28 Feb '14

KRC Genk tumble out of Europa League

Summary

Belgium’s last representative in European football competition fail to reach Europa League after defeat to Russia yesterday

 

Shake-up at club earlier this week, as coach fired

KRC Genk, Belgium’s last representative in European competition, tumbled out of the Europa League yesterday after a 2-0 defeat to Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala in the second leg of their last-32 tie. The result marked an awkward start for Genk’s new coach, Emilio Ferrera, who replaced Mario Been, fired just five days earlier.

A goalless stalemate in the first leg a week earlier had augured well for Genk, which reached the knockout phase after topping Group G with four wins and two draws. But they appeared listless in the return leg at their home Cristal Arena, and the players failed to rally even after conceding the first goal.

Genk’s loss seemed to reflect the unsettled few days at the club following the departure of Been, who left in the wake of the 2-0 home defeat by Waasland-Beveren. Ferrera, 46, from Brussels, has helmed 20 clubs in two decades as a coach, including Club Brugge and, most recently, Al Shahab in Saudi Arabia.

photo by Dmitry Golubovich/Global Look/Corbis

Flemish football

Reaping the benefits of their improved youth academies, Flemish football clubs have become reasonably successful in European competitions in recent years and many players routinely join leading European clubs.
Players - Famous players from Brussels and Flanders include Vincent Kompany, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Thomas Vermaelen.
Clubs - Some of the best-known local clubs include KV Mechelen, Zulte Waregem, AA Ghent and Club Brugge.
Anderlecht - The Brussels-based RSC Anderlecht is the only Belgian club in the 2013-2014 Uefa Champions League.
1 863

football first appears in Flanders

12

Flemish clubs in top national division

8

million euros in subsidies from the Flemish government to renovate football stadiums in 2013

  • Voetbalfederatie Vlaanderen
  • UEFA Champions League
  • Goalmine

Related articles