
Stadium
Joseph Marien Stadium
Capacity
9,400
Owner
Alex Muzio
Chairman
Alex Muzio
Head coach
David Hubert
League
Belgian Pro League
2024–25
Belgian Pro League, 1st of 16 (champions)
Website
rusg
Tables
1
1
No.
1
Pos.
GK
Nation
BEL
Player
Vic Chambaere
3
3
No.
3
Pos.
DF
Nation
SEN
Player
Mamadou Thierno Barry
5
5
No.
5
Pos.
DF
Nation
ARG
Player
Kevin Mac Allister
6
6
No.
6
Pos.
MF
Nation
BEL
Player
Kamiel Van de Perre
7
7
No.
7
Pos.
FW
Nation
GHA
Player
Mohammed Fuseini
8
8
No.
8
Pos.
MF
Nation
ALG
Player
Adem Zorgane
9
9
No.
9
Pos.
FW
Nation
GER
Player
Mateo Biondić
10
10
No.
10
Pos.
MF
Nation
BEL
Player
Anouar Ait El Hadj
11
11
No.
11
Pos.
FW
Nation
BRA
Player
Guilherme Smith
12
12
No.
12
Pos.
FW
Nation
CAN
Player
Promise David
13
13
No.
13
Pos.
FW
Nation
ECU
Player
Kevin Rodríguez
14
14
No.
14
Pos.
MF
Nation
NED
Player
Ivan Pavlić
16
16
No.
16
Pos.
DF
Nation
ENG
Player
Christian Burgess (captain)
17
17
No.
17
Pos.
MF
Nation
BEL
Player
Rob Schoofs
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | BEL | Vic Chambaere |
| 3 | DF | SEN | Mamadou Thierno Barry |
| 5 | DF | ARG | Kevin Mac Allister |
| 6 | MF | BEL | Kamiel Van de Perre |
| 7 | FW | GHA | Mohammed Fuseini |
| 8 | MF | ALG | Adem Zorgane |
| 9 | FW | GER | Mateo Biondić |
| 10 | MF | BEL | Anouar Ait El Hadj |
| 11 | FW | BRA | Guilherme Smith |
| 12 | FW | CAN | Promise David |
| 13 | FW | ECU | Kevin Rodríguez |
| 14 | MF | NED | Ivan Pavlić |
| 16 | DF | ENG | Christian Burgess (captain) |
| 17 | MF | BEL | Rob Schoofs |
18
18
No.
18
Pos.
GK
Nation
GEO
Player
Giorgi Kavlashvili
19
19
No.
19
Pos.
DF
Nation
BEL
Player
Guillaume François
20
20
No.
20
Pos.
FW
Nation
SUI
Player
Marc Giger
21
21
No.
21
Pos.
GK
Nation
BEL
Player
Jens Teunckens
22
22
No.
22
Pos.
FW
Nation
SEN
Player
Ousseynou Niang
23
23
No.
23
Pos.
MF
Nation
SWE
Player
Besfort Zeneli
25
25
No.
25
Pos.
FW
Nation
ISR
Player
Anan Khalaily
26
26
No.
26
Pos.
DF
Nation
ENG
Player
Ross Sykes
27
27
No.
27
Pos.
DF
Nation
BEL
Player
Louis Patris
29
29
No.
29
Pos.
DF
Nation
SEN
Player
Massiré Sylla
30
30
No.
30
Pos.
FW
Nation
AUT
Player
Raul Florucz
37
37
No.
37
Pos.
GK
Nation
NED
Player
Kjell Scherpen
48
48
No.
48
Pos.
DF
Nation
BEL
Player
Fedde Leysen
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 18 | GK | GEO | Giorgi Kavlashvili |
| 19 | DF | BEL | Guillaume François |
| 20 | FW | SUI | Marc Giger |
| 21 | GK | BEL | Jens Teunckens |
| 22 | FW | SEN | Ousseynou Niang |
| 23 | MF | SWE | Besfort Zeneli |
| 25 | FW | ISR | Anan Khalaily |
| 26 | DF | ENG | Ross Sykes |
| 27 | DF | BEL | Louis Patris |
| 29 | DF | SEN | Massiré Sylla |
| 30 | FW | AUT | Raul Florucz |
| 37 | GK | NED | Kjell Scherpen |
| 48 | DF | BEL | Fedde Leysen |
31
31
No.
31
Pos.
FW
Nation
EQG
Player
Cristian Makaté (at La Louvière until 30 June 2026)
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 31 | FW | EQG | Cristian Makaté (at La Louvière until 30 June 2026) |
· Staff
David Hubert
David Hubert
Position
Head coach
Name
David Hubert
Bart Meert
Bart Meert
Position
Assistant coach
Name
Bart Meert
Niels Hermans
Niels Hermans
Position
Goalkeeping coach
Name
Niels Hermans
Balder Berckmans
Balder Berckmans
Position
Fitness coach
Name
Balder Berckmans
Chris O'Loughlin
Chris O'Loughlin
Position
Sports director
Name
Chris O'Loughlin
Marc Delcourt
Marc Delcourt
Position
Video analyst
Name
Marc Delcourt
Annelies Menten
Annelies Menten
Position
Team manager
Name
Annelies Menten
Philippe Wery
Philippe Wery
Position
Delegate
Name
Philippe Wery
| Position | Name |
| Head coach | David Hubert |
| Assistant coach | Bart Meert |
| Wouter Hias | |
| Goalkeeping coach | Niels Hermans |
| Fitness coach | Balder Berckmans |
| Sports director | Chris O'Loughlin |
| Video analyst | Marc Delcourt |
| Team manager | Annelies Menten |
| Delegate | Philippe Wery |
· Honours
Domestic
Domestic
Type
Domestic
Competition
Belgian First Division
Titles
12
Seasons
1903–04, 1904–05, 1905–06, 1906–07, 1908–09, 1909–10, 1912–13, 1922–23, 1932–33, 1933–34, 1934–35, 2024–25
Belgian Cup
Belgian Cup
Type
Belgian Cup
Competition
4
Titles
1912–13, 1913–14, 2023–24, 2025–26
Belgian Super Cup
Belgian Super Cup
Type
Belgian Super Cup
Competition
1
Titles
2024
Belgian Second Division
Belgian Second Division
Type
Belgian Second Division
Competition
4
Titles
1900–01, 1950–51, 1963–64, 2020–21
Belgian Third Division A
Belgian Third Division A
Type
Belgian Third Division A
Competition
2
Titles
1975–76, 1983–84
Belgian Third Division B
Belgian Third Division B
Type
Belgian Third Division B
Competition
1
Titles
2003–04
Belgian Fourth Division
Belgian Fourth Division
Type
Belgian Fourth Division
Competition
1
Titles
1982–83
| Type | Competition | Titles | Seasons |
| Domestic | Belgian First Division | 12 | 1903–04, 1904–05, 1905–06, 1906–07, 1908–09, 1909–10, 1912–13, 1922–23, 1932–33, 1933–34, 1934–35, 2024–25 |
| Belgian Cup | 4 | 1912–13, 1913–14, 2023–24, 2025–26 | |
| Belgian Super Cup | 1 | 2024 | |
| Belgian Second Division | 4 | 1900–01, 1950–51, 1963–64, 2020–21 | |
| Belgian Third Division A | 2 | 1975–76, 1983–84 | |
| Belgian Third Division B | 1 | 2003–04 | |
| Belgian Fourth Division | 1 | 1982–83 |
References
- Round or group progressed () or eliminated ()
- Because of the tie, a play-off match was held, which Dinamo Zagreb won 3–2.
- Stadium, Union Saint-Gilloise clubwebsitehttps://rusg.brussels/en/stadium
- "Statement president and owner Alex Muzio"https://rusg.brussels/en/news/statement-president-and-owner-alex-muzio-0
- rusghttps://rusg.brussels/nl/geschiedenis
- rusghttps://rusg.brussels/en/history
- RSSSFhttps://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/belg2015.html
- The Argushttps://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/16239606.done-deal-albion-chairman-tony-bloom-completes-takeover-belgian-club-saint-gilloise/
- The Argushttps://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/19159973.tony-bloom-congratulations-union-st-gilloise-promotion
- football24https://football24.ua/korol_povertayetsya_istorichniy_grand_belgiyi_zabivav_100_myachiv_za_sezon_upav_ale_vpershe_za_48_rokiv_zigraye_v_eliti_n653400/
- RTBFhttps://www.rtbf.be/article/lunion-saint-gilloise-remporte-la-phase-classique-les-5-moments-cles-dun-parcours-idyllique-10967216
- "Union allerminst voldaan na herfsttitel: "Ik heb nog gelachen omdat er hier een trofee voor stond" (Union not at all satisfied after autumn title: "I still laughed because there was a trophy for this")"https://sporza.be/nl/2023/11/24/union-allerminst-voldaan-na-herfsttitel-ik-heb-nog-gelachen-omdat-er-hier-een-trofee-voor-stond~1700830490127/
- proleaguehttps://www.proleague.be/en/jpl/videos/627a7d888dc30e4159bf6b8b
- Sporzahttps://sporza.be/nl/2022/05/13/mazzu-gooit-de-handdoek-niet-in-de-ring-1e-plek-is-nog-steeds-haalbaar~1652442961919/
- proleaguehttps://www.proleague.be/en/jpl/videos/627c1ebe8a34744ae780d37c
- Sporzahttps://sporza.be/nl/matches/voetbal/jupiler-pro-league/2021-2022/kampioenschap-play-off/05/antwerp-club-brugge-club-brugge-pakt-historische-derde-landstitel-op-rij-na-remonte-op-de-bosuil~1623180126914/
- proleaguehttps://www.proleague.be/en/jpl/videos/6281029466c4817881bb6aec
- Sporzahttps://sporza.be/nl/matches/voetbal/jupiler-pro-league/2021-2022/kampioenschap-play-off/05/anderlecht-union-union-verslaat-anderlecht-voor-de-4e-keer-dit-seizoen-en-mag-als-vicekampioen-de-cl-in~1623180126492/
- proleaguehttps://www.proleague.be/en/jpl/videos/6281486b768f6696bf5438ac
- Between The Lineshttps://breakingthelines.com/belgian-football-analysis/royale-union-saint-gilloise-belgiums-lazarus