Oud-Heverlee Leuven

2012–13 season
Chairman	Jan Callewaert
Manager	Ronny Van Geneugden
Stadium	Den Dreef
Belgian Pro League	10th
Belgian Cup	Round 6
Top goalscorer	League: Ibou, 19 goals All: Ibou, 19 goals
Highest home attendance	9,500 vs Club Brugge and vs Mechelen
Lowest home attendance	6,746 vs Cercle Brugge
Home colours Away colours
← 2011–12 2013–14 →

The 2012–13 season was Oud-Heverlee Leuven's 11th competitive season in professional football. It was their second season in the Belgian Pro League. A promising start by OH Leuven and a 5-match winning streak in October resulted in a third place after 13 matchdays, but thereafter the team dropped in the standings to finally end 10th. In the playoffs, OH Leuven won their group but then lost the playoff final to Gent. In the Belgian Cup, OHL immediately lost their first match just like the previous season, this time going out to Oostende.

On April 27, a first transfer for the new season is announced, as Belgian defender Kenny Thompson signs for OHL, coming from Lierse^[1] and two weeks later on May 14, OHL also signs Christopher Verbist from Standard Liège. Verbist played an impressive 2011–12 season in the Belgian Second Division, as he was on loan to Second Division champions Charleroi from Standard Liège.^[2]

On May 25, there is a lot of transfer activity at OHL, as two players leave and one is signed. Both Wingback Lionel Gendarme and central defender Pieter Nys decide to sign with a second division team. Gendarme moves to Oostende, while Nys moves to Dutch side Sparta.^[3][4] Meanwhile, on the same day, OHL confirms the signature of Günther Vanaudenaerde from recently relegated Westerlo. Due to injury, Vanaudenaerde missed most of the previous season.^[5]

Being founded in 2002, Oud-Heverlee Leuven celebrates its tenth anniversary. During the festivities, results of the "merit" award are presented. Through a web poll, the OHL fans chose François Sterchele as the player having the most merit during the ten inaugural years. Sterchele played for OHL during the 2004–05 season, in which OHL successfully promoted to the Belgian Second Division, with Sterchele the club top scorer, including eight goals during the promotion playoffs. Other players completing the top 5 were (in order): Bjorn Ruytinx, Jordan Remacle, Joeri Vastmans and Hans Goethuys.^[6]

After signing Günther Vanaudenaerde from Westerlo earlier, OHL confirms also the signing of Westerlo youngster Wout Bastiaens on June 5 ^[7] and announces a few days later that another promising youngster joins the squad as Ben Yagan (17) is promoted from the reserve team to the first team for the coming season.^[8]

On June 11, the Belgian Pro League fixtures for the 2012–13 season are announced. Oud-Heverlee Leuven opens the season with an away match to Mons on 28 July 2012. One week later, Genk will be the opponent for the first home match.^[9][10] Later that same day, OHL first announces that Arnold Rijsenburg has signed as part of the staff, becoming the second assistant first team coach for head manager Ronny Van Geneugden,^[11] before spreading the news that the club has signed yet another Belgian defender. Twenty-six-year-old Ludovic Buysens has signed a two-year deal, signing from recently relegated Sint-Truiden.^[12]

Three days later, OHL sign a fifth Belgian defender with Jonas De Roeck. The experienced 32-year-old was a free player after his contract had expired at Bundesliga team Augsburg.^[13] Meanwhile, Sint-Truiden announce the signing of Maxime Annys from OHL on their website. Annys had been with OHL since 2009, but was deemed surplus and allowed to leave.^[14]

In need of a new goalkeeper since the departure of Thomas Kaminski following the end of the previous season, OHL finally choose to sign Logan Bailly. With Bailly, OHL sign a 26 year old Belgian international goalkeeper, who has already gained 8 caps for the Red Devils. Bailly gained fame when playing for Genk, leading to a lucrative transfer to Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2008. After some less successful loans, Bailly now moves to OHL, hoping to relaunch his career under Ronny Van Geneugden, who he knows from his period at Genk. Bailly is given a one-year contract.^[15]

Initial signs were already bad as Captain Bjorn Ruytinx was forced to walk off the field with a swollen knee during the friendly match against Kampenhout on 27 June, but two days later the feared news is confirmed that Ruytinx has indeed suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Ruytinx, who had just signed a one-year contract extension in March 2012 to perform one more season for Oud-Heverlee Leuven, is now expected to be out for about 6 months.^[16][17]

On the last day of June 2012, OHL announce the signing of Gambian forward Ibou, who signs a three-year contract with an optional extra season. He is transferred from Kortrijk, where he has played since 2008, although that includes a six-month loan to Mechelen and a season-long loan to Mons.^[18] Later that same day, news is released that new signings Logan Bailly and Kenny Thompson are both out for weeks. Goalkeeper Bailly has suffered a broken finger during training, while Thompson is suffering from meningitis.^[19]

Although it was already known that Ghanaian striker Ibrahim Salou was going to be released, the news becomes official only when Belgian Third Division team La Louvière Centre announce the signing of Salou on their website on July 18.^[20] OHL draws much more media attention on July 20, when the transfer of last season OHL top scorer Jordan Remacle to Gent is now officially announced. Following weeks of rumours considering the future of Remacle, who requested a transfer and even handed in a doctors note to allow him to stay absent from training, the deal is now complete.^[21] One day later, this is followed by the news of signing Evariste Ngolok, a Belgian midfielder. After Wout Bastiaens and Günther Vanaudenaerde, Ngolok is the third player coming from Westerlo to sign for OHL.^[22]

In their opening match of the 2012–13 Belgian Pro League on July 28, Oud-Heverlee Leuven suffer a heavy loss, going down 5–2 away to Mons, with goals for OHL coming from Karel Geraerts and new signing Ibou, who scores his first goal for OHL.^[23]

OHL presents the team kits for the new season, the main difference being that the logo of head sponsor Option is now blending in with the shirt. The home kits remain white, while the away kits will now be green, with the third kit being coloured red. Head coach Ronny Van Geneugden claims it to be "a youthful kit, matching the youthful character of our supporters, who will surely identify themselves with it".^[24] One day later, the 5 000th season ticket is sold. This is a large increase of the record for OH Leuven, as the record stood at 4 772, set during the previous season.^[25]

Playing for the first time in their new kits, the team bounce back from trailing 0–2 with 15 minutes to go, to draw 2–2 with Genk in their first home match of the season.^[26] During that same match, defender Günther Vanaudenaerde tears one of the muscles in his abdomen and is expected to be out for 4 to 6 weeks.^[27]

The following week, transfer activity is again increased, as OHL loans out three Belgian players to Belgian Second Division team Antwerp. Defender Nicky Hayen and midfielders Kevin Roelandts and Jorn Vermeulen join the Antwerp team for one season,^[28] while Christian Pouga is presented as the latest new signing. The 26 year old striker from Cameroon is signed from Portuguese team Marítimo.^[29]

Only 34 seconds into the match against Gent, Ibou scores his third of the season. Eventually the match against the new team of Jordan Remacle ends in a 1–1 draw, a small revenge for OHL after the 6–1 loss during the previous season.^[30] One week later, OHL books a first win, coming back twice to beat Cercle Brugge 3–2 at home, with Evariste Ngolok scoring his first goal for OHL. Other goals came from Ibou and Geraerts.^[31]

Although various media already reported the coming of Ivorian defender Ali Bamba to OHL on loan from Le Mans, the deal is cancelled on 21 August 2012 after Bamba fails his medical tests.^[32]

Against an Anderlecht squad in which no less than 8 first team players have been replaced to keep them fresh for their upcoming Champions League fixture, OHL draws 1–1 at Den Dreef. For the fifth game in a row, Ibou gets on the scoresheet, thereby taking the lead in the goal scorer standings,^[33] however he also suffers an injury, causing him to be sidelined for about a week.

On the last day of the transfer window, OHL confirmed the signing of the 23-year-old Zimbabwean midfielder Ovidy Karuru from French side US Boulogne. It was also announced that Antoine Palate would be loaned for one season to Diegem Sport in the Belgian Third Division.^[34]

An injury time goal from Christian Pouga secures one point for OHL away to Lierse. The absence of Ibou is clear on the pitch, as OHL struggles to create big scoring opportunities.^[35]

OHL enters the draw for the Belgian Cup and is drawn away to Belgian Second Division team Oostende in the 16th finals. Should OH Leuven get past Oostende, they will play another away game, against the winner of the match between Brussels and Waasland-Beveren.^[36]

After one week break because of international football, OHL plays a dull match at home against Zulte Waregem. With just under ten minutes to play, Zulte Waregem scores the only goal of the match to give OHL a first home loss of the season. OHL also drops into 14th position, just two points clear of the relegation zone.^[37]

Available as a free player, OH Leuven adds 29-year-old Brazilian defender Robson to the squad on September 20, giving him a one-year contract with a possible one-year extension. Robson had been training with the team already for several weeks and previously played for Marítimo, alongside Christian Pouga.^[38]

Although Lokeren took the lead twice, OHL manages to keep one point in the away match at Daknam, with first Wim Raymaekers equalizing to 1–1 and finally Karel Geraerts scoring the 2–2 equaliser just before the end of the match.^[39] During the following midweek match, OHL is kicked straight out of the cup in their first match, for the second consecutive season. Against Oostende, a red card for Ludovic Buysens and a handling error by Logan Bailly leading to the opening goal allow the second division team to eventually win easily, by a score of 2–1. For OHL, youngster Joren Dehond manages to score his first goal of the season.^[40]

After the disappointing cup loss, OHL responds with a spectacular home win against newly promoted Waasland-Beveren. After two goals from Christian Pouga and a stunning free kick by Stefán Gíslason, Ibou completes the game with two more goals, the last one in injury time just seconds after he missed a penalty kick.^[41]

In October, OHL continues where they left off and even improves their level, extending the streak of consecutive matches won to five. First the team starts with a 0–4 win away to Charleroi in which Chuka, who had been struggling to find the net, completes a hattrick. The final goal came again from Ibou, who now ties with Club Brugge striker Carlos Bacca for the lead in the standings for top scorer with 8 goals.^[42] Thereafter, a previously undefeated Club Brugge comes to lose at Den Dreef. After going down already with under five minutes played due to a goal from Carlos Bacca, Ibou scores a hattrick to race past Bacca in the top scorers' standings with 11 goals from the same number of matches. Ovidy Karuru adds his first goal for OHL to result in a final 4–1 score. With the win, OH Leuven moves into position 6 in the standings.^[43] Also, for the first time since the expansion of Den Dreef to a capacity of 9.500, OHL plays in front of a sellout crowd. Since the 1970s, there have not been that number of supporters at a football match in the region.^[44]

The fourth win is achieved away to Beerschot, where OHL struggled for an hour until Kenneth Van Goethem put the ball past Stijn Stijnen. After taking the lead, the team controlled the flow of play and extended the lead further through goals from Karel Geraerts and Stefán Gíslason. In injury time, Hernán Losada scored the consolation goal for Beerschot from a penalty kick.^[45] During a midweek match, OHL moves into third place in the standings after the winning streak is extended to five matches against KV Mechelen. For a second consecutive sellout crowd and with only 52 seconds played, Christian Pouga heads in the first goal from an assist by Ibou. After an equalizer by Mechelen, OHL scores two more goals through Chuka and Ibou to win the match 3–1.^[46] Downside is the injury of central defender Wim Raymaekers, who suffers a knee injury during the first half. Although the injury is less severe than originally feared, Raymaekers still has to undergo surgery and is thereafter estimated to be out for 4 to 5 months.^[47]

After moving into third position following the month of October, OHL starts struggling in November. A 2–0 loss away to Standard Liège^[48] is followed by a lacklustre 0–0 draw at home against Kortrijk^[49] and a loss against Mons, also at Den Dreef. In the latter match, an error by Jonas De Roeck allows Mons striker Jérémy Perbet to score the opening goal after just two minutes. Thereafter, Perbet completes a hattrick which means the late goal by Christian Pouga is no more than a consolation.^[50] OHL ends the month with a positive note however, as the team holds Genk to a 1–1 draw, with Ibou converting an injury time penalty to grab the point in Genk.^[51] With that, OHL moves into 8th place, seemingly headed for a safe mid-table position as the gap with the relegation zone has grown to 11 points.

Although Karel Geraerts manages to equalise after an early goal by Gent, OHL fails to win, as the home game ends in a 1–1 draw.^[52] One day later, 26-year-old first goalkeeper Logan Bailly signs a 1-year contract extension, keeping him in Leuven until 2014.^[53]

One week after the draw with Gent, OHL scores a third consecutive 1–1 draw, away to bottom league team Cercle Brugge. Both goals are scored through a penalty kick, with the goal from Ibou cancelled out by Eiður Guðjohnsen.^[54] Although a fourth 1–1 draw would have been welcome away to Anderlecht to deny them an eight consecutive league win, OH Leuven does lose by a score of 2–1, the first-ever loss by OHL against Anderlecht in the league. Ibou scored the goal for OHL after a fast counterattack and as OH Leuven had several opportunities, coach Van Geneugden states:"I have congratulated my players after the match because we should be proud of our achievement today".^[55] Nevertheless, OH Leuven has now suffered 7 matches without a win.

Just two weeks after first goalkeeper Bailly, it is now second goalkeeper Yves Lenaerts who prolongs his contract. In contrary to Bailly however, Lenaerts extends his contract by three seasons, to 2016.^[56]

The non-winning streak of OHL continues, as before the end of the year, two more matches are played without a win. First Lierse, who are fighting to avoid relegation, come to Den Dreef to score a point in a 2–2 draw, with Ibou and Geraerts scoring the goals for the Leuven team.^[57] Thereafter, OHL loses against overachievers Zulte Waregem due to an injury-time winner by Habib Habibou. A late goal by Chuka had cancelled out an earlier goal by Habibou and seemed to be giving OHL a point, but Habibou decided otherwise.^[58] OHL thus finishes the year in 10th place with 28th points out of 22 matches, just one point less than the team earned during the whole 2011–12 Belgian Pro League.

Right before the end of the year, captain Kenneth Van Goethem is the third player to extend his contract. The midfielder adds three years and now has a contract until 2016.^[59]

With the winter transfer window opening, several teams in the Belgian Pro League decide to make some changes in their personnel. In the first week of 2013, OHL announces three new transfers: on 1 January, 18-year-old Belgian defender Cédric Buekers is signed from Belgian Second Division team Sint-Truiden until 2015,^[60] two days later the team also announces that two more players have been signed: 20-year-old Belgian striker Alessandro Cerigioni comes from Lommel United and is signed immediately, while defender Zainoul Haidara from Guinea will finish the season with his team FC Bleid-Gaume in the Belgian Third Division and join OHL in the summer of 2013.^[61]

OH Leuven continues to give players contract extensions, as both young striker Ben Yagan (18) and experienced Brazilian central defender Robson (29) prolong their stay in Leuven. Yagan is signed until 2015, Robson until 2016.^[62] One day later, Frederik Boi leaves the club as he moves back to his former team Cercle Brugge on loan. Due to several minor injuries, Boi had played only a few matches and had asked to be transferred and not to participate in the winter training camp with the rest of the team in Malta. With the contract of Boi expiring in 2013, it seems unlikely to see him return to OHL.^[63]

In the first match after the winter break, Lokeren holds a 0–2 lead at half-time through two goals by Benjamin Mokulu. Goals by Thomas Azevedo and Karel Geraerts allow OHL to draw level, but thereafter Lokeren manages to score four more goals to end the game 2–6.^[64] Although Waasland-Beveren only played with 10 players for almost 35 minutes after a red card, the non-winning streak continues and grows to 11 matches as OH Leuven loses 2–0 in Beveren.^[65]

Two more transfers are completed before the end of the transfer window: 31-year-old Croatian central defender Tomislav Mikulić is signed on loan from Beerschot until the end of the season,^[66] while striker Christian Pouga is loaned out to Lierse until the end of the season.^[67]

A goal by Chuka ends the spell without a win as it proves enough to beat Charleroi at home. For OHL it is the first win since 31 October,^[68] which could have been followed by a second win away to Club Brugge as the team were leading 0–1 with only half an hour to play, with former Club Brugge player Karel Geraerts putting OHL in front. However, after a red card for Kenny Thompson, Brugge took control and won 3–1.^[69] OHL again fails to win one week later against bottom league team Beerschot, with a late equalizer by Benito Raman cancelling out the goal by Ibou.^[70] However, the team responds with a 1–2 away win to Mechelen, with Koen Weuts and Chuka getting on the scoresheet.^[71] During that same match, Mazin Ahmed Al-Huthayfi is brought in as a substitute during the injury time. The signing of Al-Huthayfi had not been announced, causing eyebrows to be raised as to who was this player. Apparently, Al-Huthayfi was signed on loan from Ittihad FC until the end of the season.^[72]

OHL ends the regular season in a bad way after suffering a severe 0–4 loss at home against Standard Liège, with Imoh Ezekiel scoring for Standard after only 13 seconds,^[73] after which Logan Bailly saves a last minute penalty to keep Kortrijk to a 0–0 draw.^[74] Overall, OH Leuven was never in any danger of relegation and ends the season safely in tenth place with 36 points. Regarding the playoffs, the team is paired with Charleroi, Mechelen and Waasland-Beveren, against which the team scored 15 out of 18 points.

OHL starts the playoffs with a 3–1 victory over Waasland-Beveren. Youngsters Alessandro Cerigioni and Joren Dehond score their first league goal for Leuven, with the other goals coming from Chuka (for OHL) and Stijn De Smet for Waasland-Beveren.^[75]

The month of April starts with the news that Icelandic midfielder Stefán Gíslason signs a new contract to keep him with Leuven for another season, until 2014.^[76]

The victory against Waasland-Beveren is not followed up with more good performances, as Charleroi first takes revenge for the 0–4 loss during the regular competition, beating OHL 3–0 in Charleroi,^[77] after which Leuven loses again by three goals to nil, now at home to KV Mechelen.^[78] OH Leuven thereby drops to the last position in the group with only three points, but all is still open, as after three matches Charleroi has five points, while both KV Mechelen and Waasland-Beveren have four points.

After being down 1–0 at halftime to KV Mechelen in Mechelen, the season seems to be finished for OHL, but in the second half OHL comes back, scoring no less than five goals to take the win. Two goals came from Ibou, with the others provided by Alessandro Cerigioni, Tomislav Mikulić and Robson.^[79] In the following match at home against Charleroi, Ibou fails to score a penalty kick, which proves costly as the match ends 0–0.^[80] With three teams tied on 7 points and only Waasland-Beveren trailing on 5 points, OHL knows that a win away to Waasland-Beveren will win the group unless KV Mechelen wins by a larger margin in Charleroi. Mechelen grasps a late 1–2 win due to an injury time goal, but captain Bjorn Ruytinx, injured for most of the season and returning for the first time again in the starting lineup, scores a vital goal to hand OH Leuven the win against Waasland-Beveren. With that, OHL wins group B of the playoffs and will face group A winners Gent.^[81] With negotiations and rumours ongoing for a few weeks already, club icon Bjorn Ruytinx signs a new contract tying him to the club for one more season, until 2014.^[82]

In the playoff final, OHL proves to be no match for Gent, twice losing by four goals to one, first in Leuven,^[83] then in Ghent.^[84] The goals for Leuven came from Bjorn Ruytinx (at home) and Evariste Ngolok (in Ghent). With that, the season ends for OHL.

The team kits for the 2012–13 season are produced by Vermarc and the main shirt sponsor is Option which is displayed on the front center of the shirt. Other sponsors featuring on the kit: Rayden Transport and Vermarc (shirt front), Dataflow and Lotto (shirt back), Tegel Concept (shirt sleeves) and Rayden Transport, GMS Leuven, Stad Leuven and Mercedes (shorts). OHL still plays in white during home matches, but now has green as primary colour for the away matches. A red outfit is available also as third kit. The goalkeeper kit is normally green during home matches and red during away matches, keeping in mind that it always needs to differ enough from the kit colour of the opponents.

Home

Away

As of 15 January 2013. OHL Team 2012-13

  Indicates that the player was only part of the team during the first half of the season
  Indicates that the player was only part of the team during the second half of the season

No.	Name	Nationality	Date of Birth (Age at 28/07/2012)	First match for OHL	Previous Club/Signed From
Goalkeepers
1	Yves Lenaerts	Belgium	(1983-02-27)February 27, 1983 (aged 29)	2010	Club Brugge
21	Dean Michiels	Belgium	(1991-07-04)July 4, 1991 (aged 21)	2010	Youth Product
26	Logan Bailly	Belgium	(1985-12-27)December 27, 1985 (aged 26)	2012	Mönchengladbach
Defenders
2	Tomislav Mikulić	Croatia	(1982-01-04)January 4, 1982 (aged 30)	2013	Beerschot
3	Robson	Brazil	(1983-07-10)July 10, 1983 (aged 29)	2012	Marítimo
4	Wim Raymaekers	Belgium	(1985-04-04)April 4, 1985 (aged 27)	2010	Red Star Waasland
5	Kenny Thompson	Belgium	(1985-04-26)April 26, 1985 (aged 27)	2012	Lierse
15	Wout Bastiaens	Belgium	(1994-04-30)April 30, 1994 (aged 18)	2012	Westerlo
16	Cédric Buekers	Belgium	(1994-04-17)April 17, 1994 (aged 18)	2013	Sint-Truiden
17	Koen Weuts	Belgium	(1990-09-18)September 18, 1990 (aged 21)	2009	Lierse
18	Jonas De Roeck	Belgium	(1979-12-20)December 20, 1979 (aged 32)	2012	Augsburg
24	Ludovic Buysens	Belgium	(1986-03-16)March 16, 1986 (aged 26)	2012	Sint-Truiden
32	Günther Vanaudenaerde	Belgium	(1984-01-23)January 23, 1984 (aged 28)	2012	Westerlo
Midfielders
2	Frederik Boi	Belgium	(1981-10-25)October 25, 1981 (aged 30)	2011	Cercle Brugge
6	Kenneth Van Goethem	Belgium	(1984-02-12)February 12, 1984 (aged 28)	2010	KV Mechelen
7	Ovidy Karuru	Zimbabwe	(1989-01-23)January 23, 1989 (aged 23)	2012	Boulogne
8	Karel Geraerts	Belgium	(1982-01-05)January 5, 1982 (aged 30)	2011	Club Brugge
20	Evariste Ngolok	Belgium	(1988-11-15)November 15, 1988 (aged 23)	2012	Westerlo
27	Stefán Gíslason	Iceland	(1980-03-15)March 15, 1980 (aged 32)	2012	Lillestrøm
30	Simon Bracke	Belgium	(1995-11-17)November 17, 1995 (aged 16)	2011	Youth Product
Forwards
9	Christian Pouga	Cameroon	(1986-06-19)June 19, 1986 (aged 26)	2012	Marítimo
11	Alessandro Cerigioni	Belgium	(1992-09-30)September 30, 1992 (aged 19)	2013	Lommel United
12	Ibou	Gambia	(1986-09-07)September 7, 1986 (aged 25)	2012	Kortrijk
13	Bjorn Ruytinx	Belgium	(1980-08-18)August 18, 1980 (aged 31)	2004	Kermt-Hasselt
14	Thomas Azevedo	Belgium	(1991-08-31)August 31, 1991 (aged 20)	2011	Lommel United
19	Loris Brogno	Belgium	(1992-09-18)September 18, 1992 (aged 19)	2012	Charleroi
22	Emmerik De Vriese	Belgium	(1985-02-14)February 14, 1985 (aged 27)	2011	Antwerp
23	Chuka	Nigeria	(1990-03-19)March 19, 1990 (aged 22)	2011	Umm Salal
25	Christopher Verbist	Belgium	(1991-10-08)October 8, 1991 (aged 20)	2012	Standard Liège
28	Mazin Ahmed Al-Huthayfi	Saudi Arabia	(1985-07-29)July 29, 1985 (aged 26)	2013	Ittihad FC
29	Joren Dehond	Belgium	(1995-08-08)August 8, 1995 (aged 16)	2011	Youth Product
31	Ben Yagan	Belgium	(1995-02-09)February 9, 1995 (aged 17)	2012	Youth Product

Squad #	Position	Player	Transferred from	Fee	Date	Source
3	DF	Robson Severino da Silva	Marítimo	Undisclosed	20 August 2012	[38]
5	DF	Kenny Thompson	Lierse	Undisclosed	27 April 2012	[1]
7	MF	Ovidy Karuru	Boulogne	Undisclosed	30 August 2012	[34]
9	FW	Christian Pouga	Marítimo	Undisclosed	9 August 2012	[29]
12	FW	Ibou	Kortrijk	Undisclosed	30 June 2012	[18]
15	DF	Wout Bastiaens	Westerlo	Undisclosed	5 June 2012	[7]
18	DF	Jonas De Roeck	Augsburg	Undisclosed	14 June 2012	[13]
20	MF	Evariste Ngolok	Westerlo	Undisclosed	21 July 2012	[22]
24	DF	Ludovic Buysens	Sint-Truiden	Undisclosed	11 June 2012	[12]
25	FW	Christopher Verbist	Charleroi (on loan from Standard Liège)	Undisclosed	14 May 2012	[2]
26	GK	Logan Bailly	Mönchengladbach	Undisclosed	22 June 2012	[15]
32	DF	Günther Vanaudenaerde	Westerlo	Undisclosed	25 May 2012	[5]

Squad #	Position	Player	Transferred from	Fee	Date	Source
11	FW	Alessandro Cerigioni	Lommel United	Undisclosed	3 January 2013	[61]
16	DF	Cédric Buekers	Sint-Truiden	Undisclosed	1 January 2013	[60]

Squad #	Position	Player	On loan from	Fee	Date	Source
2	DF	Tomislav Mikulić	Beerschot	Undisclosed	25 January 2013	[66]
28	FW	Mazin Ahmed Al-Huthayfi	Ittihad	Undisclosed	February 2013	[72]

Squad #	Position	Player	Transferred to	Fee	Date	Source
7	MF	Jordan Remacle	Gent	Undisclosed	20 July 2012	[21]
8	MF	Maxime Annys	Sint-Truiden	Free	18 June 2012	[14]
9	FW	Ibrahim Salou	La Louvière Centre	Free	18 July 2012	[20]
11	MF	Sacha Iakovenko	Anderlecht	Loan Return	1 June 2012
15	DF	Pieter Nys	Sparta	Undisclosed	25 May 2012	[4]
18	MF	Floribert N'Galula	Free Agent	Released	1 June 2012
24	DF	Radek Dejmek	Slovan Liberec	Loan Return	1 June 2012
25	MF	Christophe Diandy	Anderlecht	Loan Return	1 June 2012
26	DF	Lionel Gendarme	Oostende	Undisclosed	25 May 2012	[3]
	FW	Simon Vermeiren	Heist	Free (Was on loan to Olympia Wijgmaal, now released)	10 May 2012	[85]
	MF	Nicolas De Mol	Tienen	Free (Was on loan to Olympia Wijgmaal, now released)	30 May 2012	[86]
	GK	Fred Desomberg	Tienen	Free (Was on loan to Olympia Wijgmaal, now released)	31 May 2012	[87]
	FW	Tail Schoonjans	Sint-Niklaas	Free (Was already on loan to Sint-Niklaas, now released)	2 June 2012	[88]
	DF	Raf Verhamme	Tienen	Free (Was on loan to Olympia Wijgmaal, now released)	17 June 2012	[89]

Squad #	Position	Player	Transferred to	Fee	Date	Source
3	DF	Nicky Hayen	Antwerp	Undisclosed	8 August 2012	[28]
10	MF	Kevin Roelandts	Antwerp	Undisclosed	8 August 2012	[28]
16	MF	Jorn Vermeulen	Antwerp	Undisclosed	8 August 2012	[28]
28	MF	Antoine Palate	Diegem Sport	Undisclosed	30 August 2012	[34]

Squad #	Position	Player	Transferred to	Fee	Date	Source
2	DF	Frederik Boi	Cercle Brugge	Undisclosed	11 January 2013	[63]
9	FW	Christian Pouga	Lierse	Undisclosed	31 January 2013	[29]

Last updated on 19 May 2013.

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Belgian Pro League		Belgian Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	BEL	Yves Lenaerts	1	0	0+1	0	0	0
2	DF	CRO	Tomislav Mikulić	13	1	13	1	0	0
3	DF	BRA	Robson	28	1	27+1	1	0	0
4	DF	BEL	Wim Raymaekers	13	1	13	1	0	0
5	DF	BEL	Kenny Thompson	23	0	20+2	0	1	0
6	MF	BEL	Kenneth Van Goethem	31	1	31	1	0	0
7	MF	ZIM	Ovidy Karuru	22	1	13+8	1	1	0
8	MF	BEL	Karel Geraerts	33	8	32	8	1	0
11	FW	BEL	Alessandro Cerigioni	9	2	8+1	2	0	0
12	FW	GAM	Ibou	36	19	35+1	19	0	0
13	FW	BEL	Bjorn Ruytinx	14	2	3+11	2	0	0
14	MF	BEL	Thomas Azevedo	29	1	6+22	1	1	0
15	DF	BEL	Wout Bastiaens	1	0	1	0	0	0
16	DF	BEL	Cédric Buekers	0	0	0	0	0	0
17	DF	BEL	Koen Weuts	26	1	23+2	1	1	0
18	DF	BEL	Jonas De Roeck	15	0	12+3	0	0	0
19	FW	BEL	Loris Brogno	8	0	2+5	0	0+1	0
20	MF	BEL	Evariste Ngolok	28	2	22+6	2	0	0
21	GK	BEL	Dean Michiels	0	0	0	0	0	0
22	MF	BEL	Emmerik De Vriese	0	0	0	0	0	0
23	FW	NGA	Chuka	38	8	31+6	8	1	0
24	DF	BEL	Ludovic Buysens	18	0	11+6	0	1	0
25	FW	BEL	Christopher Verbist	2	0	1	0	1	0
26	GK	BEL	Logan Bailly	39	0	38	0	1	0
27	DF	ISL	Stefán Gíslason	30	2	28+1	2	1	0
28	FW	KSA	Mazin Ahmed Al-Huthayfi	2	0	0+2	0	0	0
29	FW	BEL	Joren Dehond	6	2	0+5	1	0+1	1
30	MF	BEL	Simon Bracke	0	0	0	0	0	0
31	FW	BEL	Ben Yagan	12	0	6+6	0	0	0
32	DF	BEL	Günther Vanaudenaerde	33	0	31+1	0	1	0
Players who are out on loan
2	MF	BEL	Frederik Boi	2	0	2	0	0	0
9	FW	CMR	Christian Pouga	20	5	9+10	5	0+1	0

Includes all competitive matches.

Total	Player		Goals per Round
			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	CupR7	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	PO1	PO2	PO3	PO4	PO5	PO6	POF1	POF2
19		Ibou	1	1	1	1	1					2	1	3		1				1		1	1	1						1							2
8		Chuka											3			1									1			1			1			1
		Karel Geraerts	1			1				1					1						1			1		1			1
5		Christian Pouga						1				2				1			1
2		Alessandro Cerigioni																																1			1
		Joren Dehond									1																							1
		Stefán Gíslason										1			1
		Evariste Ngolok				1																																			1
		Bjorn Ruytinx																																					1	1
1		Thomas Azevedo																								1
		Ovidy Karuru												1
		Tomislav Mikulić																																			1
		Wim Raymaekers								1
		Robson																																			1
		Kenneth Van Goethem													1
		Koen Weuts																													1
	Own Goal			1

A goal was scored from a penalty kick

Source: Match reports in Competitive matches.

Date	Penalty Taker	Scored	Opponent	Competition	Opposing Goalkeeper
5 August 2012	Ibou	Yes	at home vs. Genk	Belgian Pro League	László Köteles
18 August 2012	Ibou	Yes	at home vs. Cercle Brugge	Belgian Pro League	Bram Verbist
29 September 2012	Ibou	No	at home vs. Waasland-Beveren	Belgian Pro League	Michaël Clepkens
20 October 2012	Ibou	Yes	at home vs. Club Brugge	Belgian Pro League	Bojan Jorgačević
31 October 2012	Ibou	No	at home vs. Mechelen	Belgian Pro League	Tomislav Pačovski
31 October 2012	Ibou	Yes	at home vs. Mechelen	Belgian Pro League	Tomislav Pačovski
25 November 2012	Ibou	Yes	away to Genk	Belgian Pro League	Kristof Van Hout
8 December 2012	Ibou	Yes	away to Cercle Brugge	Belgian Pro League	Jo Coppens
22 December 2012	Ibou	Yes	at home vs. Lierse	Belgian Pro League	Matz Sels
20 April 2013	Ibou	Yes	away to Mechelen	Belgian Pro League	Wouter Biebauw
27 April 2013	Ibou	No	at home vs. Charleroi	Belgian Pro League	Michalis Sifakis

Includes all competitive matches. Sorted by shirt number.

Position	Nation	Number	Name	Belgian Pro League	Belgian Cup	Total	Minutes per goal
GK		1	Yves Lenaerts	0	0	0	0
GK		21	Dean Michiels	0	0	0	0
GK		26	Logan Bailly	67	2	69	49.46
TOTALS				67	2	69	49.57

Date	Penalty Taker	Scored	Opponent	Competition	OHL Goalkeeper
18 August 2012	Oleg Iachtchouk	Yes	at home vs. Cercle Brugge	Belgian Pro League	Logan Bailly
29 September 2012	Barak Badash	Yes	at home vs. Waasland-Beveren	Belgian Pro League	Logan Bailly
6 October 2012	Harlem Gnohéré	No	away to Charleroi	Belgian Pro League	Logan Bailly
27 October 2012	Hernán Losada	Yes	away to Beerschot	Belgian Pro League	Logan Bailly
8 December 2012	Eiður Guðjohnsen	Yes	away to Cercle Brugge	Belgian Pro League	Logan Bailly
16 December 2012	Dieumerci Mbokani	Yes	away to Anderlecht	Belgian Pro League	Logan Bailly
22 December 2012	Mohamed El-Gabbas	Yes	at home vs. Lierse	Belgian Pro League	Logan Bailly
6 April 2013	David Pollet	Yes	away to Charleroi	Belgian Pro League	Logan Bailly

Includes all competitive matches. Players with 1 card or more included only.

Last updated on 30 November 2012

Pos.	Nat.	No.	Player	Belgian Pro League		Belgian Cup		Total
DF		3	Robson	4	0	0	0	4	0
DF		4	Wim Raymaekers	3	0	0	0	3	0
MF		5	Kenny Thompson	6	1	0	0	6	1
MF		6	Kenneth Van Goethem	3	0	0	0	3	0
FW		9	Christian Pouga	3	0	0	0	3	0
FW		12	Ibou	3	0	0	0	3	0
MF		14	Thomas Azevedo	1	0	0	0	1	0
DF		17	Koen Weuts	2	0	0	0	2	0
DF		18	Jonas De Roeck	7	0	0	0	7	0
FW		23	Chuka	4	0	0	0	4	0
DF		24	Ludovic Buysens	2	0	0	1	2	1
MF		27	Stefán Gíslason	4	0	0	0	4	0
DF		32	Günther Vanaudenaerde	3	0	1	0	4	0
			TOTALS	45	1	1	1	46	2

Includes suspensions for competitive matches.

Last updated on 13 April 2013

Date	Player/Coach	Reason	Punishment	Source
27 August 2012 (appeal 28 August 2012)	Ronny Van Geneugden	Stepped on pitch during match vs Anderlecht	One match suspension and 100 € fine, after appeal reduced to a suspended sentence	ohl.be
29 September 2012	Jonas De Roeck	5x	One match ban (away to Charleroi)
20 October 2012	Kenny Thompson	at home vs Club Brugge	One match ban (away to Beerschot)
1 December 2012	Kenny Thompson	5x	One match ban (away to Cercle Brugge)
19 January 2013	Robson	5x	One match ban (away to Waasland-Beveren)
26 January 2013	Stefán Gíslason	5x	One match ban (at home vs Charleroi)
9 February 2013	Günther Vanaudenaerde	5x	One match ban (at home vs Beerschot)
9 February 2013	Kenny Thompson	away to Club Brugge	Three match ban (at home vs Beerschot & Standard Liège and away to Mechelen)
16 March 2013	Tomislav Mikulić	5x	One match ban (at home vs Waasland-Beveren)
30 March 2013	Koen Weuts	at home vs Waasland-Beveren	One match ban (away to Charleroi)

Last updated on 15 January 2013

Date	Player	Injury	Initial Estimated Return	In Full Training	First Match after Injury	Source
Pre-Season	Emmerik De Vriese	Underwent knee surgery	August 2012			ohl.be
27 June 2012	Bjorn Ruytinx	Torn anterior cruciate ligament during friendly match against Kampenhout	December 2012	January 2013	12 January 2013	[16][17]
30 June 2012	Kenny Thompson	Meningitis	August 2012	Third week of August 2012	25 August 2012	[19]
8 August 2012	Günther Vanaudenaerde	Torn muscle in his abdomen during match against Genk	September 2012	August 2012	1 September 2012	[27]
31 October 2012	Wim Raymaekers	Suffered severe knee injury during match against Mechelen	March 2013			[47]

Games played	23 (22 Belgian Pro League, 1 Belgian Cup)
Games won	6 (6 Belgian Pro League, 0 Belgian Cup)
Games drawn	10 (10 Belgian Pro League, 0 Belgian Cup)
Games lost	7 (6 Belgian Pro League, 1 Belgian Cup)
Goals scored	40
Goals conceded	36
Goal difference	+4
Clean sheets	2
Yellow cards	47
Red cards	2
Worst discipline	Jonas De Roeck, 7 yellow cards.
Best result(s)	W 0 – 4 (A) at Charleroi – Belgian Pro League – 6 October 2012
Worst result(s)	L 5 – 2 (A) at Mons – Belgian Pro League – 28 July 2012
Most appearances	3 players with 18 appearances
Top scorer	Ibou, 16 goals

Competition	Started round	Current position / round	Final position / round	First match	Last match
Belgian Pro League	—	—	10th & playoff final	28 July 2012	18 May 2013
Belgian Cup	6th Round	—	6th Round	26 September 2012	26 September 2012

Updated to match played 21 May 2012
Source: Competitions

OHL's second season in the Belgian Pro League began on 28 July 2012.

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Anderlecht	30	20	7	3	69	27	+42	67	Qualification for the Championship play-offs
2	Zulte Waregem	30	19	6	5	49	29	+20	63
3	Genk	30	15	10	5	63	40	+23	55
4	Club Brugge	30	15	9	6	66	43	+23	54
5	Lokeren	30	14	9	7	53	38	+15	51
6	Standard Liège	30	15	5	10	54	33	+21	50
7	Mons	30	13	5	12	48	53	−5	44	Qualification for the Europa League play-offs
8	Mechelen	30	12	5	13	44	42	+2	41
9	Kortrijk	30	11	6	13	31	30	+1	39
10	OH Leuven	30	8	12	10	46	51	−5	36
11	Charleroi	30	10	4	16	30	49	−19	34
12	Gent	30	8	10	12	33	40	−7	34
13	Waasland-Beveren	30	7	9	14	28	49	−21	30
14	Lierse	30	5	11	14	28	53	−25	26
15	Beerschot	30	6	5	19	31	61	−30	23	Qualification for the Relegation play-offs
16	Cercle Brugge	30	3	5	22	30	65	−35	14

Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
30	8	12	10	46	51	−5	36	5	6	4	26	27	−1	3	6	6	20	24	−4

After finishing 10th during the regular season, OHL was placed in Group B of the Europa League Playoff together with Mechelen, Charleroi and Waasland-Beveren.

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	OH Leuven (A)	6	3	1	2	9	8	+1	10
2	Mechelen	6	3	1	2	8	7	+1	10
3	Charleroi	6	1	4	1	5	3	+2	7
4	Waasland-Beveren	6	1	2	3	3	7	−4	5

By winning playoff Group B, OHL qualified for the playoff final against Group A winners Gent. This two legged final was lost on aggregate 8–2, ending the season for OHL.

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