K Beerschot VA

Lore & Background

The club began in 1921 as Football Club Wilrijk and joined the Belgian football association. It first played national football in 1926 in the newly introduced third division but was relegated after one season. After several promotions and relegations, FC Wilrijk was relegated to the provincial division in 1949, beginning a long period outside national football. In 1993, KFC Wilrijk merged with Olympia Wilrijk 72, forming KFC Olympia Wilrijk, and returned to the fourth division in 1994 after 45 years.

Reader's Guide

After Beerschot AC's bankruptcy in 2013, KFCO Wilrijk adopted the Beerschot identity and colours, though it temporarily lost the 'royal' designation until 2017. The club drew massive crowds for the provincial level, setting attendance records and moving home games to the Olympic Stadium. It won successive promotions from the fourth division to the second tier by 2017. In 2019, the club officially changed its name to Beerschot. It reached the Belgian First Division A after winning the 2019–2020 promotion final, but was relegated in 2021–22. Beerschot returned to the top flight for 2024–25 by winning the Challenger Pro League in 2023–24. The club's significance lies in its revival of a historic Antwerp identity and its rapid ascent through the Belgian football pyramid.

Did You Know?

• The club was founded in 1921 as FC Wilrijk.
• In 2013, KFCO Wilrijk integrated the identity of bankrupt Beerschot AC.
• The club's home ground is the Olympic Stadium, often called 't Kiel.
• Beerschot won the Challenger Pro League in 2023–24 to earn promotion to the Belgian Pro League.