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Challenger Pro League
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
 | |
| Founded | 2016 |
|---|---|
| Country | Belgium |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Number of clubs | 17 (for 2025–26) |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | Belgian Pro League |
| Relegation to | Belgian Division 1 |
| Domestic cup | Belgian Cup |
| Current champions | Zulte Waregem (2024–25) |
| Broadcaster(s) | DAZN |
| Website | www |
| Current: 2025–26 Challenger Pro League | |
The Challenger Pro League, previously known as 1B Pro League is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system, one level below the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Royal Belgian Football Association in 2016, replacing the Belgian Second Division. From the season 2016–17 until 2019–20, the competition was named Proximus League, after the main sponsor Proximus.
History
[edit]The Belgian First Division B was created in 2016 as the successor of the Belgian Second Division following an overhaul of the Belgian football league system which saw the number of professional clubs reduced to 24 and the number of teams at the second level of the football pyramid to 8.[1]
During Belgian Second Division era from 1973 to 2016, the second division winner and the play-off winner promote to the first division. From 2016 on, the second division winner is no longer guaranteed promotion. The league is divided in two periods of 15 games. The winners of a period compete each other in a final. If a team wins both periods, no final is played and it automatically rises to the highest level. In 2017, Lierse became champion of the league, but no promotion was allowed because they did not win a period. Antwerp and SV Roeselare played the final.
Competition format
[edit]Until 2020
[edit]From its inception in 2016 until 2020, the season consisted of two separate competitions in which all 8 teams played each other twice. The winners of both competitions faced each other in a two-legged playoff with the winner crowned champions and promoted to the Belgian First Division A.
For the remaining teams, until 2019, the top three teams (excluding the promoted team), played together with the teams finishing in the positions 7 through 15 of the Belgian First Division A in a playoff for a ticket into the UEFA Europa League. The remaining four teams played a relegation playoff, with the last team relegating into the Belgian First Amateur Division. From 2019, the top six teams all took part in the Europa League playoffs (including the promoted team), with only the bottom two teams playing the relegation playoff in which they play each other five times.
2020 to 2022
[edit]The 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons no longer involved two separate competitions, but rather one quadruple round-robin league in which all teams play each other four times. At the end of the season, the top-ranked team was crowned champions and promoted, while the second-placed team earned a two-legged promotion playoff against the 17th-place finisher from the Belgian First Division A for a place in the top division. The team finishing in last place was relegated to the Belgian National Division 1 (renamed from Belgian First Amateur Division).
2022 to 2023
[edit]From the 2022–23 season, the league was expanded to 12 teams, as from this season U23-teams no longer play in separate competitions but rather join the regular competition.[2] To accommodate this expansion, the league format was changed again. Now all teams play a regular round-robin round (22 matches), after which the league splits into two halves, with the top 6 teams battling for promotion to the Belgian First Division A which only goes to the top team at the end of the season after 32 matches, while the bottom 6 also meet each other but with the goal of avoiding finishing last as this team will be relegated. Promotion/relegation playoffs are no longer organized, only the top and the bottom team at the end of the season change leagues. Furthermore, U23 teams will be able to be relegated from or promoted into the Belgian First Division B, but cannot earn promotion to the Belgian First Division A.[3] The league was renamed to Challenger Pro League.[4]
From 2023 onwards
[edit]From the 2023–24 season onwards, the league was expanded again to 16 teams, as from this season 4 teams U23 from top tier club will play in separate competitions but rather join the regular competition. After the end of the season, two teams will be directly promoted to Belgian Pro League, four teams will battle in the promotion play-off round with 6 matches. The team that finishes in top position at Play-off round will battle against the 2nd of the relegation play-offs in the Belgian Pro League. The two bottom teams will be directly relegated to Belgian National Division 1.
Clubs
[edit]Members for 2024–25
[edit]For the 2024–25 season the following clubs will take part.
Locations of the 2024–25 Challenger Pro League teams
| Club name | City | Last season position |
First season of current spell in top division |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beveren | Beveren | 8th | 2021–22 |
| Club NXT | Bruges | 9th | 2022–23 |
| Deinze | Deinze | 3rd | 2020–21 |
| KAS Eupen | Eupen | 15th (JPL) | 2024–25 |
| Francs Borains | Boussu | 14th | 2023–24 |
| Jong Genk | Genk | 10th | 2022–23 |
| La Louvière | La Louvière | 1st (ND1) | 2024–25 |
| Lierse Kempenzonen | Lier | 11th | 2020–21 |
| Lokeren-Temse | Lokeren | 2nd (ND1) | 2024–25 |
| Lommel SK | Lommel | 4th | 2018–19 |
| Patro Eisden | Maasmechelen | 6th | 2023–24 |
| RFC Liège | Liège | 7th | 2023–24 |
| RSCA Futures | Anderlecht, Brussels | 12th | 2022–23 |
| R.W.D. Molenbeek | Molenbeek | 16th (JPL) | 2024–25 |
| Seraing | Seraing | 15th | 2023–24 |
| Zulte Waregem | Waregem | 5th | 2023–24 |
Past results overview
[edit]Broadcasting
[edit]Proximus broadcasts every game whilst it sponsored the league, Telenet broadcasts one random game every week. As of the 2020–21 season, Eleven Sports acquired the broadcasting rights to all professional league games (1A, 1B and the Super Cup) in Belgium.[5]
From 2022–23 onwards, DAZN broadcast game in Challenger Pro League.
Footnotes
[edit]- ^ Although Tubize finished last and would have been relegated, Lierse went bankrupt and was removed as a team. As a result, Tubize remained in the Belgian First Division B while the matricule of Lierse was removed.
- ^ Both Beerschot and OH Leuven were promoted as the First Division A was expanded to 18 teams.
- ^ Not held due to coronavirus pandemic, Beerschot, Lommel, OH Leuven, Union SG, Virton and Westerlo had qualified.
- ^ No relegation playoffs were played due to the coronavirus pandemic, but both Roeselare and Virton were relegated as they were refused a professional football license due to insufficient proof of financial solvency. Lokeren went bankrupt and was removed as a team.
- ^ Seraing won the promotion playoff and was promoted as well.
- ^ Normally, Lierse Kempenzonen would have been relegated due to finishing in last place (except for Club NXT which was ineligible for promotion/relegation as a youth team). However, the general meeting of the Pro League decided on 16 March that no team would be relegated, as the 2020–21 Belgian National Division 1 had been canceled due to measures taken by the Belgian government against the spread of COVID-19 prohibiting amateur football, causing no team to be promoted from that league to fill the gap.
- ^ RWD Molenbeek lost the promotion playoff and was not promoted.
- ^ Although Virton finished last and would have been relegated, Excel Mouscron was refused a professional football licence and thus relegated instead.
- ^ Lommel won the promotion playoff between the Challenger Pro League teams, but lost the match against Pro League team Kortrijk and hence also did not get promoted.
- ^ Although Seraing finished in 15th place and would have been relegated, Oostende went bankrupt and was removed as a team. As a result, Seraing remained in the Challenger Pro League.
- ^ Deinze went bankrupt mid-way throughout the season and dissolved, their results voided. For purposes of relegation it is counted as if finishing last.
References
[edit]- ^ "La réforme du championnat approuvée: une grande lessive se prépare en D2 (INFOGRAPHIE)" (in French). dh.be. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
- ^ "14 belofteteams in 1B en amateurreeksen vanaf seizoen 2022-2023". sporza.be (in Dutch). 30 June 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ "1B ondergaat straks metamorfose met 12 ploegen en play-offs om promotie". sporza.be (in Dutch). 1 March 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
- ^ "Nieuwkomer Dender EH opent opgefriste 'Challenger Pro League'". proleague.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- ^ "Eleven Sports wint de strijd om media-rechten Pro League, KAA Gent en Antwerp doen niet mee". Site-Sportmagazine-NL (in Dutch). 12 February 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
Challenger Pro League
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Overview
League status and organization
The Challenger Pro League serves as the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system, situated directly below the Belgian Pro League and above the Belgian National Division 1.[5] This positioning integrates it into the professional pyramid, where promotion and relegation maintain competitive balance across tiers.[6] The league is governed by the Royal Belgian Football Association (KBVB/URBSFA), Belgium's national football governing body, with day-to-day operations managed by the Pro League, the association representing professional clubs.[7] Professional status was formally established for the division in 2016 upon its creation as a fully professional entity, succeeding the semi-professional Belgian Second Division and aligning with UEFA's standards for second-tier competitions.[8] For the 2025–26 season, the Challenger Pro League comprises 17 teams, all primarily based in Belgium, ensuring a national focus while adhering to UEFA and FIFA regulations for match organization, player eligibility, and competition integrity.[6] The season typically spans from August to May, featuring a regular phase where each team plays 32 matches—home and away against every other participant—to determine standings and playoff qualification.[1]Sponsorship and naming history
The Belgian second division was founded in 1905 as the Promotion, a regional competition comprising multiple series that served as a pathway to the top flight.[9] In 1926, following the renaming of the first division to the Premier Division, the Promotion was restructured into a single national league of 14 teams and redesignated as the First Division, later evolving into the Division d'Honneur in French-speaking regions and Tweede Klasse in Dutch-speaking areas, reflecting Belgium's linguistic divisions.[9] These early names emphasized the league's role in promoting clubs to higher levels without commercial sponsorship, maintaining a focus on amateur and semi-professional structures until the mid-20th century. The league operated under the name Belgian Second Division from the 2008–09 season onward, but sponsorship began influencing its branding in the early 2010s. From the 2013–14 to 2015–16 seasons, telecommunications company Belgacom served as title sponsor, renaming it the Belgacom League in a deal that enhanced visibility through the company's media channels. Following Belgacom's rebranding to Proximus in 2014, the league underwent a major overhaul in 2016 when the Royal Belgian Football Association replaced the old Second Division with the professional First Division B format. Proximus immediately became the title sponsor, dubbing it the Proximus League from the 2016–17 to 2019–20 seasons under a three-year agreement valued at €1.5 million annually, which included broadcast integrations and marketing support to boost the league's profile.[10] After the initial sponsorship term, the league reverted to the neutral name First Division B for the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons, though Proximus extended its title sponsorship at a reduced value of approximately €200,000 per year, continuing to provide media exposure via its platforms.[11] In July 2022, coinciding with the top division's rebranding to the Pro League, the second tier adopted the name Challenger Pro League to align with the professional structure under the Pro League organization, while retaining Proximus as primary sponsor.[8] This rebranding introduced a new logo featuring dynamic elements symbolizing ambition and competition, alongside marketing campaigns that highlighted the league's role in nurturing talent for promotion to the elite level, thereby strengthening its commercial identity and fan engagement.[8]History
Origins and early years (1905–1952)
The Belgian second division, initially known as the Promotion, was established in 1905 by the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) to create a structured national second tier below the elite first division, which had been launched a decade earlier. This move aimed to expand competitive football across the country by providing a pathway for regional clubs to challenge higher-level teams, drawing from the growing popularity of the sport in Belgium since the late 19th century. Early iterations featured regional subdivisions rather than a unified national competition, reflecting the fragmented nature of football organization at the time, with clubs primarily from urban centers like Brussels, Antwerp, and Liège participating on an amateur basis.[12] By 1909, the RBFA restructured the Promotion into a single national league comprising 14 to 16 teams, adopting a home-and-away round-robin format that would become standard. The inaugural season under this system, 1909–10, was won by Racing Club de Malines, marking the first official promotion to the top flight and establishing the league's role in talent development and competitive balance. Promotion and relegation between the second and first divisions began immediately, with the bottom teams facing demotion to regional leagues, though the amateur status limited financial incentives and kept participation voluntary. This period saw gradual expansion, as the league absorbed promising clubs from provincial areas, fostering a more inclusive national framework.[12][13] The league's early momentum was disrupted by World War I, which suspended all organized football in Belgium from 1914 to 1919 due to occupation and national crisis, resulting in the cancellation of four seasons and the temporary disbandment of several clubs. Resuming in 1919–20, the competition rebuilt with renewed enthusiasm, as post-war reconstruction spurred interest in sports as a unifying force. Key early champions included Uccle Sport in 1910–11 and FC Liégeois in 1911–12, highlighting the involvement of clubs from various regions in the league's formative phase. The 1920s brought further stability, with Standard CL securing a title in 1920–21, underscoring the league's role in nurturing rivalries that would define Belgian domestic play.[12][13] In response to growing participation, the RBFA divided the Promotion into two parallel series starting in the 1923–24 season, allowing for broader representation while maintaining the promotion/relegation system with the first division. This format persisted through the interwar years, with notable successes by clubs like White Star AC, which won a title in 1933–34, and Union Saint-Gilloise's reserve side, which contributed to the league's reputation for developing youth talent. The era remained firmly amateur, emphasizing community involvement over professionalism, though increasing attendance and media coverage laid groundwork for future transitions. World War II imposed another suspension from 1940 to 1945, further testing the league's resilience, but it emerged intact by 1945–46, with RCS La Forestoise claiming the championship in 1941–42 prior to the halt—though that season's results were later recognized amid wartime disruptions. Throughout this period, the Promotion solidified its identity as a crucial feeder system, with dozens of clubs promoted to the top division by 1952 and establishing precedents for competitive equity in Belgian football.[12][13]Modern developments and rebranding (1952–present)
In 1952, the Belgian second division was renamed Division II as part of broader professionalization efforts in Belgian football, aligning with the introduction of more structured contracts across the pyramid.[14][15] The league experienced key structural reforms to balance competition and participation. It maintained 16 teams through the late 1950s, broadening the pool of clubs and fostering greater regional representation.[16] Playoffs were introduced in 1974 to determine an additional promotion spot, adding a high-stakes postseason phase that heightened fan engagement and merit-based advancement to the top flight.[15] The league operated with 18 teams from 1994 until 2016, when a significant restructuring reduced it to 8 teams as the First Division B (later 1B Pro League), operating as an independent professional second tier detached from the amateur third division under a comprehensive overhaul of the Belgian football pyramid approved by the Royal Belgian Football Association.[17] This reform limited professional status to 24 clubs across the top two divisions, introduced strict financial licensing requirements for sustainability, and emphasized talent development.[18] The COVID-19 pandemic prompted adaptations, including the outright cancellation of the 2019–20 season and a shortened 2020–21 campaign with matches played behind closed doors to comply with health protocols.[19][20] In 2022, the league underwent rebranding to the Challenger Pro League, underscoring its competitive role as a proving ground for promotion contenders and aligning with modern marketing strategies for Belgian professional football.[21] To boost depth and youth integration, it expanded to 16 teams starting in the 2023–24 season, incorporating under-23 squads from top-tier clubs while maintaining the core professional format.[22] Recent developments include the 2024–25 season promotions of Zulte Waregem as champions and RAAL La Louvière via playoffs, marking their return to the Pro League and exemplifying the league's pathway for resurgence.[23]Competition format
Regular season structure
The Challenger Pro League regular season typically features 16 teams competing in a double round-robin format, where each team plays every other team twice—once at home and once away—resulting in 30 matches per team over the course of the campaign.[24] For the transitional 2025–26 season, there are 17 teams, each playing 32 matches.[25] This structure ensures a balanced competition, allowing teams to showcase their performance across a full slate of fixtures against all opponents. Points are awarded according to the standard system in Belgian professional football: three points for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss. In the event of tied standings, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: goal difference, goals scored, and results from head-to-head matches between the tied teams. Scheduling adheres to balanced home-and-away rules, with no team required to play more than three consecutive matches at home or away to promote fairness and logistical equity.[24] The season typically commences in late July or early August and concludes in early May, spanning approximately nine months to align with the European football calendar. For 2025–26, it starts on 8 August 2025 and the regular season ends on 17 April 2026. A winter break is observed from mid-December to early January, providing teams with rest amid the holiday period and adverse weather conditions.[26] At the end of the regular season, the top-performing teams in the standings advance to the playoffs, with further details on qualification mechanics outlined in the playoff and promotion system.[27]Playoff and promotion system
The promotion and relegation system in the Challenger Pro League follows the regular season of 30 matches (or 32 in the transitional 2025–26 season with 17 teams), where points from the regular season determine qualification for post-season play. The top two teams are directly promoted to the Belgian Pro League. The teams in positions 3 to 6 enter the Promotion Play-offs, a round-robin mini-league where each team plays the others home and away for a total of six matches. The winner of this group plays a two-legged barrage against the team finishing last in the Pro League's relegation playoffs for a potential third promotion spot, as the 2025–26 season is transitional to expand the Pro League to 18 teams in 2026–27. Seeding in the play-offs is based on regular season points, with tie-breakers following the standard league criteria such as goal difference and goals scored. In the event of a tied match after 90 minutes, teams play extra time, followed by penalty shoot-outs if necessary.[24][28] The bottom two "classic" (non-reserve) teams in the regular season are directly relegated to the First Amateur Division. Promotion from the First Amateur Division to the Challenger Pro League is determined by playoffs involving the top teams from its two regional groups (Vlaamse Veldleeuw with 16 teams and ACFF with 12 teams). The winners of these regional playoffs secure the two promotion spots without further competition against Challenger Pro League teams. U23 teams, limited to a maximum of four per league, are ineligible for promotion or play-offs and are replaced by the next eligible team if they qualify; they may also be relegated if necessary to maintain the quota.[24][29] Since the 2023 rebranding and expansion to 16 teams, the format has aimed to heighten competition by involving more clubs in the promotion race while maintaining direct relegation for the bottom two. The 2024–25 season saw direct promotions for Zulte Waregem (1st) and RAAL La Louvière (2nd), with the Promotion Play-offs winner contesting a barrage for a third spot that was not successful. From 2026–27, the Challenger Pro League will reduce to 14 teams with no barrages and direct promotion for the playoff winner.[30][26] European qualification opportunities for Challenger Pro League teams are limited and typically arise through spillover from the Pro League. The regular season runner-up may enter the UEFA Conference League qualifying rounds if the Pro League champion secures a higher European spot via the Belgian Cup or coefficient rankings, though such instances remain rare due to the dominance of top-tier clubs.Teams
Current participants (2025–26 season)
The 2025–26 Challenger Pro League features 17 teams, comprising 12 clubs that retained their places from the 2024–25 season (positions 3 through 14 in the previous standings), two teams relegated from the Belgian Pro League (Beerschot and KV Kortrijk), and two promoted from the Belgian National Division 1 (Olympic Charleroi as ACFF champions and Jong KAA Gent as VV champions).[6][31] The participating teams are:| Team | Location | Stadium (Capacity) | Founded | Entry Method | Recent Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beerschot | Antwerp | Olympisch Stadion (12,500) | 1921 | Relegated from Pro League | Relegated after one season in the top flight; finished 16th in 2024–25 Pro League; strong attacking side with history of quick promotions. |
| Club NXT | Bruges | Schiervelde Stadion (8,340) | 2013 (as reserve team) | Retained | Club Brugge's reserve team; focuses on youth development; mid-table finishers in recent seasons. |
| RWDM | Molenbeek | Edmond Machtens Stadium (12,266) | 2021 (refounded) | Retained | Promoted in 2023; struggled in Pro League before relegation; aiming for stability in second tier. |
| SK Beveren | Beveren | Freethiel Stadion (8,190) | 1921 | Retained | Consistent performers; play-off contenders in 2024–25; known for solid defense. |
| KAS Eupen | Eupen | Kehrweg Stadion (11,230) | 1920 | Retained | Relegated in 2024; multilingual club with German-speaking roots; recent focus on rebuilding squad. |
| Francs Borains | Borains | Stade Leburton (5,105) | 1940 | Retained | Walloon club with passionate fanbase; avoided relegation narrowly last season. |
| Jong KAA Gent | Ghent | Ghelamco Arena (reserve use, 20,000) | 2013 (as reserve team) | Promoted from National Division 1 | Gent's reserve team; earned promotion as Flemish champions; emphasizes academy talents. |
| KV Kortrijk | Kortrijk | Guldensporen Stadion (9,399) | 1901 | Relegated from Pro League | Historic club; relegated after play-off loss; top scorer Thierry Ambrose leads attack in early 2025–26 games.[31] |
| Lierse Kempenzonen | Lier | Herman Vanderpoortenstadion (14,538) | 2018 (refounded) | Retained | Successor to Lierse SK; mid-table regular; strong home record. |
| Lommel SK | Lommel | Soevereinstadion (8,000) | 2010 (refounded) | Retained | Owned by City Football Group; play-off participants in 2024–25; youth-focused development. |
| Lokeren-Temse | Lokeren | Daknamstadion (8,891) | 2022 (merger) | Retained | Formed from Lokeren's bankruptcy; quick rise through divisions; solid mid-table side. |
| Olympic Charleroi | Charleroi | Stade de la Neuville (5,000) | 1911 | Promoted from National Division 1 | Francophone champions; first top-flight appearance in decades; challenging start with mixed results.[32][31] |
| Patro Eisden Maasmechelen | Maasmechelen | Patrostadion (4,000) | 1945 | Retained | Working-class club; consistent performers; reached play-offs in prior seasons. |
| RFC Seraing | Seraing | Stade du Pairay (5,808) | 1922 (refounded 2015) | Retained | Industrial region team; avoided relegation last year; building on youth prospects. |
| RFC Liège | Liège | Stade de Rocourt (12,000) | 1892 | Retained | One of Belgium's oldest clubs; recent resurgence; competitive in derbies. |
| KRC Genk II | Genk | Cegeka Arena (reserve, 24,956) | 2013 (as reserve team) | Retained | Genk's reserve team; develops talents for first team; variable results due to youth turnover. |
| RSCA Futures | Anderlecht | Stade Marcel Kaesberg (4,000) | 2022 (as reserve team) | Retained | Anderlecht's reserve team; focuses on youth development; in contention for playoffs in early 2025–26. |
All-time performance statistics
The all-time performance statistics of the Challenger Pro League, tracing back to its origins as the Belgian Second Division in 1905, reveal patterns of club longevity, promotion success, and competitive benchmarks across more than a century of competition. Comprehensive aggregated data is challenging due to format changes, including the shift to professional status in 1952 and the introduction of three points for a win in 1993–94, but historical records highlight dominant performers and trends in participation and results. Clubs with the most seasons in the second tier, such as Sint-Truidense V.V., have appeared in over 50 campaigns, often navigating promotion and relegation as a classic "yo-yo" team.[34] In terms of overall success, KV Mechelen holds the record for the most second-level titles with six wins (1925–26, 1927–28, 1962–63, 1982–83, 2005–06, 2016–17), underscoring their historical prowess in ascending to the top flight. Other notable multiple winners include R Tilleur FC and R Berchem Sport with five titles each, while early-era standouts like Union Saint-Gilloise secured the second-level crown in 1905–06 amid the league's amateur phase.[12] Defunct or restructured clubs like Eendracht Aalst maintain legacies through their contributions to the league's competitive balance, with Aalst achieving promotion in 1993 before financial issues led to its reconfiguration as SC Eendracht Aalst. For the modern professional era (post-1952), an all-time table based on points accumulated since the late 20th century shows Lommel SK as the leading club with 858 points from 569 matches (240 wins, 138 draws, 191 losses), reflecting their sustained presence since the 2000s. SK Beveren follows with 515 points, and KAS Eupen with 514 points from consistent participation.[35]| Rank | Club | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For:Against | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lommel SK | 569 | 240 | 138 | 191 | 845:701 | 858 |
| 2 | SK Beveren | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 515 |
| 3 | KAS Eupen | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 514 |
Season results
List of champions and promotions
The Challenger Pro League, Belgium's second-tier football competition, traces its origins to the Promotion league established in 1905, with the first recorded champion being Union Saint-Gilloise in the 1905–06 season.[12] Prior to the professional era starting in 1952, the league featured two regional groups, leading to multiple winners per season, and was marked by the dominance of clubs like Royal Antwerp FC, who secured several early titles, and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, which claimed a record 7 championships in that period.[12] The format shifted to a single group in 1952, with direct promotion for the champion until 1973–74, after which a playoff system was introduced to determine an additional promotion spot alongside the regular season winner.[40] Promotions have generally been limited to one or two teams per season, with exceptions like the dual promotions in 2024–25 due to league expansion.[37] The 2025–26 season is ongoing as of November 2025, with no champion determined yet.[41] The following table lists all champions and promoted teams since the league's inception, with emphasis on the post-1952 era. Pre-1952 seasons often had two group winners, both eligible for promotion depending on format changes; post-1952, the regular season champion is listed first, followed by playoff promotion winners where applicable. Notes include format details or special circumstances.| Season | Champion(s) | Promoted Teams | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1905–06 | Union Saint-Gilloise | Union Saint-Gilloise | First season with recorded champion; single group format.[12] |
| 1909–10 | RC de Malines | RC de Malines | Regional group system.[12] |
| 1910–11 | US Brussels | US Brussels | -[12] |
| 1911–12 | Daring Club de Bruxelles | Daring Club de Bruxelles | -[12] |
| 1912–13 | Union Saint-Gilloise | Union Saint-Gilloise | -[12] |
| 1913–14 | RC de Malines | RC de Malines | -[12] |
| 1919–20 | FC Malinois | FC Malinois | League resumed after WWI suspension.[12] |
| ... (pre-1952 abbreviated for brevity; full list includes 7 titles for Union SG across groups) | Early era featured regional groups; Antwerp won 4 titles in this period.[12] | ||
| 1952–53 | K Lyra | K Lyra | Transition to single professional group.[12] |
| 1953–54 | KSV Waterschei THOR | KSV Waterschei THOR | -[12] |
| 1954–55 | RRC de Fréjus | RRC de Fréjus | -[12] |
| 1955–56 | K Rupel Union Lierde | K Rupel Union Lierde | -[12] |
| 1956–57 | KFC Diest | KFC Diest | -[12] |
| 1957–58 | K Olse Merksem | K Olse Merksem | -[12] |
| 1958–59 | KRC Mechelen | KRC Mechelen | -[12] |
| 1959–60 | KSV Sint-Niklaas | KSV Sint-Niklaas | -[12] |
| 1960–61 | KFC Winterslag | KFC Winterslag | -[12] |
| 1961–62 | K Union Sint-Gillis | K Union Sint-Gillis | -[12] |
| 1962–63 | K Patro Eisden | K Patro Eisden | -[12] |
| 1963–64 | KFC Dessel Sport | KFC Dessel Sport | -[12] |
| 1964–65 | KSV Waregem | KSV Waregem | -[12] |
| 1965–66 | KRC Harelbeke | KRC Harelbeke | -[12] |
| 1966–67 | K Berchem Sport | K Berchem Sport | -[12] |
| 1967–68 | KFC Turnhout | KFC Turnhout | -[12] |
| 1968–69 | KSV Sottegem | KSV Sottegem | -[12] |
| 1969–70 | KRC Genk | KRC Genk | -[12] |
| 1970–71 | KFC Dessel Sport | KFC Dessel Sport | -[12] |
| 1971–72 | KSV Temse | KSV Temse | -[12] |
| 1972–73 | KFC Herentals | KFC Herentals | -[12] |
| 1973–74 | KSV Oudenaarde | KSV Oudenaarde | First season with playoffs; no playoff promotion yet.[12] |
| 1974–75 | KFC Winterslag | KFC Winterslag; R White Star Auvelais (playoff) | Playoff system introduced for second promotion.[12] |
| ... (1975–2010 abbreviated; notable streaks include Berchem Sport's multiple titles in the 1980s) | Format stable with champion and playoff promotion.[12] | ||
| 2010–11 | Eupen | Eupen; WS Brussels (playoff) | - |
| 2011–12 | Charleroi | Charleroi; Waasland-Beveren (playoff) | - |
| 2012–13 | Oostende | Oostende; Mouscron-Péruwelz (playoff) | - |
| 2013–14 | Westerlo | Westerlo; Eupen (playoff) | -[40] |
| 2014–15 | Sint-Truiden | Sint-Truiden; Lommel United (playoff) | -[40] |
| 2015–16 | White Star Bruxelles | White Star Bruxelles; Beerschot (playoff) | -[42] |
| 2016–17 | Antwerp | Antwerp (playoff) | No direct promotion for regular season winner Lierse due to period title requirement.[3] |
| 2017–18 | Cercle Brugge | Cercle Brugge (playoff) | -[42] |
| 2018–19 | Mechelen | Mechelen (playoff) | -[40] |
| 2019–20 | No champion (season cancelled) | Beerschot (administrative promotion) | Cancelled due to COVID-19; Beerschot promoted via ranking.[43] |
| 2020–21 | Union Saint-Gilloise | Union Saint-Gilloise; RWDM (playoff) | -[44] |
| 2021–22 | Westerlo | Westerlo (direct) | Playoff winner also promoted, but single promotion due to format.[40] |
| 2022–23 | RWD Molenbeek | RWD Molenbeek | Only one promotion due to league format changes. |
| 2023–24 | Beerschot VA | Beerschot VA; Dender (playoff) | -[40] |
| 2024–25 | Zulte Waregem | Zulte Waregem; RAAL La Louvière (playoff) | Dual promotions due to league expansion.[37] |
| 2025–26 | Ongoing | N/A | Season in progress; no promotions determined.[41] |
Relegation history
The relegation history of the Challenger Pro League reflects the competitive nature of Belgian football's second tier, with typically 2-3 teams descending to the Belgian National Division 1 each season through a combination of automatic demotion for the bottom finishers and playoff outcomes. Prior to 2023, the bottom two or three teams were automatically relegated, while the introduction of relegation playoffs in 2008 allowed borderline teams to contest their fate against National Division 1 sides, often resulting in dramatic escapes or confirmed drops. A significant restructuring in 2016 marked the league's shift to a fully professional format, leading to the mass relegation of four teams—RWS Bruxelles, KFC Dessel Sport, KVV Zelzate, and RCS Visé—to the amateur levels due to failure to secure professional licenses, reducing the division from 16 to 8 teams.[46] Over the years, trends show an average of 2.5 relegations per season, with notable clubs like Lierse Kempenzonen surviving multiple playoffs through resilient performances.[47] Key events include the 2023–24 season, where Patro Eisden Maasmechelen avoided demotion by winning their relegation playoff against Club NXT, while Seraing suffered back-to-back relegations after losing to Dender EH in a two-legged tie (aggregate 6-1). In the 2024–25 season, rule changes mandating at least four U23 teams in the league repêchaged Jong Genk from sporting relegation, but Standard Liège II and Thes Sport were still demoted automatically as the bottom finishers. These instances highlight how administrative decisions and playoff results can alter traditional outcomes, with U23 teams increasingly affected by expansion policies.[27][48] The following table summarizes selected relegations since the 2016 restructuring, focusing on automatic and playoff-determined cases:| Season | Relegated Team(s) | Destination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | RWS Bruxelles, KFC Dessel Sport, KVV Zelzate, RCS Visé | Belgian Second Amateur Division | Mass relegation due to professional license failures during league reform.[46] |
| 2022–23 | RE Virton | Belgian National Division 1 | Finished last in relegation round; only one relegation due to format. |
| 2023–24 | RFC Seraing | Belgian National Division 1 | Lost playoff to Dender EH (0–5 agg.); back-to-back demotion after 2022–23 Pro League drop. |
| 2024–25 | Standard Liège II, Thes Sport | Belgian National Division 1 | Automatic bottom two; U23 repêchage rule spared Jong Genk.[48] |