Royale Union Saint-Gilloise

The club was founded in 1897 and obtained its first of eleven titles as Champion of Belgium in 1904. From 1933 to 1935 the team played 60 consecutive matches undefeated, and setting a still unbeaten record in Belgium. In the early 1900s the club also had a dominant spell in some of the very first "European" Cup competitions that took place, prior to officially sanctioned UEFA competitions.

Between 1958 and 1965 the club had a brief spell of European success, playing 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.

On 21 May 2018, Tony Bloom, chairman of English Premier League side, Brighton & Hove Albion was confirmed as the majority shareholder.[3] Alex Muzio, the Chairman of Union, was a co-investor with Tony Bloom in 2018 and holds a minority interest in the club.[2]

On 13 March 2021, after defeating R.W.D. Molenbeek 2-1 at home, Union were promoted back to the Belgian First Division A. This marked its first appearance in the top flight since 1972. Unfortunately, due to restrictions at the time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Union fans were not able to celebrate their promotion at the stadium.

On 10 April 2022, during their first season back in the top flight in 49 years, Union Saint-Gilloise 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 attract supporters primarily from the Brussels region, especially from the South of the Belgian capital. Their ultras are known as the Union Bhoys, and attend in the all-standing Tribune Est. The Union Bhoys have friendships with RFC Liège and Cercle Brugge supporters. Union's supporters promote anti-fascist ideals, as well as respect of the opposing team and its supporters.

Union share a Brussels city derby, also known as a "Zwanze derby" with R.W.D. Molenbeek, which stems from their old rivalry with Daring Club Brussels,[4] that has been encapsulated in the Brussels play Bossemans et Coppenolle. However, the two are said to have a love-hate relationship, having both experienced financial difficulty in the modern era, and organised friendlies together in support.[5]

Union have another Brussels city rivalry with neighbour RSC Anderlecht, although the two have met even fewer times in the modern era than RWDM and Union have. This is arguably Union's fiercest derby, with many fans considering it to be the most important match of the season. They met for the first time since 1979 in the Belgian Cup in 2018, with Union stunning Anderlecht 0–3 at the Stade Constant Vandenstock.[6] In 2021, Union were promoted to the First Division for the first time in 49 years. At the first derby between the two teams in the championship, Union beat Anderlecht with a score of 1-3. In January 2022, in their first home game against Anderlecht in the championship since their relegation in 1972, Union completed a league double over Anderlecht, defeating them 1-0.[7]

Sports director

• Chris O'Loughlin

Head coach

• Felice Mazzù

Assistant coach

• Karel Geraerts

Assistant coach

• Artur Kopyt

Goalkeeping coach

• Laurent Deraedt

Fitness coach

• Thibaut Meyer

Video analyst

• Sandro Salamone

Team manager

• Annelies Menten

Kit manager

• Rok Grilec

• Christophe Goumotsios
• The Invincibles (football)

• Official website