2016–17 Oud-Heverlee Leuven season

Oud-Heverlee Leuven
2016–17 season
ChairmanBelgium Jimmy Houtput (until 30 September)
Belgium Chris Vandebroeck (caretaker)
ManagerBelgium Emilio Ferrera (until 15 January)
Netherlands Dennis van Wijk (from 19 January)
StadiumDen Dreef
Belgian First Division B6th
Belgian CupRound 6
Top goalscorerLeague: Esteban Casagolda, 8 goals
All: Esteban Casagolda, 8 goals

The 2016–17 season was Oud-Heverlee Leuven's 15th competitive season in professional football and the team's first season at the second level following their second relegation from the Belgian Pro League. Following a poor start the team only won their first match near the end of September on matchday seven. The form continued and OH Leuven kept struggling all season to set a consistent string of decent performances despite pre-season hopes of immediately regaining promotion to the Belgian First Division A. The team ended 5th in the opening competition and when despite a good start in the closing competition the performance started dropping, threatening to cause the team to end in the bottom four, manager Emilio Ferrera was sacked and replaced with Dennis van Wijk. Van Wijk could not improve the results and his main task involved in avoiding relegation, in which the team succeeded only on the very last day of the competition in a won home match against direct competitors Lommel United.

On top of the lacklustre season regarding performances, the club also experienced a turbulent season regarding ownership and management: in September 2016, chairman Jimmy Houtput was alleged to have offered the club as a "conduit" to allow third-party companies to gain ownership of football players in England.[1] Houtput claimed he was "merely trying to obtain the identity of the possible investor(s) and would never take part in illegal activities to circumvent the third-party ownership", but subsequently resigned as OH Leuven chairman on 30 September. Chris Vandebroeck stepped in as care-taking chairman but has not been replaced since. In February 2017, Vandebroeck announced that the team had formed a pre-agreement with a Chinese investment company to perform a takeover of OH Leuven, stating that following the relegation a financial injection was needed to remain competitive.[2] In reaction to a wave of criticism from supporters that the club would be sold to foreign investors, a group of supporters created a project called "OHL op Dreef" which managed to find a group of Flemish investors and entrepreneurs from the Leuven region willing to invest in the club. The group finally made a counter-offer and in the months that followed it became clear that the Chinese investment group was not following up on their commitments and would be backing out the investment. This seemed to give the Flemish investors the leading edge, but surprisingly, OH Leuven announced early May they had again signed a new pre-agreement, but now with a set of Thai investors, more specifically the King Power International Group led by Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha who already owns Leicester City. Vichai's son Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha would become CEO of OH Leuven.[3]

2016–17 squad

  • This section lists players who were in Oud-Heveree Leuven's first team squad at any point during the 2016–17 season
  • The symbol § indicates player left mid-season
  • The symbol # indicates player joined mid-season
  • The symbol ¥ indicates a youngster who has appeared on the match sheet at least once during the season (possibly as unused substitute)
  • Italics indicate loan player
No. Nationality Name Position Joined First Team Signed From
Goalkeepers
1 Belgium Nick Gillekens GK 2015 Youth
21 Belgium Andreas Suederick¥ GK NA, Youth Squad Belgium Genk
26 Belgium Laurent Henkinet# GK 2017 Free Agent
28 Israel Ram Strauss§ GK 2016 Romania Poli Timișoara
Defenders
2 Belgium Soufiane El Banouhi CB 2016 Belgium WS Bruxelles
3 Belgium/Turkey Fazlı Kocabaş CB 2016 Belgium Union SG
4 France Romain Reynaud CB 2014 Belgium Kortrijk
5 Belgium Pierre-Yves Ngawa RB 2015 Belgium Lierse
12 Belgium Jeroen Simaeys CB 2016 Russia Krylia Sovetov
15 Belgium Pieter-Jan Monteyne LB 2015 Belgium Mouscron-Péruwelz
17 Belgium Nathan Durieux¥ CB NA, Youth Squad Youth
19 Belgium Cédric D'Ulivo CB 2016 Belgium Zulte Waregem
24 Belgium Nathan de Medina CB Loan Belgium Anderlecht
25 Belgium Nicolas Delporte LB 2014 Belgium Gent
28 Belgium Siebe Horemans CB Loan Belgium Gent
Midfielders
6 Belgium Kenneth Houdret CM 2015 Belgium Charleroi
7 Belgium Jonathan Kindermans CM 2016 Netherlands RKC Waalwijk
8 Ivory Coast/France Flavien Le Postollec CM 2014 Belgium Mons
16 Belgium Jordy Lokando CM 2015 Youth
18 Belgium Robin Peeters¥ CM NA, Youth Squad Youth
22 Belgium Simon Bracke CM 2015 Youth
24 Belgium Lucas Schoofs CM Loan Belgium Gent
27 Belgium Mehdi Bounou¥ CM NA, Youth Squad Youth
31 Belgium Nikola Storm# LW / RW Loan Belgium Club Brugge
Forwards
9 Belgium/Spain/Uruguay Esteban Casagolda CF 2016 Belgium Dender EH
10 Cameroon Serge Tabekou LW / RW Loan Belgium Gent
11 Belgium/Armenia Ben Yagan CF 2016 Belgium Heist
14 Belgium Thomas Azevedo LW / RW 2011 Belgium Lommel United
18 Belgium Tuur Houben§ CF 2016 Youth
20 Belgium Din Sula CF 2015 Youth
23 North Macedonia Jovan Kostovski CF 2013 North Macedonia Vardar
29 Belgium Leo Njengo# CF 2017 Belgium Dessel Sport
30 Republic of the Congo/Belgium Yannick Loemba CF / LW / RW Loan Belgium Oostende

Transfers

Main articles: List of Belgian football transfers summer 2016 and List of Belgian football transfers winter 2016–17

The first transfer was announced already in March 2016, when it was released that second goalkeeper Yves Lenaerts had signed for ASV Geel in search for more playing opportunity.[4] This proved to be just the first outgoing transfer of many, as following the relegation from the Belgian Pro League on 13 March 2016, several players left the team: Brazilian defender Kanu saw his contract terminated by mutual consent just a few days after the relegation,[5] over the summer three key players were sold, namely John Bostock (to Lens[6]), Yohan Croizet (to Mechelen[7]) and Jordan Remacle (to Antwerp[8]). The loan deals of Samuel Asamoah, Charni Ekangamene, Leandro Trossard, Slobodan Urošević and Oleksandr Volovyk were not extended, youngster Konstantinos Rougalas was allowed to leave the club and return to Greece [9] and the contracts of Frenchmen Jean Calvé and Rudy Riou, striker Kim Ojo and defender Kenny Van Hoevelen were either terminated or not prolonged. Yohan Brouckaert and Kenneth Van Goethem were out on loan during the 2015–16 season and both signed for new teams, Brouckaert moved to RWDM47[10] while Kenneth Van Goethem moved to Aarschot.[11] Other outgoing transfers included substitute strikers Alessandro Cerigioni and Romero Regales, respectively moving to Waasland-Beveren[12] and Den Bosch.[13]

At this point, the only remaining players were goalkeeper Gillekens, defenders Delporte, Ngawa and Reynaud, midfielders Le Postollec and Lokando and strikers Azevedo, Kostovski and Sula, not even enough for a complete lineup. The first additions arrived early June, as OH Leuven announced the contract extensions of Kenneth Houdret[14] and Pieterjan Monteyne,[15] while youngster Simon Bracke returned from loan to ASV Geel and was added to the squad. Later that month, the first new names were signed with defender Fazlı Kocabaş (from Union SG[16]) and striker Esteban Casagolda (from Dender EH[17]). OH Leuven then again announced some familiar names, first with the return of winger Ben Yagan who had been released in the summer of 2015 but had experienced a strong season at Heist,[18] followed by the surprise signing of experienced defender and OH Leuven youth product Jeroen Simaeys from Krylia Sovetov.[19] Later in the month of July, the team confirmed the loan deal of winger Serge Tabekou, arriving from Gent.[20]

Early August saw three newcomers added to the team, the signings of Soufiane El Banouhi (from WS Brussels[21]) and Jonathan Kindermans (from Waalwijk[22]) were not unexpected as both had been training with the team for several weeks already. Finally experienced defender Cédric D'Ulivo was also added to the team, coming over from Zulte Waregem.[23] Towards the end of the summer 2016 transfer window, goalkeeper Ram Strauss was brought in from Poli Timișoara as a substitute for Gillekens [24] and on transfer deadline day itself OHL loaned two players to complete the squad, with Yannick Loemba and Nathan de Medina coming over respectively from Oostende[25] and Anderlecht.[26]

During the 2016–17 winter transfer window, OHL first released two players near the end of 2016 by terminating by mutual consent the contracts of youngster Tuur Houben[27] and only recently acquired goalkeeper Ram Strauss.[28] To replace Strauss as second keeper, free agent player Laurent Henkinet was signed,[29] after which followed the signings of youngsters Leo Njengo[30] (from Dessel Sport) and Nikola Storm (on loan from Club Brugge).[31] Finally on 31 January 2016, the last day of the winter transfer window, OHL loaned two players from Gent: midfielder Lucas Schoofs[32] and defender Siebe Horemans.[33]

Pre-season

Match Date Opponent Venue Result Scorers Report
1 6 July 2016 Belgium Anderlecht H 1–4 Casagolda pen. Report
2 9 July 2016 Belgium Linden A 7–0 Houdret, Kostovski (2), Yagan (2), Lokando, Sula Report
3 13 July 2016 Belgium Lokeren A 0–4 Report
4 16 July 2016 Belgium Sint-Truiden A 4–1 Yagan, Houben, Bracke, Kostovski Report
5 20 July 2016 Belgium KV Mechelen H 1–1 Bracke Report
6 23 July 2016 Belgium Westerlo A 2–2 Sula, Tabekou Report
7 24 July 2016 Belgium Olympia Wijgmaal A 1–2 Camara Report
8 27 July 2016 Luxembourg UNA Strassen A 2–1 Kostovski, Sula Report
9 30 July 2016 Belgium Eendracht Aalst H 4–0 Kostovski, Casagolda, Kindermans, Sula Report

Belgian First Division B

Main article: 2016–17 Belgian First Division B

OHL's first season in the Belgian First Division B began on 7 August 2016.

Results

Opening Competition

Match Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers Report Opening Competition Position
1 7 August 2016 Lommel United A 2–2 Kostovski 42', Azevedo 73' Report 1st
2 12 August 2016 Union SG H 0–3 Report 7th
3 20 August 2016 Roeselare A 2–2 Sula 46', Kindermans 80' Report 7th
4 2 September 2016 Lierse A 2–2 Kostovski 11', Casagolda 69' Report 7th
5 11 September 2016 Tubize H 0–1 Report 8th
6 18 September 2016 Antwerp H 1–1 Casagolda 69' Report 8th
7 25 September 2016 Cercle Brugge A 4–2 Loemba 4', Kocabaş 44', Casagolda 57', Tabekou 85' Report 7th
8 2 October 2016 Lommel United H 2–2 Simaeys 79', Kostovski 84' Report 8th
9 5 October 2016 Tubize A 1–0 Kostovski 14' Report 5th
10 9 October 2016 Roeselare H 1–1 Loemba 24' Report 6th
11 16 October 2016 Antwerp A 1–2 Simaeys 36' Report 7th
12 22 October 2016 Cercle Brugge H 2–0 Tabekou 24', Azevedo 45+2' Report 4th
13 29 October 2016 Union SG A 0–2 Report 5th
14 6 November 2016 Lierse H 0–1 Report 5th

Closing Competition

Match Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers Report Opening Competition Position Overall League Position
1 12 November 2016 Lommel United A 2–2 Kindermans 32', Houdret 33' Report 2nd 6th
2 18 November 2016 Antwerp H 0–0 Report 3rd 6th
3 27 November 2016 Cercle Brugge H 1–0 Casagolda 75' (p) Report 3rd 5th
4 3 December 2016 Tubize A 2–0 Azevedo 54', Casagolda 71' Report 1st 4th
5 10 December 2016 Roeselare H 1–2 Kostovski 75' Report 3rd 5th
6 18 December 2016 Lierse A 1–1 Kostovski 44' Report 4th 5th
7 8 January 2017 Union SG A 0–4 Report 5th 5th
8 14 January 2017 Tubize H 1–3 Tabekou 23' Report 6th 6th
9 21 January 2017 Antwerp A 0–2 Report 7th 6th
10 27 January 2017 Lierse H 2–3 Loemba 75', Casagolda 90+3' (p) Report 7th 7th
11 5 February 2017 Roeselare A 1–2 Kostovski 37' Report 7th 7th
12 11 February 2017 Lommel United H 2–1 Storm 18', Lenaerts 30' (o.g.) Report 7th 7th
13 18 February 2017 Cercle Brugge A 0–1 Report 7th 7th
14 26 February 2017 Union SG H 2–0 Horemans 18', Casagolda 44' Report 7th 7th

Relegation play-offs

Match Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers Report Position
1 24 March 2017 Tubize H 1–1 Tabekou 79' Report 3rd
2 1 April 2017 Lommel United A 1–2 Corstjens 5' (o.g.) Report 3rd
3 7 April 2017 Cercle Brugge H 1–0 Casagolda 40' Report 2nd
4 14 April 2017 Cercle Brugge A 0–0 Report 1st
5 22 April 2017 Tubize A 1–0 Report 3rd
6 28 April 2017 Lommel United H 1–0 Cauwenberg 53' (o.g.) Report 2nd

Belgian Cup

Main article: 2016–17 Belgian Cup

Results

Match Date Opponent Venue Result Scorers Penalty shoot-out Report
R5 28 August 2016 Rebecq A[nb 4] 1–1 (3–5 p) Azevedo 14' soccer ball with check mark Casagolda
soccer ball with check mark Bracke
soccer ball with check mark Le Postollec
soccer ball with check mark D'Ulivo
soccer ball with check mark Kocabaş		 Report
R6 21 September 2016 Anderlecht A 0–1 Report

Footnotes

  1. ^ Houdret was on loan from Charleroi during the 2015–16 season. The loan ended but Houdret moved to OHL permanently.
  2. ^ Van Goethem was on loan to Heist during the 2015–16 season. The loan ended and he was released to Aarschot.
  3. ^ Brouckaert was on loan to Roeselare during the 2015–16 season. The loan ended and he was released to RWDM47.
  4. ^ The match was not played on the home pitch of Rebecqoise in Rebecq but rather at the Stade Leburton which was only a few kilometres away in Tubize and allowed for a much larger number of spectators to attend.

References

  1. ^ Team, Investigations (29 September 2016). "Belgium football club offered itself as a conduit to help a fictitious investment firm get around third party ownership - against FA and Fifa rules". The Telegraph.
  2. ^ http://sporza.be/permalink/1.2881553
  3. ^ http://sporza.be/permalink/1.2980588[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ a b "Lenaerts vindt nieuwe uitdaging bij Geel" [Lenaerts finds new challenge with Geel] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2016-03-02. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  5. ^ a b "Kanu volgt OH Leuven niet naar tweede klasse" [Kanu does not follow OH Leuven into the second division] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2016-03-23.
  6. ^ a b "Bostock kiest voor nieuw avontuur in Franse tweede klasse" [Bostock chooses new adventure in French second division] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2016-07-05.
  7. ^ a b "KVM: "Wensen Hanni veel succes bij Anderlecht"" [KVM: "We wish Hanni good luck at Anderlecht"] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2016-05-21.
  8. ^ a b "Remacle gaat voortaan dribbelen voor Antwerp" [Remacle to dribble for Antwerp from now on] (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2016-06-30.
  9. ^ a b "Rougkalas keert terug naar Griekenland" [Rougkalas returns to Greece] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2016-06-30. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  10. ^ "YOHAN BROUCKAERT (23/06/2016)" [YOHAN BROUCKAERT (23/06/2016)] (in French). rwdm47.be. 2016-06-23. Archived from the original on 2016-08-22. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  11. ^ a b c "Kenneth Van Goethem naar Aarschot" [Kenneth Van Goethem to Aarschot] (in Dutch). robtv.be. Retrieved 2016-03-21.[permanent dead link‍]
  12. ^ a b "Cerigioni zet carrière verder bij Waasland-Beveren" [Cerigioni continues career with Waasland-Beveren] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2016-04-26. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  13. ^ a b "Romero Regales kiest voor FC Den Bosch" [Romero Regales chooses FC Den Bosch] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2016-07-12. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  14. ^ a b "Kenneth Houdret blijft in Leuven" [Kenneth Houdret stays in Leuven] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2016-06-10. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  15. ^ "Pieterjan Monteyne blijft in Leuven" [Pieterjan Monteyne stays in Leuven] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2016-06-06. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  16. ^ a b "Sterke verdediger voor OHL" [Strong defender for OHL] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2016-06-20. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  17. ^ a b "Topschutter naar Den Dreef" [Top scorer to Den Dreef] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2016-06-24. Archived from the original on 2017-12-14. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  18. ^ a b "Yagan keert terug naar het nest" [Yagan returns to the nest] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2016-06-30. Archived from the original on 2017-12-14. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  19. ^ a b "Jeroen Simaeys versterkt Leuvense defensie" [Jeroen Simaeys reinforces Leuven defence] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2016-07-03. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  20. ^ a b "Bliksemsnelle winger voor OHL" [Very fast winger for OHL] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2016-07-20. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  21. ^ a b "Nieuwe rechtsback voor OHL" [New rightback for OHL] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2016-08-02. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  22. ^ a b "Kindermans kiest voor OHL" [Kindermans chooses OHL] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2016-08-02. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  23. ^ a b "OHL strikt ervaren verdediger" [OHL signs experienced defender] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2016-08-03. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  24. ^ a b "Extra doelman voor OHL" [Extra goalkeeper OHL] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2016-08-20. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  25. ^ a b "Yannick Loemba versterkt de rangen" [Yannick Loemba reinforces the squad] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2016-08-31. Archived from the original on 2016-11-05. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  26. ^ a b "Nathan de Medina versterkt verdediging" [Nathan de Medina reinforces defence] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2016-08-31. Archived from the original on 2016-11-05. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  27. ^ a b "Wegen van Houben en OHL scheiden" [Ways of Houben and OHL part] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2016-12-19. Archived from the original on 2017-01-19. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  28. ^ a b "Ram Strauss keert terug naar huis" [Ram Strauss returns home] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2016-12-23. Archived from the original on 2016-12-24. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  29. ^ a b "Laurent Henkinet tekent contract tot einde van het seizoen" [Laurent Henkinet signs contract until the end of the season] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2016-12-27. Archived from the original on 2017-01-31. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  30. ^ a b "Jong, Belgisch talent Njengo Mandeng kiest voor OHL" [Young, Belgian talent Njengo Mandeng chooses OHL] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2017-01-06. Archived from the original on 2017-01-07. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  31. ^ a b "Storm versterkt Leuvense rangen" [Storm reinforces Leuven ranks] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2017-01-09. Archived from the original on 2017-01-14. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  32. ^ a b "OHL leent Lucas Schoofs van KAA Gent" [OHL loans Lucas Schoofs from KAA Gent] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2017-01-31.[permanent dead link‍]
  33. ^ a b "Gentse enclave breidt uit met Horemans" [Gent enclave expands with Horemans] (in Dutch). ohl.be. 2017-01-31.[permanent dead link‍]