Final Chapter of The Great Old’s Golden Team
Every great team eventually reaches its final page. For Royal Antwerp FC, that page turned at the end of this season. Vincent Janssen. Gyrano Kerk. Zeno Van den Bosch. Kobe Corbanie. Different ages. Different stories. Different roles. But all part of the same chapter.
Four remaining players of the legendary 2022/23 Double-winning squad have now left the club. The last links to a team that ended a 66-year wait for the league title, lifted the Belgian Cup, and etched itself forever into R Antwerp FC history have taken their final bow. Football moves quickly. Heroes come and go. But some players become part of a club’s history forever. These four certainly have.
Vincent Janssen – The Leader Up Front | When Vincent Janssen arrived at the Bosuil, expectations were high. He had played at the highest level, represented the Netherlands, and carried the experience of major European leagues. What followed was much more than goals. Janssen became the heartbeat of Antwerp’s attack during the club’s most successful modern era. His work rate, intelligence, physical presence and leadership made him indispensable to Mark van Bommel’s side. But, not every contribution can be measured in goals. Janssen brought belief, standards and a winning mentality. <<read his story here>>
Gyrano Kerk – The Man for the Big Moments | If there is one image that will forever define Gyrano Kerk’s RAFC career, it is that afternoon in Genk on 4 June 2023. Before Toby Alderweireld’s immortal stoppage-time equaliser, it was Kerk who first equalised in the title decider. His composed finish in the 58th minute kept Antwerp on course for history and ensured his place in one of the greatest days the club has ever experienced. Kerk’s Antwerp story was full of moments like that: pace, directness and a knack for delivering when it mattered most. He also scored in Athens as Antwerp secured a historic first-ever qualification for the UEFA Champions League group stage. Some players score goals. Others score goals that become history. Kerk did both.
Zeno Van den Bosch – One of Our Own | Every successful team needs homegrown talent, and Zeno Van den Bosch represented exactly that. A product of Antwerp’s academy, he emerged during the most successful period in the club’s recent history and earned his place among seasoned internationals. His breakthrough season in 2023/24 showed maturity beyond his years, and he became a player many supporters hoped would wear the Antwerp FC shirt for years to come.
Kobe Corbanie – The Future Who Shared the Journey | For Kobe Corbanie, the story is different but no less special. While still at the beginning of his professional career, the young defender became part of a squad that changed history. Young players often dream of breaking through at their hometown club. Corbanie not only did that, but he also got to experience life within one of the most successful Antwerp squads ever assembled.
To all four: thank you for the memories, the commitment, the goals, the tackles, the celebrations and the history. You’ll always have a place in the story of The Great Old 🔴⚪️
