What makes Belgian football a global powerhouse?

Hello and welcome back to PITCHSIDE MONITOR, your ultimate source for exclusive club management insights!

In this week's edition, we delve into the unique aspects of Belgian football and feature insights from Alex Muzio, Chairman and principal shareholder of Royale Union Saint-Gillois.

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In our previous newsletter, which previewed the ongoing Euros, we briefly touched on two nations witnessing the gradual conclusion of their "golden generation": Belgium and Croatia. We posed the question of which team would advance further in the competition, given their contrasting trajectories in major tournaments. Croatia has achieved unexpected success, while Belgium has arguably underperformed relative to its potential.

As we write this, we are acutely aware of the profoundly disappointing outcome of Croatia’s final group stage match (unless, of course, you are an Italy fan!). Coupled with Slovenia’s draw against England, Croatia faces a somewhat unexpected early exit from the tournament. Despite being in a challenging group with reigning champions Italy and the always formidable Spain, they had strong prospects for securing a third-place spot at the tournament’s outset.

Belgium, conversely, find themselves with their fate in their own hands. Depending on the results of the last day of group-stage fixtures, they have the potential to either top their group or finish at the bottom.

In light of these developments, we would like to use this week’s newsletter to delve into the unique aspects of Belgian football. This fascinating ecosystem combines deep-rooted traditions with numerous intricate features, while also serving as a beacon of innovation. It is a landscape marked by both remarkable successes and occasional inconsistencies, reflecting the dynamic nature of the sport in Belgium.

Belgium's football history exemplifies the sport's early expansion from the British Isles to mainland Europe. Football began to take root in Belgium thanks to British expatriates and students, soon after the sport's official codification. The pioneering club, Royal Antwerp F.C. , originally started as a cricket club before expanding into football. It holds the esteemed "matricule 1," marking it as the first registered and oldest club in Belgium.

The Royal Belgian Football Association , established in 1895, is one of the oldest outside the UK. In 1904, Belgium became a founding member of FIFA , with Belgian football administrator Louis Muhlinghaus serving as FIFA's first General Secretary. Belgium also played a crucial role in the formation of UEFA, which emerged from intensive collaboration between the Belgian, French, and Italian national associations. Despite this, no Belgian national has yet held a top position within UEFA's governing structure.

Belgium's football landscape is notably centred around its capital, with most league champions hailing from the Brussels area. Anderlecht stands out as the country's most globally recognised club, having dominated Belgian football during various periods and boasting the best European record among Belgian clubs.

In recent years, Belgium has risen from being a mid-tier participant to a formidable contender on the international stage. This transformation is largely due to a golden generation of world-class players excelling in both defence and attack. The ability of Belgian players to attract interest from top European clubs, where they compete regularly with other elite talents, has significantly contributed to this success.

So, what do we believe are the key ingredients in the Belgian football mix, from an external perspective?

1 - The Competitive Landscape

As previously mentioned, Belgium is unique in that its football dominance has historically been centred around the capital, unlike many other nations where the epicentre of football is in major cities or industrial regions. However, Belgian football has also been remarkably inclusive, resulting in a diverse array of title-winning clubs and avoiding overwhelming dominance by any single club. This inclusivity has led to a higher proportion of championship wins by non-dominant clubs in the overall mix.

Even in recent years, with the decline of Anderlecht and the rise of Club Brugge as the country's leading club, there have been significant rivalries and challenges to this dominance. Five different champions have emerged in the last decade alone, despite what often feels like a monologue from the club in blue and black.

However, not all of Belgium's oldest clubs have endured. While Royal Antwerp, holder of Matricule 1, has recently re-emerged as a domestic contender after a challenging period, and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise , with Matricule 10, remains active, others have not been as fortunate. For instance, Daring Club de Bruxelles, the second oldest club by matricule, is no longer active. Additionally, many clubs have maintained their matricule numbers through mergers and acquisitions, turning these registrations into a market of their own over the years.

2 - Innovative League Systems

One reason for this competitive landscape is the ease with which Belgians implement new competition systems in top-division football. If you're a fan of the traditional double round-robin format, the Pro League might not be for you!

Guided by the Dutch consultancy Hypercube, the Belgian championship has featured various play-off rounds since the 2009-10 season. The championship round has been relatively straightforward, with teams having their regular-season points halved before competing. However, other parts of the table have seen numerous format changes, including play-offs for European spots, combined play-offs with first-league clubs, and 5-match relegation rounds between two teams.

If you enjoy analysing different competition formats, the Belgian Pro League is a fascinating case study!

Belgium's innovative spirit extends beyond professional men's football. The country has also pioneered new systems for women's football, though with mixed success. The Belgian-Dutch professional women's league, launched in 2011, was short-lived. However, this concept might have been ahead of its time. If introduced today, it could leverage combined resources to elevate overall quality, especially in smaller-scale ecosystems. This principle is also evident in concepts like the 3 Seas football competition in Central Europe and the Turkic football project.

3 - Talent Development Pathway

Belgium's impact extends beyond pioneering competition formats; it stands as a beacon of excellence in youth development. Renowned for nurturing world-class talent, this medium-sized nation consistently sets a high standard for producing top-tier players, both for prestigious leagues and its national team.

The country's golden generation boasts household names like Eden Hazard, Dries Mertens, and Kevin de Bruyne, each amassing over 100 national caps while excelling on the global stage. In 2021, Belgian players ranked 7th globally in transfer value according to the FIFA TMS report, at $245.9 million, trailing closely behind the Netherlands, their nearby rivals.

The success of Belgium's football development system hinges on both structural frameworks and external factors. Organizations like Double Pass , originating from Belgium's university ecosystem, lead the way in international youth academy licensing, while visionaries like Michel Bruyninx pioneer brain-centred learning approaches worldwide.

Belgian football's unique circumstances also play a pivotal role: demographics, compact size, and connectivity facilitate easier access to training compared to larger nations. Proximity to footballing powerhouses enables Belgian players not only to thrive locally but also to benefit from academies in neighboring countries like the Netherlands, France, and Germany. For instance, Eden Hazard developed at Lille, while Vertonghen and Alderweireld honed their skills in Amsterdam.

This multifaceted approach underscores Belgium's position as a global leader in football development, blending innovation with strategic advantage to continually produce elite talent.

4 - Talent Stepping Stone Market

Belgium, renowned not only as the birthplace of Jean-Marc Bosman but also as a pivotal hub in football transfers since the early 2000s, established itself as a crucial player in global transfer dynamics. During this era, securing a partnership with a Belgian feeder club became a hallmark of ambition and prestige for English clubs like Manchester United with Royal Antwerp, Arsenal F.C with Beveren, and Bradford City AFC with Racing Montegnee.

One of the most notable success stories of that period was the collaboration between ASEC Mimosas and Beveren, which facilitated the smooth transition of talented Ivorian players to Belgium. This arrangement not only simplified their residency and playing opportunities compared to direct moves to England but also underscored Belgium's robust legal and competitive frameworks. These elements positioned the Belgian league as an effective stepping stone to higher leagues, a fact that did not go unnoticed among football professionals.

Today, the foresight of those early partnerships continues to pay dividends as clubs worldwide profit from players developed in Belgian clubs, widely sought after in the global market.

5 - The Seat of European Power

Lastly, we address a crucial element that distinguishes the Belgian football ecosystem. You might question the locus of European football influence, traditionally based in UEFA 's headquarters in Switzerland. However, over recent decades, the pivotal decisions shaping European football have emanated not just from Nyon, but from the corridors of power in Brussels, including the European Commission and the European Court of Justice.

Dating back to the landmark Bosman case involving a Belgian player's transfer to a French club, which fundamentally reshaped global player trading, Brussels has wielded significant influence over the entire European sports market. This influence spans from the regulations governing player contracts and the distribution of media rights across nations, to the ownership and governance of competitions.

While direct channels between Belgian football and European authorities may not exist, the strategic positioning within Brussels remains a strategic advantage, influencing policies that reverberate throughout European football.

In this edition’s “Football Talks” segment, LTT Sports was honoured to converse with Alex Muzio, Chairman and principal shareholder of Royale Union Saint-Gilloise .

Muzio is renowned for his methodical, data-driven approach to club management, a cornerstone of his notable contributions to club success. Additionally, he serves as the President of the Union of European Clubs (UEC), an organisation dedicated to amplifying the voices of small and medium-sized European football clubs in the decision-making processes that shape European football.

We had the opportunity to pose a few questions to Alex, and here are his insightful responses.

1) When you were taking over the club back in 2018, did you envisage the trajectory that you have been on since then, or has it been a surprise to climb so high so quickly?

The trajectory has certainly been positive, but it’s been a mix of both planned progression and pleasant surprises. When we took over, there was a clear drive to utilise data positively in player and head coach recruitment. Getting involved in a football club is an exciting proposition, and we had specific criteria in mind for the club. It needed to be accessible, environmentally considerate, and not already excelling too much, as we wanted to improve it significantly. We aimed for a Second Division club to avoid the volatility of top division football. Union Saint-Gilloise ticked all the boxes, including having a history, which we believed was important. So, while we had ambitious plans, the rapid progress has been a delightful affirmation of our strategies.

2) How significant in this do you think has been the fact that USG has previously been a very successful club in Belgium, so it was essentially a job of returning it to former glories rather than learning to win from scratch?

I’d say it’s complicated. The club’s move away from its original stadium and less-than-ideal training facilities before we arrived did affect the continuity of its champion traditions. However, once we sold out the first game after the return to our home ground, there was a palpable sense of history and potential success. The supporters, staff, and the overall atmosphere made it feel like returning to past glories was natural. This historical context gave us a foundation to build upon, which might not have been the case with a club without such a rich heritage.

3) Was it the history of the club what drew you and Tony Bloom to it? And how did you actually go about searching for a club to take over, what were the main considerations for you as someone who will presumably have a modern and data-driven approach rather than the old-school football ownership methodology based on local roots and fandom?

History was not critical, but it was a significant factor. We wanted to create a positive story by growing a club with a successful past rather than starting from scratch. The search process was meticulous; we considered accessibility, the club’s current standing, and the potential for improvement. We avoided clubs already performing exceptionally well to ensure we could make a tangible difference. Also, a club in the Second Division was preferable to avoid the risk of immediate relegation from a top division. The presence of supportive fans and previous foreign ownership were minor positives. Essentially, we were looking for a club where we could implement our modern, data-driven approach effectively and sustainably.

4) When you came to the club, how much of the old 'champion' traditions and pride were still preserved inside the structure? Was it somehow different to a Brighton situation, where the club did not have such rich heritage in terms of honours and European participation?

The traditions and pride were somewhat fragmented due to logistical challenges like playing at the National Stadium and inadequate training facilities. However, once we returned to our home ground and saw the fan support, the historical essence became evident. Comparing this to Brighton, where I wasn’t involved myself, USG’s rich history provided a sense of natural potential for success. The difference is palpable; at USG, winning feels like a return to form, while for a club like Brighton, it might probably feel like reaching an unprecedented peak. This historical backdrop at USG has undoubtedly contributed to the sense of normalcy and expectation around success.

In this week's edition of Bottom-49, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the teams who have secured their maiden domestic league titles!

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We recently asked you, "Which of club from the Bottom 49 released the most players for UEFA Euro 2024?"

At the forefront, SK Slavia Praha - fotbal a.s. leads with the release of 9 players, setting a benchmark. Following closely are Fenerbah?e SK and FC Shakhtar Donetsk , each contributing 7 players to the Euro 2024 stage. Feyenoord Rotterdam N.V. also joins the distinguished Bottom-49 list, highlighting their ongoing commitment to developing top-tier talent.

We are delighted to share that our esteemed Knowledge Hub expert, Anne-Marie Itoua , is actively engaged in the Paris Olympics and Paralympics. Anne-Marie will be leveraging her expertise at the Medal Center, playing a pivotal role in the meticulous organisation and efficient management of this prestigious event. Her dedication and proven skills are poised to significantly enhance the success of the games.

That brings us to the end of this week’s newsletter. We hope you found eye-opening insights from our content this week. Each week, we will be curating exclusive content for you from the club management ecosystem. So, stay tuned for more and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter here!

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LTT Sports is an advisory firm focused on connecting football strategy and operations based on experience, analysis and a strong network. At LTT Sports, we have created a set of services for football organisations, providing transversal solutions at any level of the professional football pyramid – to boost performance off the pitch, directly impacting on-pitch results.

*** Disclaimer: LTT Sports is an independent think tank aimed to be a platform of discussion amongst football stakeholders. The answers received for our interviews are personal views of the interviewee and/ or the organisation he or she may represent and strictly do not represent our views on the subject matter.

Contributors to this week's newsletter: Olivier Jarosz, Konstantin Kornakov, Fathi Abou El Gadaiel