Royale Union Saint-Gilloise

History

Early glories

Royale Union Saint-Gilloise was founded in 1897 under the matricule number 10. The club obtained its first title as champion of Belgium in 1904. A year later, they managed to win the Coupe Van der Straeten Ponthoz, which is considered one of the earliest predecessors to the UEFA Champions League.

From 1933 to 1935 the team played 60 consecutive matches undefeated, setting a still unbeaten record in Belgium, winning three league titles in a row across that period led by captain Jules Pappaert.

With its first national title barely a few years after its foundation, Union quickly became a superpower and supplier to the Belgian team for the Olympic Games in 1920.

The 1935 success was the club's eleventh, a Belgian record that would not be broken until the emergence of Anderlecht in the 1960s. Seven of those titles came before the outbreak of World War One in 1914.

Between 1958 and 1965, the club had a brief spell of European success, playing in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and reaching the semi-finals in the 1958–60 edition after a two-legged victory against A.S. Roma. In 1963, however, the club was relegated to the second division, and in 1980 even fell as low as the Belgian Promotion division, the fourth tier.

Lower division survival

In the sixties, Union began to struggle, bouncing between the First and Second Division several times.

In 1973, the club dropped out of the First Division and would not return for 48 years. Two years later in 1975, would come another relegation to the Third Division for the first time.

Union bounced back to the Second Division after just one season, but an even bigger decline followed at the end of the 1970s, back-to-back relegations seeing Union fall from the Second Division to the Fourth in successive years.

The club rallied in the mid-80s to earn back-to-back promotions back up to the Second Division, claiming the Fourth Division crown in 1983 and the Third the following season. But no further progress could be made and Union would move between the second and third flights for close on the next four decades.

Promotion back to the Second Division in 2004 saw two subsequent seasons of Union battling against relegation, but the 2006–07 season started brightly for Union. Promotion back to the First Division was a prospect, until a poor climax to their campaign post-Christmas, leading to the sacking of coach Tshupula Kande, replaced by Alex Czerniatynski.

In May 2007, long-standing clubchairman Enrico Bove resigned along with several other members of the board of directors, and the club suffered another relegation to the Third Division. Bove returned as chairman in 2010 with the backing of new Italian sponsors, but Union's prospects on the pitch continued to suffer.

In 2012–13, Union SG finished 17th out of 19 clubs in the Third Division B, inside the relegation zone. However, KVK Tienen were found guilty of making irregular payments and were automatically relegated to the Fourth Division, earning Union a reprieve via a play-off, which they won 1–0 against RFC de Liège.

Union went on to finish a creditable third in the 2014–15 Belgian Third Division, but again would prosper from other clubs’ problems, as the top two of Cappellen and Sprimont Comblain Sport both passed up applying for a Second Division licence, so Union were promoted in their place.

Revival and return to the First Division

On 21 May 2018, Tony Bloom, chairman of English Premier League side, Brighton & Hove Albion was confirmed as the majority shareholder. Current Union chairman Alex Muzio was a co-investor with Tony Bloom in 2018. On 7 July 2023 Alex Muzio was confirmed as having become the majority owner of Union.

Promoted from the third tier in 2015, Union quickly established themselves as a top-six side in Division 1B, without becoming a top-3 side.

A change of coach in May 2018 saw Marc Grosjean replaced after three years of finishing 6th, 4th and 6th by Luka Elsner, with Union contesting at the top of Division 1B in 2018–19, which that season was divided into South American-style "opening" and "closing" competitions, framed in the "apertura and clausura" style seen in many countries in the Americas. The winner of each competition would qualify for the promotion play-off final, with automatic promotion being the incentive for a club to try to win both competitions.

Union were second behind Mechelen by six points in the Opening Tournament which concluded at Christmas, and regrouped to take third behind Beerschot Wilrijk in the Closing Tournament. Despite not reaching the final, Union's reward was to be given one of the three places allocated for Division 1B teams in Play-Offs 2, for the right to compete for a place in the UEFA Europa League.

Placed in a group of six with every other opponent being from the top division, USG went unbeaten at home, beating Kortrijk, Waasland-Beveren and Cercle Brugge, drawing with Zulte Waregem and Excel Mouscron. Away wins over Kortrijk, Mouscron and Cercle put them in with a big chance of winning the group to qualify for the Play-Offs 2 Final, but losses away to Waasland-Beveren and Zulte Waregem saw them overtaken by Kortrijk right at the end. The Kerels finished on 24 points, Union 20.

With Elsner taking up a coaching job in France with Amiens SC, Thomas Christiansen was brought in as his replacement, with Union again falling marginally short in both the Opening and Closing Tournaments. However, there was to be no place in Play-Offs 2 this time, as these were abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic that saw the 2019–20 season end prematurely in March.

Title contenders and European football

A sensational return to top-flight football after 48 years away saw a 3–1 opening-day win away to Brussels' traditional giants Anderlecht.

Union in their next match a week later hosted reigning champions Club Brugge on 1 August 2021 in their first home game in the top division since 1973, being edged out 1–0 through a late Eduard Sobol winner.

Union went top of the Pro League on 17 October 2021, passing previous leaders Eupen by virtue of a 4–1 win over Seraing, and would remain there until May. Due to the novelty of being crowned unofficial winter champions, Union were awarded a special trophy by the newspaper HLN.

In a difficult January run against all of the previous season's top four, Union beat Anderlecht, Genk and Royal Antwerp, drawing 0–0 away to Club Brugge.

By the end of the regular season, Union were top on 77 points, five ahead of Club Brugge, with Antwerp and Anderlecht also qualifying for the six rounds of play-offs, where the quartet would bring forward half of the regular season points into the play-offs. Hence, Union would resume on 39, Club 36, with Anderlecht and Antwerp both on 32.

On 10 April 2022, during their first season back in the top flight in 48 years, Union finished the regular season in first place after a draw against last place Beerschot. The match was abandoned after 83 minutes, after Beerschot fans threw flares onto the pitch. Union were later awarded three points due to forfeit. This was the first time that a newly promoted club finished top of the table in the history of the Belgian league.

Union started the play-offs strongly, beating Anderlecht 3–1 and thus becoming the first club ever to inflict three defeats on the Mauves in the same league season. A 0–0 draw away to Antwerp saw the lead over Club Brugge maintained at three points.

The title race swung in the direction of Bruges in back-to-back games between Union and Club, with the champions earning a tight 2–0 win in Brussels to draw level on points, with Club going top under the "half-points" rule, as Union had needed their tally from the regular season rounded-up.

Club culture and supporters

Union SG adopt blue and yellow as their team colours. Their club anthem is "Le chant des goals" by Jean Narcy. They play "Vamos a la playa" as their stadium goal song, and at the end of home matches. "Anti-fascist Unionist for Life" is the unofficial motto of the club.

Union Saint-Gilloise draws its support primarily from the Brussels-Capital Region, with a particularly strong following in the southern neighbourhoods and among working-class communities in central Brussels, including the Marollen district. The club has also gained a notable amount of support among professionals working in Brussels' European institutions and NATO.

Union supporters are known for their progressive and inclusive values, often promoting anti-fascist and anti-racist ideals. The club's ultras group, known as the Union Bhoys, occupies the all-standing Tribune Est section of the stadium. They maintain amicable relations with supporter groups from RFC Liège and Cercle Brugge.

The Stade Joseph Marien is widely regarded for its welcoming and family-friendly atmosphere, with a diverse mix of spectators, including families and children, regularly attending matches alongside more vocal supporters.

Rivalries

Zwanze derby

Union's principal city rivalry is with RWD Molenbeek, contested in what is colloquially referred to as the Zwanze derby, a term derived from Brussels' dialect and cultural humour. The rivalry traces its origins to earlier confrontations with Daring Club de Bruxelles, a precursor to the modern Molenbeek clubs. This historical animosity has been memorialised in Brussels' popular culture, notably in the play Bossemans et Coppenolle. Despite their rivalry, the two clubs have at times maintained a cordial relationship, especially during periods of financial instability, even organising friendly matches in mutual support.

Rivalry with Anderlecht

Union also shares a longstanding, though historically less frequent, rivalry with Anderlecht. The two clubs, both based in Brussels, met only sporadically for several decades following Union's relegation in 1973. Their rivalry was rekindled during the 2017–18 Belgian Cup, when Union defeated Anderlecht 3–0 at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, marking their first official encounter since 1979.

In 2021, following Union's promotion to the Belgian Pro League after a 49-year absence, the derby resumed in the league format. Union recorded a 3–1 victory in their first top-flight encounter against Anderlecht. In January 2022, they won the return fixture 1–0, completing their first league double over Anderlecht since the early 1970s.

Union went on to defeat Anderlecht twice more in the 2021–22 Champions' Playoffs, with 3–1 and 2–0 wins at home and away, respectively. The season concluded with a controversial managerial shift, as Union head coach Felice Mazzù departed to join Anderlecht, prompting criticism from Union and compensation negotiations between the clubs.

Union faced Anderlecht in the 2026 Belgian Cup final and won 3–1.

Players

Current squad

As of 4 September 2026

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Personnel achievements

Five players from the Union Saint-Gilloise finished top scorers in the Belgian First Division A

1902–03: Gustave Vanderstappen (? Goals)

1903–04: Gustave Vanderstappen (30 Goals)

1909–10: Maurice Vertongen (36 Goals)

1922–23: Achille Meyskens (24 Goals)

1933–34: Vital Van Landeghem (29 Goals)

2021–22: Deniz Undav (26 Goals)

Two players from the Union Saint-Gilloise finished top scorers in the Belgian Second Division

1950–51: Frans Laureys (28 Goals)

2020–21: Dante Vanzeir / Georges Mikautadze – RFC Seraing (29 Goals)

A player from the Union Saint-Gilloise finished top scorer in the UEFA Europa League

2022–23: Victor Boniface / Marcus Rashford – Manchester United (6 Goals)

Staff

Medical

Doctors

Koen Pansaers

Axel Marlaire

Physios

Stephen Van den Berg

Ivan Del Molino

Wilfried Schiemsky

Honours

Minor titles

Jules Pappaert Cup

Winners (4): 1956, 1976, 2021, 2022

European

Challenge International du Nord (1898–1914)

Winners (3): 1904, 1905, 1907

Runners-up (1): 1908

Coupe Van der Straeten Ponthoz (1900–1907)

Winners (3): 1905, 1906, 1907

Runners-up (1): 1904

Coupe Jean Dupuich (1908–1925)

Winners (4): 1912, 1913, 1914, 1925

Runners-up (1): 1908

UEFA Champions League (1955- )

Group Stage (1): 2025-26

UEFA Europa League (1955– )

1/2 (1): 1958–60

1/4 (1): 2022–23

1/16 (1): 2024-25

UEFA Europa Conference League (2022– )

1/8 (1): 2023–24

Union SG in European competitions

Summary

In the early 1900s, Union had a dominant spell in some of the first "European" Cup competitions that took place, prior to officially sanctioned UEFA competitions.

The Apaches took part in the first European competitions, the Challenge International du Nord, the Coupe Van der Straeten Ponthoz and the Coupe Jean Dupuich between 1898 and 1925.

Later on, Union Saint-Gilloise went 58 years between appearances in European competitions, entering the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League in the third qualifying round, having last appeared in the 1964–65 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

In the 2022–23 season, the team played their group stage home games at Den Dreef and their knockout phase home games at the Lotto Park, as the Joseph Marien Stadium does not meet the UEFA requirements. The team made its debut in the Europa League group stage that season, winning its first match away at Union Berlin. They also went on to win Group D. Ajax and Union Berlin were eliminated in the knockout stages, but in the quarterfinals, Bayer Leverkusen proved too strong.

Union Saint-Gilloise made a successful debut in the Champions League in the 2025–26 season, winning 3–1 away at PSV Eindhoven.

Report

Note: All dates in italics refer to matches in the first European cups: Challenge International du Nord, Coupe Van der Straeten Ponthoz, Coupe Jean Dupuich.