R.W.D. Molenbeek (2015)

Racing White Daring de Molenbeek 47, also known as RWD Molenbeek and often referred to as RWDM, is a Belgian professional football based in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Brussels. The club currently plays in Belgian Pro League from 2023–24 after promotion from Challenger Pro League in 2022–23. It participated in the 2015–16 Belgian Cup, where it reached the fourth round.[1][2]

For the defunct football clubs of the same name, see RWDM.
RWD Molenbeek
Full nameRacing White Daring de Molenbeek
Founded1951 (as Standaard Wetteren)
2015 (takeover)
GroundEdmond Machtens Stadium
Capacity12,266
OwnerJohn Textor
ManagerVincent Euvrard
LeagueBelgian Pro League
2022–23Challenger Pro League, 1st of 12 (promoted)
WebsiteClub website

History

The club was founded in 1951 as Standaard Wetteren. In 2015, Wetteren folded and merged with another club, liberating the matricule which was sold to people wanting to revive the former RWDM with matricule 47 which folded in 2002. As such the new club was named RWDM47. The club has been on the rise ever since winning two consecutive promotions from the fifth tier to the fourth and fourth to third. In December 2021, the club announced that it had come under the ownership of American business executive John Textor, who also holds stakes in English side Crystal Palace, Brazilian side Botafogo and French side Lyon.[3]

RWDM's academy is considered one of the best in Belgium, and many footballers have come from there, notably Adnan Januzaj and Michy Batshuayi to name a few Belgian internationals as well as a few internationals for other countries.[4][5]

On 14 May 2023, RWD Molenbeek secure promotion to Belgian Pro League and Champion of Challenger Pro League for the first time in history after defeat RSCA Futures narrowly 1-0 goal Mickael Biron in 27th Minutes.

Rivalries and fanbase

RWDM's traditional rival is Union Saint-Gilloise,[6] which goes back to the 19th century when RWDM were known as Daring Club.[7] RWDM also have a rivalry with RSC Anderlecht, with just 3 kilometres separating the two clubs and the fixtures often taking over the mantle of the "Derby of Brussels" in the professional era due to Union's relative decline. RWDM also have rivalries with Eendracht Aalst, Lierse[8] and RFC Liège.[9]

RWDM drew support from across the Belgian capital due to its merger of 4 teams, as well as in the Periphery, where many Brusseleirs migrated to, in contrast to the more locally based Saint-Gilles support and the nationwide Anderlecht support.[10] It had high attendances for a big part of its existence as RWDM, until financial troubles and the subsequent changeover with Johan Vermeesch in charge of the new club led to the name change to FC Brussels,[11] and caused a split in the fanbase. During their years as FC Brussels, the Ultra group Brussels Power 05 emerged,[12] while many of the "old school" casuals "Brussels Boys" boycotted. These days both supporter groups sit in the same Bloc A.

Players

First-team squad
As of 1 February 2023.[13]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Belgium BEL Nicolas Alavoine
2 DF Ivory Coast CIV Olivier N'Zi (on loan from Kapfenberg)
3 DF France FRA Florian Le Joncour
4 DF Brazil BRA Klaus
5 DF Kazakhstan KAZ Yan Vorogovskiy
6 DF Guinea GUI Ibrahima Sankhon
7 FW Martinique MTQ Mickaël Biron
8 MF Netherlands NED Bryan Smeets
10 MF Belgium BEL Glenn Claes
12 DF Finland FIN Niko Hämäläinen (on loan from Queens Park Rangers)
14 FW Belgium BEL Kylian Hazard
15 MF Brazil BRA Camilo (on loan from Lyon)
16 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Jake O'Brien (on loan from Crystal Palace)
17 MF Belgium BEL Fabio Ferraro
18 MF Brazil BRA Barreto (on loan from Botafogo)
19 DF Belgium BEL Jonathan Heris
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 MF Belgium BEL Théo Gécé
21 MF Belgium BEL Youssef Challouk (on loan from Kortrijk)
23 MF Brazil BRA Romildo
25 MF Belgium BEL Alexis De Sart (on loan from Antwerp)
27 FW Brazil BRA Rikelmi (on loan from Botafogo)
28 FW Belgium BEL Obbi Oularé (on loan from Barnsley)
33 GK Belgium BEL Théo Defourny
42 GK Belgium BEL Jonathan De Bie
55 MF Brazil BRA Luís Oyama (on loan from Botafogo)
70 FW Brazil BRA Vinícius Lopes (on loan from Botafogo)
77 FW Belgium BEL Zakaria El Ouahdi
99 FW France FRA Ivann Botella
— MF Brazil BRA Ênio (on loan from Botafogo)
— FW Belgium BEL Niklo Dailly
— FW Bolivia BOL Sebastian Joffre

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF Bosnia and Herzegovina BIH Numan Kurdić (at Novi Pazar until 30 June 2023)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF Belgium BEL Sada Diallo (at Francs Borains until 30 June 2023)

Club staff
Position Staff
Chairman & OwnerUnited States John Textor
PresidentBelgium Thierry Dailly
Sporting DirectorFrance Julien Gorius
ManagerBelgium Vincent Euvrard
Assistant ManagersBelgium Frédéric Stilmant
Belgium Jonathan Alves
Goalkeeper CoachBelgium Thierry Berghmans

Honours

See also

References
  1. "Summary - Cup - Belgium - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway". Int.soccerway.com. 2013-01-09. Retrieved 2016-01-24.
  2. "RWDM". Int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
  3. "Crystal Palace shareholder John Textor in talks to buy Belgian side RWD Molenbeek". The Athletic. 23 December 2021.
  4. "Sky Sports Scout - Adnan Januzaj". SkySports. 21 May 2014.
  5. "Michy Batshuayi: The SpongeBob-loving Spurs target tearing up Ligue 1". fourfourtwo.com. 23 December 2015.
  6. "RWDM-fans boycotten Zwanzederby: 'Union heeft geen respect voor ons'". www.bruzz.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 2020-09-06.
  7. "Union Saint-Gilloise – RWD Molenbeek : ici c'est Bruxelles - Les Cahiers du football". www.cahiersdufootball.net (in French). Retrieved 2020-09-06.
  8. "RWDM - Lierse (2002): 1-0". youtube.com. 17 May 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  9. "RWDM zakt uiteindelijk zonder supporters af naar Luik". www.bruzz.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 2020-09-06.
  10. "'Er is een markt voor drie Brusselse voetbalclubs in eerste klasse'". www.bruzz.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 2020-09-06.
  11. "Football - D 2 Le déménagement". DH Les Sports + (in French). 2002-09-03. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
  12. "Interview with Brussels Power (FC Brussels - Belgium)". Ultras-Tifo. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
  13. "A-kern". RWDM. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
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