San Francisco Frontiers - Union Saint-Gilloise end 90-year Belgian title drought

They finished three points clear of defending champions Club Brugge, held 1-1 draw by visiting Antwerp, at the close of the the playoff between the six best teams from the regular season.

USG qualify directly for the group stage of next season's Champions League when they will have to stage matches away from the Joseph Marien Stadium, their home since 1919 The 9,000-seat stadium's Art Deco-style facade may have earned it a place on the Brussels heritage list, but the ground perched on the wooded hills of Forest, one of the 19 municipalities of the Belgian capital, does not meet UEFA standards.

"I know many who wondered if they would ever win a title again and who have since died. It's them I'm thinking of," said the 76-year-old former club president and former mayor of Saint-Gilles, Charles Picque.

The club, founded in 1897, won the Belgian league 11 times between 1904 and 1935 but experienced a long period of decline, dropping to the fourth division in the late 1970s, and struggling to survive financially.

One fan, Patrick, 57, on Sunday described the period as "the descent into hell."

USG was bought in 2018 by Tony Bloom, who is also chairman of Premier League Brighton and fellow Englishman Alex Muzio, who has since become majority share holder and chairman.

The club returned to the top flight in 2021 after a 48-year absence.

The "Old Lady" narrowly missed the title in each of the last three seasons.

In 2023 they led the table until the 89th minute of the final matchday. They conceded three late goals to Club Brugge while Toby Alderweireld scored an injury-time equaliser to lift Antwerp to the title.

Last season, they won the Belgian Cup for the first time since 1914 and reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League, where they were eliminated by Bayer Leverkusen, the eventual finalists, but they blew an eight-point lead in the league and finished second by one point.

Sebastien Pocognoli, a 37-year-old Belgian who played a season on loan at Bloom's Brighton in 2016-17, took over as coach.

"For me, Union represents the true spirit of football, just like in England. Win or lose, we support the club!" said Paty, a British expat who became a supporter "charmed by the friendly atmosphere."

B.Turner--SFF