K.V.C. Westerlo

Koninklijke Voetbal Club Westerlo (; often simply called Westerlo) is a Belgian professional football club located in the municipality of Westerlo in the province of Antwerp. Since 1997–98, Westerlo has been mostly playing in the Belgian Pro League, save for a short stint in the Belgian Second Division between 2012 and 2014. Their highest finish is a 6th place in 1999–00, 2003–04 and 2008–09. They have won one Belgian Cup. The only player who has ever been called up for the Belgium national football team while at Westerlo is Toni Brogno (7 caps, all of them while at Westerlo).
The club was founded in 1933, receiving the matricule number 2024. Their colours are yellow and blue. They play their home matches at the Het Kuipje.
History.
K.V.C. Westerlo was founded in the city of Westerlo by students in 1917, and it was named Sportkring De Bist Westerlo. After five years of existence, the club retired. The club Bist Sport was created in 1931 and it changed its name to Sportkring Westerlo two years later. At that time. some players left the club to found Westerlo Sport, the ancestor of K.V.C. Westerlo. In 1939, the club won its league for the first time. Five years later, Sportkring Westerlo and dissident Westerlo Sport decided to merge in spite of the rivalry between the teams, and the new club was called V.C. Westerlo.
It became champion of the Antwerp second division in 1960. Eight years later it played its first season at the national level in Promotion and it won its league to play the third division in 1969. At the end of the season, Westerlo missed a third title in a row, finishing second behind Eupen. The next year, the club was relegated after the playoff and it stayed in the Promotion for ten seasons. The club then underwent two relegations in a row and thus played in the Antwerp second division in 1982–83. Westerlo was then promoted for three consecutive years to qualify for the third division once again. In 1993, the club promoted to the second division and then to the first division in 1997. In 1996, the club added the prefix "Koninklijke" (meaning "Royal" in Dutch) to its name.
Stadium.
Westerlo plays its home matches at Het Kuipje, which is Dutch for "The Small Tank". It is believed to be reference to the Feijenoord Stadion that is nicknamed "De Kuip" ("The Tank"). Its capacity is 8,035.
Takeover.
On 18 June it was officially announced that the club was taken over by Turkish businessman Oktay Ercan. He immediately made it clear that KVC Westerlo will remain a regional family club, and that more attention will be paid to the social dimension and sporting ambitions. Together with the supporters and all stakeholders, he is building KVC Westerlo 2024.
Project 2024.
Project 2024, a five-year plan, imposes a number of ambitious and realistic objectives.
In the medium term, KVC Westerlo wants to be one of the best clubs in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League and play European football. This is done based on realism, a workable financial structure, investments in the academy and a smooth flow to the first team. Furthermore, the club wants to maintain its excellent youth programme, focus on the social dimension of contemporary football and ensure an excellent synergy between the first team, the youth, the supporters and the stakeholders.
The existing staff was expanded with experts who are a direct added value to the club. At the financial level, maximum effort is made to take advantage of the social and commercial opportunities available, while keeping costs under control at all times.
To make the sporting and financial growth possible, there has been heavy investment in a renewed infrastructure. In the meantime, 3 million euro was injected to modernise the facilities and buildings and make them ready for KVC Westerlo 2024. Among other things, the pitch, but also the dug-outs, Club 1000, Themacafé 't Kuipje, the dressing rooms and the press area were taken in hand. The finish of the Westel Magic Synergie complex clearly underlines the sporting ambitions.
Sporting goals are clear. Not only does KVC Westerlo aspire to a place among the 16 best Belgian football clubs, but they also want to secure that place in the longer term. To achieve this, first and foremost what is good, namely the youth department and the academy, will be retained. These departments will be fully supported to optimise the flow of players. The scouting apparatus will also be further expanded and young players will be given contracts and opportunities sooner. Youth and scouting combined with targeted reinforcements and realistic goals should pave the way for promotion to 1A.