Antwerp Supporters Club UK

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 🔴⚪️

The boy from Royal Antwerp FC has officially conquered England. Senne Lammens has been named the Premier League’s Transfer of the Season after an outstanding debut campaign with Manchester United, capping off a year that few could have imagined when he arrived from The Great Old on Transfer Deadline Day last summer.

The numbers speak for themselves. Across 32 league appearances, Lammens recorded 79 saves, kept eight clean sheets, and prevented nearly seven expected goals – more than any other goalkeeper in the league. He proved to be the cornerstone of United’s defence, combining sharp reflexes with a calm authority beyond his years.

His performances did not go unnoticed. Lammens earned two nominations for the Premier League’s ‘Save of the Month’-award, received his first senior call-up for Belgium earlier in the season, and will now represent his country at the FIFA World Cup.

Yet perhaps his greatest achievement lies in the transformation he inspired at Old Trafford – When Lammens made his Premier League debut against Sunderland, Manchester United were languishing in 14th place. By the end of the season, they had surged to third, behind only champions Arsenal and Manchester City, securing a return to UEFA Champions League football for 2026/27. His influence on that turnaround cannot be overstated.

Supporters who initially questioned the signing quickly changed their tune. Match after match, Lammens won them over with his composure, consistency, and ability to deliver in crucial moments. Many fans now describe him as the perfect Sir Alex Ferguson-style signing: relatively unknown, uncapped at senior international level, and absolutely sensational.

For Royal Antwerp supporters, his success is a source of pride. Lammens is another shining example of the talent developed at the Bosuil, carrying Antwerp FC onto one of football’s biggest stages.

The goalkeeper who left RAFC for United has become one of the Premier League’s brightest stars, playing a decisive role in Manchester’s revival and giving an entire fanbase renewed confidence between the posts. Congratulations, Senne. Once a Red, always a Red! COYR 🔴⚪️

Link to Manchester United page

The man who did it all, the best striker in Belgium, a player who – according to Mark van Bommel – made more tackles as a forward than Mark ever did as a midfielder, is leaving Royal Antwerp Football Club after four unforgettable seasons.

It has been a privilege to have Vincent in our team. From day one, it was clear that he was not only an exceptionally talented footballer, but someone who truly embodied the DNA of Antwerp. The warrior of the Bosuil. Relentless. Tireless. Always charging forward, whether the team was leading or trailing – it never mattered, and that is exactly what RAFC stands for.

With his quality and unstoppable determination, he became one of the architects behind the club’s greatest successes – a forth Belgian Cup, the fifth league title, a historic Double, the Super Cup, and Champions League at the Bosuil. Janssen came, saw, and conquered.

Vincent, with 173 matches in the famous red-and-white shirt, the curtain falls not only on your time at the club, but on one of the most beautiful eras in our history.

Thank you for everything. We wish you nothing but success and happiness in the next chapter of your career. To us, RAFC supporters, you will forever remain one of the heroes of the Double, and the embodiment of Royal Antwerp fury, a fighter with a red-and-white heart. 🔴⚪️

RAFC confirmed on Sunday that the Dutchman was dismissed following a disappointing end to the season, with Antwerp FC missing out on European qualification after three straight playoff defeats.

In a statement on the club website, Antwerp FC said it had “decided not to continue with Oosting next season” and ended the collaboration with immediate effect. Assistant Faris Haroun will oversee the final two matches of the campaign.

Oosting arrived at the Bosuil in November after spells with FC Twente and RKC Waalwijk. He initially enjoyed an unbeaten start in Belgium, but results deteriorated sharply in recent weeks as pressure mounted on the coaching staff. Belgian media reported that internal discussions about his future had intensified after Royal Antwerp’s European hopes faded.

One of the great Hungarian forwards of the post-1950s era who became a cult figure at Royal Antwerp FC during the early 1980s.

Today the football world lost one of its true artists, as László Fazekas passed away at the age of 78. For our Royal Antwerp supporters, however, he was far more than a brilliant footballer – he was, and always will be, an absolute club legend. With his elegance, intelligence and extraordinary talent, the Hungarian forward captured the hearts of the Bosuil faithful during the early 1980’s and became one of the most beloved players ever to wear the famous red and white shirt. Decades later, his name still echoes through the stadium, a testament to the lasting bond he forged with RAFC and its supporters.

Fazekas was born in Budapest in 1947 and spent the prime of his career with Újpest FC (then Újpesti Dózsa). Between 1965 and 1980 he developed into one of Hungary’s most prolific attackers. Internationally he may not be as famous as some Hungarian legends like Ferenc Puskás, but László earned 92 caps for the Hungary national football team and scored 24 goals, making him one of Hungary’s most-capped players ever.

Contribution to Royal Antwerp FC

Fazekas joined Royal Antwerp FC in 1980, already an established star in Eastern European football. His arrival was significant because, at the time, Antwerp were not attracting many internationally renowned players – especially not from behind the Iron Curtain. Across four seasons 1980–1984, he became one of our club’s standout attacking players and scored 65 goals in 172 matches.

His importance to Antwerp FC went beyond statistics – he brought technical sophistication and international pedigree to the side. RAFC fans will remember him for his elegant attacking play, creativity, and composure rather than only physicality. He became one of the most beloved foreign players in the club’s history. Rest in Peace, László Fazekas – Forever Antwerp Legend 🔴⚪️

Antwerp FC have been a fixture in the Belgian Champions’ Play-offs in recent years, but that run has now come to an end. After six consecutive top-six finishes, our Reds fall short of the final round this time, following a deeply disappointing campaign that saw them drift well below the country’s elite.

Pre-season optimism within the club was strong. The board expressed full confidence in the squad, setting clear ambitions: challenge again for a top-six spot and secure a return to European football. Those goals, however, proved well beyond reach. After 30 matchdays, Antwerp FC slumped to a disheartening tenth-place finish.

Put simply, it was not good enough. Reaching the Belgian cup semi-finals offered some respite, but even that run ultimately underlined the team’s shortcomings. A promising 0–1 away victory against Anderlecht in the first leg was followed by a dismal 0–4 collapse at home – a result that encapsulated the inconsistency and fragility of the season.

The numbers tell a stark story: just 35 points from a possible 90, 13 defeats, and a goal difference of -1. Most concerning was the lack of attacking output, with only three goals scored across the final eight matches. The conclusion is inescapable – this squad lacked the quality required to compete at a higher level. That reality stings even more given the relatively modest standard of the competition this season; 44 points would have sufficed for a place in the top six.

So, what remains? A final opportunity to salvage something from the season lies in the fight for Conference League qualification. Royal Antwerp FC must first navigate the next ten fixtures successfully. Should we top our group, a decisive play-off against the fifth-placed team from the Champions’ Play-offs awaits, with European football on the line.

The campaign may yet be prolonged, and we have to remain cautious optimistic – not only because our team can still salvage some pride this season – but more importantly, a very promising generation of homegrown talent emerging from the Young Reds Academy, could lay the foundations for a brighter future ahead. Come on You Reds! 🔴⚪️

Modern kits reflect true engineering, lightweight, aerodynamic, designed for speed. But the old – buttoned – shirts remind of a slower, grittier game. They speak of community grounds, enthusiastic terraces, and a time when the line between athlete and gentleman seemed thinner. In their simplicity, they captured football at its most human: imperfect, heavy with effort, and worn with pride.

To mark its 145th anniversary, R Antwerp FC unveils a fully vintage-inspired shirt in the club’s iconic white and red colours. Created in collaboration with Stanno, the retro jersey draws on early 1900s design, featuring a classic long-sleeved silhouette, a traditional polo collar with button placket, and ribbed cuffs – an homage to the 1880 era in which the club was founded.

What a thrill to once again step into a fully completed stadium. Four towering stands, more than 20,000 roaring supporters, noise blasting past 100 decibels – pure Antwerp delirium! Since 1923, the Bosuil has held the historic title of Belgium’s largest football stadium, once packing in over 60,000 fans at its peak.

When the original first curve was demolished in 1991, the Bosuil lost its iconic, authentically English layout – a design inspired by the great football temples of the early 20th century, like London’s White City Stadium (1906) and the legendary Wembley Stadium (1923).

Since 2017, under the club’s new owner, the Bosuil has been undergoing a meticulous, ambitious transformation into a modern, state-of-the-art football temple. And on 12 March 2025, we paused for a moment that felt like both a farewell and a salute: the final breath of one of Europe’s most iconic stands, home to one of the continent’s most distinctive terrace cultures – Tribune 2 [read our tribute here].

This week, the inauguration of the new Tribune 2 marks the completion of the first – albeit temporary – phase of the Bosuil’s full renovation. But above all, it brings back what matters most: a capacity of 24,500 passionate fans and the return of its world-famous, chest-rattling, ground-shaking atmosphere.

The Bosuil is once again the feared and fabled home of Antwerp FC – a stadium of unique terraces, overwhelming sound, and an unmistakable cult aura. A place where memories aren’t just made; they’re carved into heart, stone and bone. Come on You Reds! 🔴⚪️