Pro League (Belgium)

Pro League
Founded1974
CountryBelgium
ConfederationUEFA
DivisionsBelgian Pro League
Challenger Pro League
Belgian Women's Super League
Number of clubs26
Level on pyramid1–2
Domestic cup(s)Belgian Cup
Belgian Super Cup
Websitewww.proleague.be

The Pro League (formerly Ligue professionnelle de Football / Liga Beroepsvoetbal and Profliga) is a Belgian association football organisation founded in 1974. It is a non-profit association that represents professional football clubs in Belgium and organises the country's main professional competitions. It is affiliated with European Leagues.[1]

History

The Pro League was founded in 1974 as the Liga Beroepsvoetbal following the growth of professional football in Belgium.[2] It was established under the leadership of three influential figures in Belgian football: Constant Vanden Stock, Fernand De Clerck and Roger Petit, who became its first president.

The organisation's purpose is to develop and promote professional football in Belgium and protect the interests of professional clubs. In 1997, it became one of the founding members of the European Leagues.[3]

The organisation was renamed Pro League after a decision by the general assembly on 6 October 2008.[4]

The Pro League currently manages:

Membership

The Pro League is composed of professional football clubs in Belgium. Clubs must meet requirements including:[5]

  • having legal personality;
  • being recognised as a professional club by the Royal Belgian Football Association;
  • holding the required professional licence;
  • qualifying for professional competition on sporting grounds;
  • having suitable stadium facilities meeting Pro League standards.

Presidents

PeriodPresident
1974–1981Roger Petit
1981–1986Michel D'Hooghe
1986–1996Roger Vanden Stock
1996–1999Eddy Wauters
2001–2007Jean-Marie Philips
2007–2012Ivan De Witte
2012–2013Ronny Verhelst
2013José Zurstrassen (interim)
2013–2014Michel Dupont
2014–2015Peter Quaghebeur (interim)
2015–2018Roger Vanden Stock
2018–2019Marc Coucke
2019–2021Peter Croonen
2022Vincent Mannaert & Wouter Vandenhaute (interim)

Chief Executive Officers

PeriodCEO
2007–2015Ludwig Sneyers
2015–2022Pierre François
2022–presentLorin Parys

References

  1. ↑ "EPFL Member Profile - Pro League". European Leagues.
  2. ↑ Dewulf, Louis; Faveere, Gilles (2021). De financiële en economische situatie van de 1B Pro League-voetbalcompetitie (PDF) (Thesis) (in Dutch). Ghent University. p. 6.{{cite thesis}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  3. ↑ "Pro League". European Leagues.
  4. ↑ "Alles wat je moet weten over de historie van de Jupiler pro league!". Superprof (in Dutch). 23 June 2022.
  5. ↑ "Modification aux statuts" (PDF) (in French). Moniteur belge (Belgian Official Gazette), Service public fédéral Justice. 13 January 2010.
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