Royal Charleroi S.C.

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Sporting Charleroi
Royal Charleroi Sporting Club logo.svg
Full nameRoyal Charleroi Sporting Club
Nickname(s)Les Zèbres (The Zebras),
Les Carolos
Founded1 January 1904;121 years ago (1904-01-01)
Ground Stade du Pays de Charleroi
Capacity15,000 [1]
ChairmanFabien Debecq [2]
Managing Director Mehdi Bayat
Head coach Rik De Mil
League Belgian Pro League
2024-25 Belgian Pro League, 10th of 16
Website www.sporting-charleroi.be
Soccerball current event.svg Current season

Royal Charleroi Sporting Club, often simply known as Charleroi or Sporting Charleroi, is a Belgian professional football club based in the city of Charleroi, in the province of Hainaut. Charleroi plays in the Belgian Pro League. Their current spell at the highest level in Belgian football started in the 2012–13 season. Charleroi was founded in 1904 and they first reached the first division in 1947–48. Their highest finish was runner-up in the 1968–69 season. They have also twice reached the Belgian Cup final, losing in 1977–78 to Beveren and in 1992–93 to Standard Liège.

Contents

Sporting Charleroi have a long-standing rivalry with their crosstown rival ROC de Charleroi-Marchienne, currently playing in the third division. Charleroi play their home matches at the Stade du Pays de Charleroi, which was refurbished for the UEFA Euro 2000. The stadium hosted 3 group stage games in the Euro 2000 among which the 1–0 victory of England against Germany. Charleroi have been recruiting several French players in recent years, including Michaël Ciani, Cyril Théréau and goalkeeper Bertrand Laquait.

History

Charleroi Sporting Club was founded in 1904 and they received the matricule n°22. Twenty years after their foundation, they qualified to play in the Promotion (then the second level in Belgian football) and in 1929, the club changed its name to Royal Charleroi Sporting Club. Rivals from Olympic Charleroi were playing in the first division in the late 1930s and the 1940s, while Sporting Charleroi was playing one level down, until they promoted in 1947. In 1949, Sporting Charleroi finished 4th (2 points behind Standard Liège) whereas Olympic Charleroi was 14th. But Olympic took the lead again until 1955 and their relegation to the second division. At the end of the 1956–57 season, Olympic Charleroi had promoted to the first division but Sporting Charleroi finished last in the first division and was thus relegated to the second division. A spell of 9 seasons in the second division followed and in 1966–67 Sporting Charleroi was back at the top level. They finished at the second place in 1968–69 5 points behind Standard Liège but within two years they were relegated again.

In 1974 the first division was changing from 16 to 20 teams and Sporting Charleroi was chosen to play at the top level. Olympic Charleroi promoted too as they had won the second division right before but they remained at the top level for just one season. Sporting underwent a new relegation in 1979–80 (17th on 18) but was back five years later. Their best result since then in the first division is a 4th place in 1993–94. In September 2005, the G-14 took FIFA to court over the eight-month injury incurred by Abdelmajid Oulmers whilst on international duty with Morocco.

Colours and badge

Characters Boule et Bill as Charleroi-supporters Charleroi - Cartoon characters - panoramio (1).jpg
Characters Boule et Bill as Charleroi-supporters

The colours of Charleroi are black and white with a shirt generally striped, which led to the team being nicknamed The Zebras.

Stadium

Stade du Pays de Charleroi Charleroi Stade du Pays de Charleroi 1.jpg
Stade du Pays de Charleroi

The current ground was baptized in 1939 with a match Sporting-Union du Centre and it was located near the coal mine named Mambourg. In 1985 the stadium was slightly modernized as the club had qualified for the first division. It was then heavily renewed in the late 1990s in view of the 2000 European Football Championship. The name changed on 24 May 1999 from Stade du Mambourg to Stade du Pays de Charleroi. During the tournament, the full capacity of the stadium was up to 30,000 seats. The Stade du Pays de Charleroi hosted notably the match between Germany and England. The highest stand was eventually reduced and the capacity is now 15,000. [3]

Honours

European record

UEFA club competition record

Correct as of May 2016

CompetitionPlayedWDLGFGA
UEFA Cup 210123
UEFA Intertoto Cup 103341111
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 430185
UEFA Europa League 420297
TOTAL209383026

Matches

Match wonMatch drawnMatch lost
SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
1969–70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1R Flag of Croatia.svg Zagreb 2–13–15–2
2R Flag of France.svg FC Rouen 3–10–23–3 (a)
1994–95 UEFA Cup 1R Flag of Romania.svg Rapid București 2–10–22–3
1995 UEFA Intertoto Cup Group 10 Flag of Israel.svg Beitar Jerusalem 1–03rd
Flag of Turkey.svg Bursaspor 0–2
Flag of Slovakia.svg FC Košice 2–3
Flag of England.svg Wimbledon 3–0
1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup Group 4 Flag of Denmark.svg Silkeborg IF 2–43rd
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Conwy United 0–0
Flag of Poland.svg Zagłębie Lubin 0–0
Flag of Austria.svg SV Ried 3–1
2005 UEFA Intertoto Cup 2R Flag of Finland.svg Tampere United 0–00–10–1
2015–16 UEFA Europa League 2Q Flag of Israel.svg Beitar Jerusalem 5–14–19–2
3Q Flag of Ukraine.svg Zorya Luhansk 0–20–30–5
2020–21 UEFA Europa League 3Q Flag of Serbia.svg Partizan 2–1 (aet)
PO Flag of Poland.svg Lech Poznań 1–2
2025–26 UEFA Conference League 2Q Flag of Sweden.svg Hammarby IF

Current squad

As of 2 September 2025 [4]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
3 DF Flag of Algeria.svg  ALG Kevin Van Den Kerkhof (on loan from Metz )
4 DF Flag of Syria (2025-).svg  SYR Aiham Ousou
5 MF Flag of France.svg  FRA Etienne Camara
7 FW Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Isaac Mbenza
8 FW Flag of Norway.svg  NOR Jakob Napoleon Romsaas
10 MF Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  CIV Parfait Guiagon
14 MF Flag of Germany.svg  GER Patrick Pflücke
17 MF Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Antoine Bernier
21 FW Flag of France.svg  FRA Aurélien Scheidler
22 MF Flag of Algeria.svg  ALG Yacine Titraoui
23 DF Flag of France.svg  FRA Jules Gaudin
24 DF Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Mardochee Nzita
No.Pos.NationPlayer
25 FW Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Antoine Colassin
28 FW Flag of Ghana.svg  GHA Raymond Asante
29 DF Flag of Slovenia.svg  SVN Žan Rogelj
30 GK Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  CIV Mohamed Koné
32 DF Flag of Morocco.svg  MAR Mehdi Boukamir
33 GK Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Théo Defourny
40 MF Flag of Morocco.svg  MAR Yassine Khalifi
42 GK Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Nicolas Closset
43 FW Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Quentin Benaets
44 DF Flag of France.svg  FRA Massamba Sow
55 GK Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Martin Delavallée
56 MF Flag of Morocco.svg  MAR Amine Boukamir
95 DF Flag of France.svg  FRA Cheick Keita

On loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
FW Flag of France.svg  FRA Freddy Mbemba (at Guingamp until 30 June 2026)
MF Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Noam Mayoka-Tika (at Lierse until 30 June 2026)
No.Pos.NationPlayer
FW Flag of Haiti.svg  HAI Mondy Prunier (at KAS Eupen until 30 June 2026)
FW Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Anthony Descotte (at Volendam until 30 June 2026)

Retired numbers

11 – Has been retired in honor of club legend Dante Brogno since July 2001, his retirement.

Zebra Elites (Second team)

As of 6 February 2025 [5]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
39 DF Flag of France.svg  FRA Massamba Sow
40 MF Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Aaron Balongo
41 MF Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Tristan Hermans
42 MF Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Thomas Lutte
43 MF Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Quentin Benaets
44 MF Flag of France.svg  FRA José Capon
45 MF Flag of Morocco.svg  MAR Bilal El Ouazrhari
46 MF Flag of Poland.svg  POL Matias Pruszko
47 MF Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Lucas Delperdange
49 FW Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Yoan Apo
50 DF Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Robin Denuit
51 MF Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Mory Kera
52 MF Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Maxime Lonreiro
53 DF Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Axel Debast
55 GK Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Martin Delavallée
56 MF Flag of Morocco.svg  MAR Amine Boukamir
No.Pos.NationPlayer
57 DF Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Dylan Deves
58 GK Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Ugo Decerf
59 DF Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Yann Sikorski
60 GK Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Nicolas Closset
62 FW Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Nathan Okumu Monkoy
64 GK Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Kenny Omekoko
65 DF Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Rafaël Teugels
66 MF Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Noam Mayoka-Tika
67 FW Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Alexandre Stanić
77 DF Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Jason Dalle Molle
79 FW Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  COD Arthur Inaka
81 DF Flag of Morocco.svg  MAR Naïm Marzouk
82 MF Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Sacha Miantezila
83 FW Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Ahmed Mulumba
88 MF Flag of France.svg  FRA Soudeysse Kari

Club officials

PositionStaff
President Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Fabien Debecq
Chief commercial officer Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Walter Chardon
Managing director Flag of France.svg Mehdi Bayat
Head coach Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Rik De Mil
Assistant coach Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Rudi Cossey
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Frank Defays
Goalkeeper coach Flag of France.svg Cédric Berthelin
Fitness coach Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Frédéric Renotte
Strength & conditioning coach Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Antoine Huguenot
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Sébastien Delacroix
Video analyst Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Amaury Smits
Data analyst Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Pierre Neuchâteau
Head physio Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Benjamin Tubiermont
Doctor Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Dr.Clément Lepeuple
Physiotherapist Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Lilian Scarlata
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Tristan Blyckaerts
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Frédéric Vanbelle
Masseur Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Frédéric Chandelle
Head of education Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Christophe Dessy
Kitman Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Baptiste Collier
Delegate Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Arnaud Charlier
Performance Manager Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Rudger Van Snick

Coaches

References

  1. Het Stade du Pays de Charleroi Archived 17 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine sporting-charleroi.be (last check 30 March 2018)
  2. "Fabien Debecq nouveau président du Sporting de Charleroi". RTL Sport. RTL Belux S.A. 6 September 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  3. Het Stade du Pays de Charleroi Archived 17 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine sporting-charleroi.be (last check 30 March 2018)
  4. "Équipes | RCSC". R. Charleroi S.C. - Web Oficial. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  5. "Zebra Elites" . Retrieved 1 May 2025.