The 2022–23 season of the Challenger Pro League began in August 2022 and ended in May 2023. It was the first season under its new name after being renamed from First Division B.
Team changes In Dender EH were promoted as champions of the 2021–22 Belgian National Division 1. Beerschot were relegated from the 2021–22 Belgian First Division A. RSCA Futures, Club NXT, Jong Genk and SL16 FC were added to the league as the league was expanded with four U23 teams and they finished as the top four teams in the 2021–22 Belgian U23 league.
Out Westerlo were promoted from the 2021–22 Belgian First Division B as champions. Royal Excel Mouscron folded as a team and ceased to exist.
Name change Waasland-Beveren found an agreement with the owners of the rights to the former club K.S.K. Beveren, which allowed it to change its name to S.K. Beveren.
Format changes Four U23 teams were added to the league as part of a two-season trial, expanding the league from 8 to 12 teams. These twelve teams will play each other twice in a regular competition, after which the league is split, with the top and bottom six teams playing separate competitions from that point, continuing with the points gained. At the top end, only the champion is promoted as three teams are relegated from the 2022–23 Belgian First Division A to reduce the size back from 18 to 16 teams. At the bottom end, the team finishing last will be relegated. U23 teams cannot be promoted to the Belgian First Division A, but can suffer relegation, furthermore they always have to play at least one level below their A team counterparts, hence could be relegated despite not finishing last.
Team information
Stadiums and locations
Matricule Club City First season of current spell at second level</th> Coming from 2021-22 result Stadium Capacity35Anderlecht, Brussels2022–23U23 competition2nd U23 competitionKing Baudouin Stadium38,00013Antwerp2022–23Belgian First Division A18th (D1A) Olympic Stadium12,7714068Beveren2021–22Belgian First Division B3rd (D1B)Freethiel Stadion8,1903Bruges2022–23U23 competition3rd U23 competitionSchiervelde Stadion8,340818Deinze2020–21Belgian First Amateur Division4th (D1B)Burgemeester Van de Wiele Stadion7,5153900Denderleeuw2022–23Belgian National Division 11st (NatD1) Van Roystadion6,429322Genk2022–23U23 competition1st U23 competitionLuminus Arena24,9563970Lier2020–21Belgian First Amateur Division5th (D1B)Herman Vanderpoortenstadion14,5382554Lommel2018–19Belgian First Amateur Division6th (D1B)Soevereinstadion8,0005479Molenbeek, Brussels2020–21Belgian First Amateur Division2nd (D1B)Edmond Machtens Stadium12,26616Liège2022–23U23 competition4th U23 competitionStade Maurice Dufrasne30,023200Virton2021–22Belgian Division 28th (D1B)Stade Yvan Georges4,015
Personnel and kits Club Manager Kit Manufacturer Sponsors Beerschot Andreas Wieland Erreà Yelo Beveren Wim De Decker Uhlsport Star Casino Club NXT Hayk Milkon Macron Alheembouw Deinze Marc Grosjean Jako PlaysiaTV Dender EH Regi Van Acker Nike Drankendiscount Stravbier Jong Genk Hans Somers Nike Beobank Lierse Kempenzonen Tom Van Imschoot Jako Keukens Van Lommel Lommel Steve Bould Masita Bingoal RSCA Futures Guillaume Gillet Joma DVV Insurance (home) Candriam (away) RWD Molenbeek Vincent Euvrard Joma Facebank SL16 FC Joseph Laumann Adidas VOO Virton José Jeunechamps Kipsta Leopard Natural
Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position Replaced by Date of appointment Deinze Wim De Decker Mutual consent End of 2021–22 seasonPre-season Takahisa Shiraishi 19 May 2022 Beerschot Greg Vanderidt Replaced Andreas Wieland 23 May 2022 Lommel Brian Eastick End of contract Steve Bould 3 June 2022 Beveren Jordi Condom End of contract Wim De Decker 5 June 2022 Club NXT Rik De Mil Promoted to Club Brugge as assistant Nicky Hayen 15 June 2022 Virton Pablo Correa End of contract Christian Bracconi 9 July 2022 SL16 FC Geoffrey Valenne Replaced Joseph Laumann 11 July 2022 Deinze Takahisa Shiraishi Resigned 29 September 2022 12th Antonio Calderón (caretaker) 30 September 2022 Deinze Antonio Calderón (caretaker) Caretaker replaced 24 October 2022 12th Marc Grosjean 24 October 2022 RSCA Futures Robin Veldman Promoted to Anderlecht as caretaker 24 October 2022 5th Guillaume Gillet 24 October 2022 Dender EH Regi Van Acker Sacked 7 February 2023 9th Pieter De Bot (caretaker) 7 February 2023 Virton Christian Bracconi Sacked 7 February 2023 12th José Jeunechamps 7 February 2023 Dender EH Pieter De Bot Caretaker replaced 13 February 2023 10th Timmy Simons 13 February 2023 Club NXT Nicky Hayen Promoted to Club Brugge as assistant 15 March 2023 4th Hayk Milkon 15 March 2023
League table
Positions by round The table lists the positions of teams after the completion of each matchday, even if due to postponed matches this means the teams have an unequal number of games played. Coloured cells for matchdays 1 through 22 refer to being in the promotion play-offs (green) or relegation play-offs (red), after that only the 1st and last position are highlighted as these mean promotion and relegation respectively.
Results Matches 1–22
Matches 23–32
Top six
Bottom six
Season statistics Top scorers
Rank Player Club Goals1 Thierno BarryBeveren202 Mickaël BironRWD Molenbeek163 Lucas StassinRSCA Futures154 Dieumerci MbokaniBeveren145 Thibo BaetenBeerschot13 Lucas Ribeiro CostaBeveren Thibaut Van AckerLierse Kempenzonen8 Leandro RochaLierse Kempenzonen129 CauêLommel9 Romeo VermantClub NXT
Team of the season Upon completion of the regular season a team of the season award was compiled, based upon the results of the team of the week results throughout the season, constructed based on nominations from managers, assistant-managers, journalists and analysts. The results were announced from 22 May 2023, with one player revealed each day.
PosPlayerClubRef GK Beveren RB Lommel CB RWD Molenbeek CB Beveren LB Club NXT MF Beerschot MF RWD Molenbeek MF Lierse Kempenzonen LW RWD Molenbeek FW Beveren RW RWD Molenbeek
Number of teams by provinces Number of teams Province or region Team(s)3 Deinze, Dender EH and Beveren2 Beerschot and Lierse Kempenzonen RSCA Futures and RWD MolenbeekJong Genk and Lommel1 SL16 FCVirton Club NXT
Attendances
# Club Average 1 Beerschot 3,366 2 Beveren 3,108 3 RWDM 2,798 4 Lierse 2,397 5 Virton 1,392 6 Dender 1,021 7 Lommel 963 8 RSCA Futures 861 9 Jong Genk 674 10 Club NXT 650 11 Deinze 578 12 SL16 425
Source:https://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/archive/bel/avebel23.htm
Notes
References