1.
Westmalle
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Westmalle is a village in the Belgian province of Antwerp which is part of the municipality of Malle. Westmalle is primarily known for the Trappist Abbey of Westmalle of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, the Trappist monks operate a brewery and also make cheese. In addition, the Monasterium Magnificat of Westmalle is the monastery of the Annunciade Order in Belgium. Westmalle Castle dates back to 1100, the Scherpenberg windmill is still operational and is open to visitors. The statue of the Pedaalstompers commemorates the record of the longest bicycle. Martinus Dom, first abbot of the Trappist Abbey of Westmalle, francis Severeyns, nicknamed Cisse, football striker Seppe Smits, professional snowboarder Trappist beer Oostmalle Malle Pictures of Westmalle Land van Playsantiën
2.
Belgium
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Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a sovereign state in Western Europe bordered by France, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and the North Sea. It is a small, densely populated country which covers an area of 30,528 square kilometres and has a population of about 11 million people. Additionally, there is a group of German-speakers who live in the East Cantons located around the High Fens area. Historically, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg were known as the Low Countries, the region was called Belgica in Latin, after the Roman province of Gallia Belgica. From the end of the Middle Ages until the 17th century, today, Belgium is a federal constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of governance. It is divided into three regions and three communities, that exist next to each other and its two largest regions are the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders in the north and the French-speaking southern region of Wallonia. The Brussels-Capital Region is a bilingual enclave within the Flemish Region. A German-speaking Community exists in eastern Wallonia, Belgiums linguistic diversity and related political conflicts are reflected in its political history and complex system of governance, made up of six different governments. Upon its independence, declared in 1830, Belgium participated in the Industrial Revolution and, during the course of the 20th century, possessed a number of colonies in Africa. This continuing antagonism has led to several far-reaching reforms, resulting in a transition from a unitary to a federal arrangement during the period from 1970 to 1993. Belgium is also a member of the Eurozone, NATO, OECD and WTO. Its capital, Brussels, hosts several of the EUs official seats as well as the headquarters of major international organizations such as NATO. Belgium is also a part of the Schengen Area, Belgium is a developed country, with an advanced high-income economy and is categorized as very high in the Human Development Index. A gradual immigration by Germanic Frankish tribes during the 5th century brought the area under the rule of the Merovingian kings, a gradual shift of power during the 8th century led the kingdom of the Franks to evolve into the Carolingian Empire. Many of these fiefdoms were united in the Burgundian Netherlands of the 14th and 15th centuries, the Eighty Years War divided the Low Countries into the northern United Provinces and the Southern Netherlands. The latter were ruled successively by the Spanish and the Austrian Habsburgs and this was the theatre of most Franco-Spanish and Franco-Austrian wars during the 17th and 18th centuries. The reunification of the Low Countries as the United Kingdom of the Netherlands occurred at the dissolution of the First French Empire in 1815, although the franchise was initially restricted, universal suffrage for men was introduced after the general strike of 1893 and for women in 1949. The main political parties of the 19th century were the Catholic Party, French was originally the single official language adopted by the nobility and the bourgeoisie
3.
Forward (association football)
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Forwards are the players on an association football team who play nearest to the opposing teams goal, and are therefore most responsible for scoring goals. Their advanced position and limited defensive responsibilities mean forwards normally score more goals on behalf of their team than other players, modern team formations generally include one to three forwards, for example, the common 4–2–3–1 formation includes one forward. Unconventional formations may include more than three forwards, or none, the centre-forward is often a tall player, typically known as a target man, whose main function is to score the majority of goals on behalf of the team. Most modern centre-forwards operate in front of the strikers or central attacking midfielders. The present role of centre-forward is sometimes interchangeable with that of an attacking midfielder, a centre-forward usually must be strong, to win key headers and outmuscle defenders. The term centre-forward is taken from the football playing formation in which there were five forward players. The number would become synonymous with the centre-forward position. Strikers are known for their ability to peel off defenders and to run into space via the side of the defender and to receive the ball in a good goalscoring position. They are typically fast players with ball control and dribbling abilities. More agile strikers like Michael Owen have an advantage over taller defenders due to their short burst speed, a good striker should be able to shoot confidently with either foot, possess great power and accuracy, and have the ability to pass the ball under pressure in breakaway situations. Deep-lying forwards have a history in the game, but the terminology to describe their playing activity has varied over the years. Originally such players were termed inside forwards, creative or deep-lying centre-forwards, in fact, a coined term, the nine-and-a-half, has been an attempt to become a standard in defining the position. In Italy, this role is known as a rifinitore or seconda punta, whereas in Brazil, it is known as segundo atacante. An outside forward plays as the forward on the right or left wing – as an outside right or outside left. As football tactics have largely developed, and wingers have dropped back to become midfielders, many commentators and football analysts still refer to the wing positions as outside right and outside left. However, in the British game they are counted as part of the midfield. It is a duty to beat opposing full-backs, deliver cut-backs or crosses from wide positions and, to a lesser extent, to beat defenders. They are usually some of the quickest players in the team, in their Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese usage, the defensive duties of the winger have been usually confined to pressing the opposition fullbacks when they have the ball
4.
Royal Antwerp F.C.
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Royal Antwerp Football Club, often simply referred to as Antwerp, is a Belgian football club based in the city of Antwerp. At first there was no organised football played by its members, until 1887 when the division was founded with an own board. In 1900, most of the left the club for the new neighbouring club of K. Beerschot V. A. C. Royal Antwerp have won four Belgian league titles so far, as well as two Belgian Cups, the club is also the latest Belgian team to have reached a UEFA competition final, the 1993 European Cup Winners Cup Final, where they lost 3–1 against Parma at Wembley Stadium. They have been playing in the Belgian Second Division since 2004–05, royal Antwerp play their home matches at the Bosuilstadion since 1923. Royal Antwerp colours are red and white, an example is Dong Fangzhuo, who was unable to play for United, immediately due to work permit problems and was loaned to allow him to gain first team experience. Despite being one of Belgiums best-supported clubs, Antwerp have been under-achievers for several years and they have not won a league title since 1957, and have spent several seasons in the second division. They were last promoted to the top flight in 2000, only to be relegated in order in 2004. They returned to the first division after 13 years in 2017, the best football players of Antwerp and Rotterdam contested a yearly match between 1909 and 1959 for the Meuse- and Scheldt Cup. It was agreed to play the game at stadium De Bosuil in Antwerp, the cup was provided in 1909 by P. Havenith from Antwerp and Kees van Hasselt from Rotterdam. Note, Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules, players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality
5.
A.C. Pisa 1909
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Associazione Calcio Pisa 1909 is an Italian association football club, based in Pisa, Tuscany. The club was founded in 1909 as Pisa Sporting Club and refounded in 1994 as Pisa Calcio and it was excluded again from Italian football in 2009, after the property failed to collect enough money to pay off the clubs debts. In summer 2009 it was refounded with the current denomination, Pisa has won two Mitropa Cups, in 1986 and 1988. They play their matches at Arena Garibaldi - Stadio Romeo Anconetani, named after Romeo Anconetani. At the end of the 2008 season, Pisa lost to U. S. Lecce in a promotion playoff final to Serie A. The team currently plays in Serie B, after promotion to Serie B in 1965, Pisa took three years to reach Serie A for the first time. Despite a brave effort, Pisa was relegated on the day of the 1968–69 season. Spending much of the 1970s in Serie C, Pisa returned to Serie B in 1979 and were promoted to Serie A in 1982, embarking on a period of six out of nine seasons in Serie A. With Danish international Klaus Berggreen among their stars, Pisa managed a credible 11th place in the 1982–83 Serie A with 27 points and 27 goals scored and conceded in 30 games, the following season brought relegation with 15,000 fans travelling to Milan for the fateful penultimate game. Promotion followed in 1985, and the team seemed capable of staying up until losing their last three games, the cycle was repeated in 1987, only for a side containing players like Dunga and Paul Elliott to stay up. Relegation brought considerable financial strains to the club, and by 1994 they had lost a relegation play-off and were condemned to Serie C1, bankruptcy saw Pisa reformed in Eccellenza, only to return to Serie C2 in 1996 and C1 in 1999. Pisa have since worked towards attaining Serie B status, which was achieved in 2007 and their crowds have been among the better in Italys lower divisions owing to the dedication of their fans. In 2005–06, the team, initially thought to be a protagonist for the promotion, were in continuous struggles, for the 2007–08 Serie B campaign, the first in 13 years, Giampiero Ventura was named to replace Braglia at the helm of the nerazzurri. The club ended the season in sixth place, therefore achieving a spot to the promotion playoffs. In 2008–09, the club was acquired by Rome entrepreneur Luca Pomponi, Pisa has been refounded with the current denomination of A. C. Pisa 1909 S. S. D. to start again from Serie D under a new property. At the end of the season Pisa won Group D of Serie D and was promoted to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione for 2010–11 season. The team was admitted to Lega Pro Prima Divisione for the 2010–11 season to fill vacancies created by a row of club exclusions in second. On 12 June 2016 Pisa gained promotion to Serie B after seven years by defeating Maceratese, Pordenone, as of 27 January,2017 Note, Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules
6.
KV Mechelen
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Yellow Red Koninklijke Voetbalclub Mechelen, is a Belgian professional football club based in Mechelen in the Antwerp province. KV Mechelen plays in the Belgian Pro League and they have won four Belgian championships and one Belgian Cup, as well as the 1987–88 European Cup Winners Cup and the 1988 European Super Cup. They collected all of their honours in the 1940s and in the 1980s, KV Mechelen was founded in 1904 and, in 1921–22, promoted to the first division. After two successive relegation and promotion, they were back for good between 1928–29 and 1955–56, in the 1960s and 1970s, the club had several promotions and relegations between the first and second division. From 1983–84 to 1996–97, they had a successful first division spell, with a title and several 2nd, during that period, they also won a European Cup Winners Cup and they reached the same competition semi-finals as well as the European Cup quarter-finals. KV Mechelen declined in the late 1990s though they had two spells at the highest level from 1999–00 to 2000–01 and in 2002–03. At the end of season, the club did not receive their Belgian professional football license. They were thus relegated to the division with a 9-point penalty. After two promotions in 2004–05 and in 2006–07, KV Mechelen has come back to the first division, the club outfits are a striped yellow and red shirt with black shorts and socks. They play their matches at the Argosstadion Achter de Kazerne. The stadium has been named so because there used to be next to stadium. KV Mechelen fans have a rivalry with KRC Mechelen. The club was founded in 1904, a few months after the birth of city rival KRC Mechelen, the club had a first successful period in the 1940s. During World War II, in 1943, the club won their first domestic title, the second title came a few years later, in 1946, and in 1948 the club was successful again. After that, the club fell back, in 1954, they managed to finish third, only one point behind champions Anderlecht, but that was their last good season. Two years later, Mechelen was relegated to second division, during the 1960s and the 1970s, Mechelen went up and down between the first and second division. The club enjoyed a spell of both domestic and European success in the period of 1987–92, during these 5 seasons, Mechelen won one Belgian championship and one Belgian cup title. They also finished 2nd in the Belgian league twice and lost the Belgian cup final twice, after winning the domestic cup title in 1987, and hence qualifying for the European Cup Winners Cup, they completed the extraordinary achievement of winning this tournament in 1988
7.
Beerschot A.C.
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Koninklijke Beerschot Antwerpen Club, simply known as Beerschot AC, was a Belgian football club based in southern Antwerp. The club was established in 1999 as the result of the merger between K Beerschot VAC and KFC Germinal Ekeren, from which they took over the matricule number and history. Prior to the merger, Germinal Ekeren had been a first division club for 10 years, the club won 2 Belgian Cups, one as Germinal Ekeren in 1997, the other as Germinal Beerschot in 2005. Their best league ranking was a 3rd place in 1995–96 and in 1997–98, following the merger in 1999, the club moved from the Veltwijckstadion in the municipality of Ekeren to the Olympisch Stadion in the Kiel neighbourhood in Antwerp. Their outfits mixed the yellow and red of Germinal Ekeren with the purple of Beerschot and their biggest rival is Royal Antwerp FC. On 17 May 2011, the changed its name again to Koninklijke Beerschot Antwerpse Club or Beerschot AC. In addition, the set its motto to the Latin phrase Tene Quod Bene. After being relegated in 2012–13, the club went bankrupt at the end of the season and was removed from competition altogether, in June 2013 K. FC. O. Wilrijk unofficially merged with Beerschot AC into FCO Beerschot Wilrijk. This new club started in the first division of the Belgian Provincial leagues, in 1920 F. C. Germinal Ekeren was founded in the town of Ekeren, a northern suburb of Antwerp. Several years earlier, in 1899, Beerschot was founded at Het Kiel, an outskirt of Antwerp. In 1971 they added the prefix Koninklijk to their name, the team reached the top division in Belgian football in 1989 and finished 13th. They achieved their highest league position of third in 1996 and 1998, Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen kept the matricule n°3530 of Ekeren to keep their place in the first division, but retained the stadium of Beerschot, rebuilding it in the process. By keeping the matricule of Ekeren, the honours of Beerschot were considered to be distinct and separate from the new team, in 2004 further financial difficulties were experienced and Marc Brys, a Belgian football coach was brought in. He led the team to victory in the Belgian Cup that year, after only 7 matches in the Jupiler League 2005-06 season, he was fired due to bad results. The current coach is Glen De Boeck after the previous coach Jos Daerden left to become an assistant coach at Dutch club Twente, may 2013, Naamloze vennootschap Beerschot announced it will be liquidated. After having failed to present a plan to the Royal Belgian Football Association. Unable to attract enough financial means to continue playing in a division they decided upon liquidation. Late May 2013 the entourage and fans of Beerschot started negotiations with FCO. Wilrijk, in June 2013 when K. FC. O. Wilrijk its name into F. C. O
8.
K.V.C. Westerlo
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Koninklijke Voetbal Club Westerlo is a Belgian professional football club located in the municipality of Westerlo in the province of Antwerp. Since 1997–98, Westerlo has been playing in the Belgian Pro League. Their highest finish is a 6th place in 1999–00, 2003–04 and they have won one Belgian Cup. The only player who has ever called up for the Belgium national football team while at Westerlo is Toni Brogno. The club was founded in 1933, receiving the matricule number 2024 and their colours are yellow and blue. They play their matches at the Het Kuipje. Westerlo was founded in the city of Westerlo by students in 1917, after five years of existence, the club retired. The club Bist Sport was created in 1931 and it changed its name to Sportkring Westerlo two years later, some players left the club to found Westerlo Sport, the ancestor of K. V. C. In 1939, the club won its league for the first time, five years later, Sportkring Westerlo and dissident Westerlo Sport decided to merge in spite of the rivalry between the teams, and the new club was called V. C. It became champion of the Antwerp second division in 1960, eight years later it played its first season at the national level in Promotion and it won its league to play the third division in 1969. At the end of the season, Westerlo missed a title in a row. The next year, the club was relegated after the playoff, the club then underwent two relegations in a row and thus played in the Antwerp second division in 1982–83. Westerlo was then promoted for three years to qualify for the third division once again. In 1993, the promoted to the second division and then to the first division in 1997. In 1996, the added the prefix Koninklijke to its name. Westerlo plays its matches at Het Kuipje, which means The Small Tank in Dutch. It is believed to be reference to the Feijenoord Stadion that is nicknamed De Kuip and its capacity is of 7,982 with 5,556 seats. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality, note, Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules
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