2012–13 in Belgian football

The 2012–13 football season in Belgium, which is the 110th season of competitive football in the country and runs from July 2012 until June 2013.

National team football

Men's national football team

With no less than four players winning individual awards as best player in their league following conclusion of the 2011–12 season, namely Eden Hazard (in France), Vincent Kompany (in England), Kevin Mirallas (in Greece) and Jan Vertonghen (in the Netherlands), questions were raised how it was possible that Belgium had not managed to qualify for the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament. Moreover, this raised the belief that Belgium would qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, even with rather inexperienced head coach Marc Wilmots in charge after Georges Leekens quit in May 2012.

In a friendly before the actual qualifying campaign, the Red Devils managed to beat the Netherlands by a score of 4-2, with Dries Mertens the man of the match, scoring once and giving two assists. For once, a decent start was made, as Belgium won in Wales and kept Croatia to a 1-1 draw at home. The team continued on their good spirits, following up with a 0-3 win in Serbia, the biggest ever loss for the Serbian team, and a 2-0 win at home against Scotland. This left Belgium and Croatia together in the lead with 10 points out of 12 and with the other four teams trailing 6 or more points behind it already looked like they would be battling it out for first place. Also, by November Belgium moved into position 20 on the FIFA World Rankings, their highest position since 2004. Belgium finished the year 2012 with a 2-1 friendly loss in Romania.

In 2013, Belgium started with a 2-1 win against Slovakia, due to a last minute goal by Dries Mertens, before winning twice against Macedonia to keep their unbeaten status in the FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. In June, while having risen to a record high 12th position in the FIFA World Rankings, Belgium first beat United States 2-4 in a friendly in Cleveland, before winning their final qualifying match at home against Serbia 2-1. At the same time, Croatia lost at home to Scotland, allowing Belgium to take a three-point lead.

2014 FIFA World Cup qualification

Friendlies

Promotion and relegation Team promoted to 2012–13 Belgian Pro League Belgian Second Division Champions: Charleroi Playoff winners: Waasland-Beveren

Teams relegated from 2011–12 Belgian Pro League 15th Place: Westerlo (lost playoff) 16th Place: Sint-Truiden

Teams promoted to 2012–13 Belgian Second Division Belgian Third Division A Champions: Mouscron-Péruwelz Belgian Third Division B Champions: Dessel Sport Playoff winners: Oudenaarde

Teams relegated from 2011-12 Belgian Second Division 16th Place, lost playoff: Tienen 17th Place: Dender EH 18th Place: Wetteren

League competitions

Belgian First Division

Belgian Second Division

Belgian Second Division final round

Belgian Third Division Belgian Third Division A

Belgian Third Division B

Third division play-off All teams marked E entered a promotion playoff.

Only Verbroedering Geel-Meerhout succeeded in being promoted to the 2013–14 Belgian Second Division.

Transfers

European Club results Champions Anderlecht and runners-up Club Brugge start in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League, while league numbers three and four, Genk and Gent play in the Europa League together with cup winners Lokeren.

DateTeamCompetitionRoundLegOpponentLocationScoreBelgian Team Goalscorers19 July 2012GentEuropa LeagueQual. Round 2Leg 1, Away DifferdangeStade du Thillenberg, DifferdangeArzo26 July 2012GentEuropa LeagueQual. Round 2Leg 2, Home DifferdangeJules Ottenstadion, GhentMelli, Conté, Kola1 August 2012AnderlechtChampions LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 1, Home EkranasConstant Vanden Stock Stadium, AnderlechtDe Sutter, Kanu, Mbokani (2), Jovanović1 August 2012Club BruggeChampions LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 1, Away CopenhagenParken Stadium, Copenhagen0-02 August 2012GenkEuropa LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 1, Home AktobeCristal Arena, GenkVossen, Joseph-Monrose2 August 2012GentEuropa LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 1, Away VideotonSóstói Stadion, Székesfehérvár8 August 2012AnderlechtChampions LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 2, Away EkranasAukštaitija Stadium, PanevėžysKljestan, Praet, Iakovenko, De Sutter, Molins, Canesin8 August 2012Club BruggeChampions LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 2, Home CopenhagenJan Breydel Stadium, BrugesFigueras, Odjidja9 August 2012GenkEuropa LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 2, Away AktobeAktobe Central Stadium, AktobeBenteke, Buffel9 August 2012GentEuropa LeagueQual. Round 3Leg 2, Home VideotonJules Ottenstadion, Ghent21/22 August 2012AnderlechtChampions LeaguePlay-off RoundLeg 1, Away AEL LimassolTsirion Stadium, LimassolMbokani23 August 2012Club BruggeEuropa LeaguePlay-off RoundLeg 1, Away DebrecenStadion Oláh Gábor Út, DebrecenBlondel, Refaelov, Bacca23 August 2012GenkEuropa LeaguePlay-off RoundLeg 1, Away LuzernSwissporarena, LucerneVossen23 August 2012LokerenEuropa LeaguePlay-off RoundLeg 1, Home Viktoria PlzeňKing Baudouin Stadium, BrusselsHarbaoui, Mij. Marić28 August 2012AnderlechtChampions LeaguePlay-off RoundLeg 2, Home AEL LimassolConstant Vanden Stock Stadium, AnderlechtMbokani, Iakovenko30 August 2012Club BruggeEuropa LeaguePlay-off RoundLeg 2, Home DebrecenJan Breydel Stadium, BrugesLarsen, Vázquez, Tchité, Bacca30 August 2012GenkEuropa LeaguePlay-off RoundLeg 2, Home LuzernCristal Arena, GenkFernández, Masika30 August 2012LokerenEuropa LeaguePlay-off RoundLeg 2, Away Viktoria PlzeňStadion města Plzně, Plzeň18 September 2012AnderlechtChampions LeagueGroup StageMatchday 1, Away AC MilanSan Siro, Milan0-020 September 2012Club BruggeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 1, Away BordeauxStade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux20 September 2012GenkEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 1, Home VideotonCristal Arena, GenkVossen, Buffel, De Ceulaer3 October 2012AnderlechtChampions LeagueGroup StageMatchday 2, Home MálagaConstant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht4 October 2012Club BruggeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 2, Home MarítimoJan Breydel Stadium, BrugesBacca, Vleminckx4 October 2012GenkEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 2, Away BaselSt. Jakob-Park, Basel2-2De Ceulaer, Vossen24 October 2012AnderlechtChampions LeagueGroup StageMatchday 3, Away Zenit Saint PetersburgPetrovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg25 October 2012Club BruggeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 3, Away Newcastle UnitedSt James' Park, Newcastle25 October 2012GenkEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 3, Home Sporting CPCristal Arena, GenkDe Ceulaer, Barda6 November 2012AnderlechtChampions LeagueGroup StageMatchday 4, Home Zenit Saint PetersburgConstant Vanden Stock Stadium, AnderlechtMbokani8 November 2012Club BruggeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 4, Home Newcastle UnitedJan Breydel Stadium, Bruges2-2Tričkovski, Jørgensen8 November 2012GenkEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 4, Away Sporting CPEstádio José Alvalade, Lisbon1-1Plet21 November 2012AnderlechtChampions LeagueGroup StageMatchday 5, Home AC MilanConstant Vanden Stock Stadium, AnderlechtDe Sutter22 November 2012Club BruggeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 5, Home BordeauxJan Breydel Stadium, BrugesLestienne22 November 2012GenkEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 5, Away VideotonSóstói Stadion, SzékesfehérvárBarda4 December 2012AnderlechtChampions LeagueGroup StageMatchday 6, Away MálagaLa Rosaleda Stadium, Málaga2-2Jovanović, Mbokani6 December 2012Club BruggeEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 6, Away MarítimoEstádio dos Barreiros, FunchalRefaelov6 December 2012GenkEuropa LeagueGroup StageMatchday 6, Home BaselCristal Arena, Genk0-014 February 2013GenkEuropa LeagueRound of 32Leg 1, Away StuttgartMercedes-Benz Arena, Stuttgart1-1Plet21 February 2013GenkEuropa LeagueRound of 32Leg 2, Home StuttgartCristal Arena, Genk

Other honours CompetitionWinnerCupGenkSupercupAnderlechtThird division AHoogstratenThird division BVirtonPromotion AGent-ZeehavenPromotion BLonderzeelPromotion COosterzonen OosterwijkPromotion DSprimont-Comblain

European qualification for 2013-14 summary CompetitionQualifiersReason for QualificationUEFA Champions League Group StageAnderlecht1st in Jupiler LeagueUEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round for Non-ChampionsZulte Waregem2nd in Jupiler LeagueUEFA Europa League Play-off RoundGenkCup winnerUEFA Europa League Third Qualifying RoundClub Brugge3rd in Jupiler LeagueUEFA Europa League Second Qualifying RoundStandard LiègeEuropa League Playoff winner

See also 2012–13 Belgian Pro League 2012–13 Belgian Cup 2012 Belgian Super Cup Belgian Second Division Belgian Third Division: divisions A and B Belgian Promotion: divisions A, B, C and D

References