 | |
| Full name | Koninklijke Sportvereniging Waregem |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1925; 100 years ago (1925) |
| Dissolved | 2001; 24 years ago (2001) |
| Ground | Regenboogstadion,Waregem |
| Capacity | 8,500 |
| League | Belgian First Division Belgian Second Division Belgian Third Division |
Koninklijke Sportvereniging Waregem was a Belgianfootball club that existed between 1925 and 2001. It played three spells at thehighest level in theBelgian football league system each separated by a single season at thesecond level: from 1966 to 1972, from 1973 to 1994 and in 1995–96. Their best ranking was reached in 1968, 1985 and 1993 when they finished fourth.[1]
Waereghem Sportif (in French) was founded in 1925 inWaregem,West Flanders, then changed its name toWaregem Sportief (itsDutch translation) in 1945. One year later, the club merged withRed Star Waregem to become S.V. Waregem. The new team became a member of thenational association on the same year and was assigned thematricule number 4451. In 1951 the club received the right to be called royal (Dutch:Koninklijk) which was at the time given to any team founded 25 years before.[2]
KSV Waregem became the first team from Waregem to play in the second division in 1963. In 1966 it accessed to thefirst division and remained at that level for a while (except in 1972–73 and in 1994–95). It even won the 1974Cup and the 1982Supercup. In1985–86 UEFA Cup, after eliminating AC Milan, it reached the semifinals, where1. FC Köln stopped them.[3] In 1996, Waregem was finally relegated to second division where they stayed until 1999 (to fall intothird division). In 2001, due to financial problems, the club had to merge with Zultse V.V. and to keep their matricule (n°5381). The new club was namedSV Zulte Waregem and it plays theRegenboogstadion that KSV Waregem used to play in.[4] In 2005, SV Zulte Waregem was promoted to theBelgian First Division.[5]
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