Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
Updated: 12/20/2025, 1:19:10 PM Wikipedia source
Royale Union Saint-Gilloise ([y.njɔ̃ sɛ̃.ʒil.waz] ), also known as Union Saint-Gilloise, Union SG, USG, 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 their domestic revival, the club has re-established a presence in European competition. They reached the quarter-finals of the 2022–23 UEFA Europa League and have qualified for the UEFA Champions League league phase for the first time. Known for their loyal fan base, inclusive stadium culture, and progressive values, Union Saint-Gilloise has become one of Belgian football's most compelling modern success stories. In 2025 they broke the 30 year old record of Blackburn Rovers with the longest interval between two titles. Blackburn became champion in 1995 after 81 years waiting and Union broke the record by a landslide after 90 years of waiting between 1935 and 2025.
Infobox
Tables
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | BEL | Vic Chambaere |
| 2 | DF | BEL | Louis Patris |
| 3 | DF | SEN | Mamadou Thierno Barry |
| 4 | MF | NOR | Mathias Rasmussen |
| 5 | DF | ARG | Kevin Mac Allister |
| 6 | MF | BEL | Kamiel Van de Perre |
| 8 | MF | ALG | Adem Zorgane |
| 10 | MF | BEL | Anouar Ait El Hadj |
| 11 | FW | BRA | Guilherme Smith |
| 12 | FW | CAN | Promise David |
| 13 | FW | ECU | Kevin Rodríguez |
| 16 | DF | ENG | Christian Burgess (captain) |
| 17 | MF | BEL | Rob Schoofs |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 18 | GK | GEO | Giorgi Kavlashvili |
| 19 | DF | BEL | Guillaume François |
| 20 | FW | SUI | Marc Giger |
| 22 | FW | SEN | Ousseynou Niang |
| 23 | FW | MAR | Sofiane Boufal |
| 25 | FW | ISR | Anan Khalaily |
| 26 | DF | ENG | Ross Sykes |
| 30 | FW | AUT | Raul Florucz |
| 31 | FW | EQG | Cristian Makaté |
| 37 | GK | NED | Kjell Scherpen |
| 48 | DF | BEL | Fedde Leysen |
| 77 | FW | GHA | Mohammed Fuseini |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 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 |
| 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 | 3 | 1912–13, 1913–14, 2023–24 | |
| 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 |
| Season | Competition | Round | Opponent | Home | Away | Aggregate | |
| 1958–60 | Inter-Cities Fairs Cup | First round | Leipzig XI | 6–1 | 0–1 | 6–2 | |
| Quarter-final | Roma | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | | ||
| Semi-final | Birmingham City | 2–4 | 2–4 | 4–8 | | ||
| 1960–61 | Inter-Cities Fairs Cup | First round | Roma | 0–0 | 1–4 | 1–4 | |
| 1961–62 | Inter-Cities Fairs Cup | First round | Heart of Midlothian | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–5 | |
| 1962–63 | Inter-Cities Fairs Cup | First round | Marseille | 4–2 | 0–1 | 4–3 | |
| Second round | Dinamo Zagreb | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | | ||
| 1964–65 | Inter-Cities Fairs Cup | First round | Juventus | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | |
| 2022–23 | UEFA Champions League | Third qualifying round | Rangers | 2–0 | 0–3 | 2–3 | |
| UEFA Europa League | Group stage | Braga | 3–3 | 2–1 | 1st | | |
| Malmö FF | 3–2 | 2–0 | |||||
| Union Berlin | 0–1 | 1–0 | |||||
| Round of 16 | Union Berlin | 3–0 | 3–3 | 6–3 | | ||
| Quarter-final | Bayer Leverkusen | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–5 | | ||
| 2023–24 | UEFA Europa League | Play-off round | Lugano | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | |
| Group stage | Toulouse | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3rd | | ||
| Liverpool | 2–1 | 0–2 | |||||
| LASK | 2–1 | 0–3 | |||||
| UEFA Europa Conference League | Knockout round play-off | Eintracht Frankfurt | 2–2 | 2–1 | 4–3 | | |
| Round of 16 | Fenerbahçe | 0–3 | 1–0 | 1–3 | | ||
| 2024–25 | UEFA Champions League | Third qualifying round | Slavia Prague | 0–1 | 1–3 | 1–4 | |
| UEFA Europa League | League phase | Fenerbahçe | — | 1–2 | 21st | | |
| Bodø/Glimt | 0–0 | — | |||||
| Midtjylland | — | 0–1 | |||||
| Roma | 1–1 | — | |||||
| Twente | — | 1–0 | |||||
| Nice | 2–1 | — | |||||
| Braga | 2–1 | — | |||||
| Rangers | — | 1–2 | |||||
| Knockout phase play-off | Ajax | 0–2 | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | 2–3 | | ||
| 2025–26 | UEFA Champions League | League phase | PSV Eindhoven | — | 3–1 | ||
| Newcastle United | 0–4 | — | |||||
| Inter Milan | 0–4 | — | |||||
| Atlético Madrid | — | 1–3 | |||||
| Galatasaray | — | 1–0 | |||||
| Marseille | 2–3 | — | |||||
| Bayern Munich | — | ||||||
| Atalanta | — |
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
- rusg.brusselshttps://rusg.brussels/nl/geschiedenis
- rusg.brusselshttps://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
- football24.uahttps://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/
- proleague.behttps://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/
- proleague.behttps://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/
- proleague.behttps://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/
- proleague.behttps://www.proleague.be/en/jpl/videos/6281486b768f6696bf5438ac
- Between The Lineshttps://breakingthelines.com/belgian-football-analysis/royale-union-saint-gilloise-belgiums-lazarus
- Irish Timeshttps://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/daydream-believer-chris-o-loughlin-s-remarkable-rise-up-the-football-ladder-1.4780752
- RTBFhttps://www.rtbf.be/article/union-saint-gilloise-dancing-mazzu-ravi-une-victoire-acquise-dans-la-difficulte-10924811
- The Athletichttps://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3461790/2022/08/02/union-saint-gilloise-champions-league/
- Sky Sportshttps://www.skysports.com/football/news/11945/12664437/union-saint-gilloise-2-0-rangers-giovanni-van-bronckhorsts-gers-on-brink-of-champions-league-exit-after-goals-from-teddy-teuma-and-dante-vanzeir
- Sky Sportshttps://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12669292/rangers-3-0-union-saint-gilloise-agg-3-2-hosts-turn-around-champions-league-qualifier-to-book-place-in-play-off-round
- Bundesliga.comhttps://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/bayer-leverkusen-union-st-gilloise-live-europa-league-team-news-match-stats-23170
- Brussels Timeshttps://www.brusselstimes.com/389269/heartbreak-for-union-saint-gilloise-as-antwerp-progress-to-belgian-cup-final-on-penalties
- Sporzahttps://sporza.be/nl/matches/voetbal/croky-cup/2022-2023/halve-finale/02/antwerp-union-antwerp-kraakt-union-op-weg-naar-de-heizel-na-penaltythriller-in-kolkende-bosuil~1664289006681/
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jun/04/alderweireld-earns-royal-antwerp-first-belgian-league-title-in-66-years
- "Royal Antwerp win Belgian title after 94th-minute Alderweireld wonder goal"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4579591/2023/06/04/alderweireld-belgium-antwerp-title/
- "KRC Genk 2-2 Royal Antwerp"https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65805961
- "Toby Alderweireld's screamer in 94th minute wins Belgian title for Royal Antwerp"https://www.givemesport.com/toby-alderweirelds-screamer-in-94th-minute-wins-belgian-title-for-royal-antwerp/
- "Union SG 2-1 Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp's young side beaten in final Europa League group game"https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12309/13030290/union-sg-2-1-liverpool-jurgen-klopp-s-young-side-beaten-in-final-europa-league-group-game
- "Union Saint-Gilloise end 110-year wait for Belgian Cup success with win over Antwerp"https://www.flashscore.com/news/soccer-belgian-cup-union-saint-gilloise-end-110-year-wait-for-belgian-cup-success-with-win-over-antwerp/bPdd122t/
- "Third time unlucky in the league for Union St. Gilloise?"https://www.fotmob.com/topnews/12240-third-time-unlucky-league-union-st-gilloise?utm_source=fotmob
- "Club Brugge win Belgium title after late surge in championship playoffs"https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/club-brugge-win-belgium-title-after-late-surge-championship-playoffs-2024-05-26/
- "L'Union s'empare de la Supercoupe de Belgique : voici ce qu'il faut retenir de la victoire des Bruxellois face au Club Bruges"https://www.dhnet.be/sports/football/division-1a/union-saint-gilloise/2024/07/21/lunion-sempare-de-la-supercoupe-de-belgique-voici-ce-quil-faut-retenir-de-la-victoire-des-bruxellois-face-au-club-bruges-W6XWMN725FB27GE2ACACVRHN2Y/
- UEFAhttps://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/standings/
- "Union Saint-Gilloise win at Club Brugge to climb into first place"https://www.brusselstimes.com/1550039/union-saint-gilloise-tbtb
- "Promise David delivers Union St Gilloise their first title since 1935"https://getfootballnewsbene.com/promise-david-delivers-union-st-gilloise-their-first-title-since-1935/
- sporza.behttps://sporza.be/nl/matches/voetbal/jupiler-pro-league/2024-2025/champions-play-offs/10/union-kaa-gent-het-sprookje-krijgt-nu-wel-een-happy-end-union-kroont-zich-na-90-jaar-opnieuw-tot-landskampioen-na-nerveuze-titelzege~1720020842964/
- The Brussels Timeshttps://www.brusselstimes.com/90087/brussels-police-prevent-football-fans-from-displaying-anti-fascist-slogans-mp-says
- The Parliament Magazinehttps://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/royal-saint-gilles-football-team-brussels-bubble-fandom
- NSS Sportshttps://www.nss-sports.com/en/lifestyle/35810/union-saint-gilloise-stadium-inside
- Mediumhttps://medium.com/@matthew.lynes/i-have-a-love-affair-with-union-saint-gilloise-and-its-okay-5d99245ce659
- BRUZZhttps://www.bruzz.be/videoreeks/video-historische-derbys-2-het-einde-van-de-legendarische-union-60
- unionistes.behttp://unionistes.be/rwdm-union-saint-gilloise/
- BRUZZhttps://www.bruzz.be/sport/0-3-union-vernedert-anderlecht-brusselse-bekerderby-2018-09-27
- RTL Belgium Infohttps://www.rtl.be/sport/football/football-belgique/l-union-saint-gilloise-remporte-le-derby-contre-anderlecht-et-s-envole-au-classement-1353903.aspx
- Sporzahttps://sporza.be/nl/2022/05/28/felice-mazzu-volgt-vincent-kompany-op-bij-anderlecht-een-unieke-kans~1653736762614/
- RSCA.behttps://www.rsca.be/en/mazzu
- Sporzahttps://sporza.be/nl/2022/08/24/keert-mazzu-terug-naar-union-als-judas-of-koning-midas-waarom-was-hij-niet-eerlijk~1661323651288/
- "Teams"https://rusg.brussels/en/teams?team=Men
- uefa.com023/matches/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/history/seasons/2023/matches/
- Sporzahttps://sporza.be/nl/matches/voetbal/eur/uefa-champions-league/2025-2026/leaguefase/01/psv-union-droomdebuut-op-het-allerhoogste-niveau-union-opent-champions-league-met-straffe-zege-bij-psv~1750780748536/