OTD E0163 — 12 Apr 1896: Belgium’s First Champions

12 Apr 1896: FC Liégeois sealed the first Belgian championship, beating Union d’Ixelles 9-0 while also benefiting from Antwerp’s forfeited return fixture. This episode traces the birth of Belgian football, its cycling-adjacent roots, the pioneer organizers, the improvised first season, and the early Liège Brussels-Bruges axis. It then follows the longer arc: Liège’s early dynasty, Club Brugge’s withdrawal and return, Belgium’s experimental pre-war formats, and the sport’s firmer footing after Antwerp 1920. Ideas: [email protected]