Founded in 1911, the club first played in the Belgian Third Division before earning promotion to the Second Division in 1936. They reached the top tier in 1937 and achieved their highest league finish as runners-up in 1947. Following a period of fluctuating fortunes, including relegation in 1955 and a series of brief promotions and relegations, Olympic spent several decades in the lower divisions. In 2000, the club merged with RA Marchienne, and later returned to the third division in 2006. In 2019, Olympic merged with Châtelet-Farciennes SC and was renamed Royal Olympic Club Charleroi Châtelet Farciennes, before reverting to its original name in 2020.
History
Formation and early years (1911–1947)
Olympic Club Caroloregian Lodelinsart was established on 20 September 1911 by 17-year-old Jules Ponsaert, and joined the Union Belge des Sociétés de Sports Athlétiques (Belgian Football Association; UBSSA) in 1912 and later registered with the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) in June 1913.[2][3] In 1914, the club adopted the name Olympic Club de Charleroi.[2] During the 1920s, Olympic made its first appearance in the Belgian Third Division. The club gradually rose through the ranks, winning the third-division title in 1936 and earning promotion to the Belgian Second Division.[2]
Success came quickly; in 1937, under the presidency of Dr. Gaston Gianolla, Olympic won the second division title in the B series and achieved promotion to the top tier.[4] The same year, the club celebrated its 25th anniversary and received royal patronage, becoming Royal Olympic Club de Charleroi.[2]
Olympic's debut in the first division was marked by a strong showing, including a third-place finish after two seasons. Although competitive, the club's performance declined during World War II. In 1947, Olympic recorded its best-ever league result, finishing as runners-up, just two points behind champions Anderlecht.[5]
Fall from first division (1947–1981)
From 1947 onward, Olympic faced local competition from Sporting Charleroi in the first division.[3] The club experienced fluctuating fortunes, remaining mid-table for several seasons before being relegated in 1955. This drop was primarily caused by the ineligibility of player Jacques Leghait, leading to eight forfeited matches and a five-point penalty.[6]
The club rebounded quickly, finishing second in the 1956 second division campaign and regaining its top-tier status. However, Olympic struggled to maintain consistency and was relegated again in 1963. Over the next two decades, the club became a second-division staple, with brief promotions in 1968 and 1975, each lasting only one season.[2][6]
In 1972, Olympic was renamed Royal Olympic Club de Montignies-sur-Sambre, reflecting its ties to Montignies-sur-Sambre. This name change was reversed in 1982, restoring its original identity.[2]
Era in third division (1981–2006)
Logo of Royal Olympic Club de Charleroi-Marchienne (2000–2019).
In 1981, Olympic was relegated to the Belgian Third Division, ending nearly half a century in the top two tiers. This marked the beginning of a challenging period. Consistently finishing near the bottom of its third-division group, the club was relegated further to the Belgian Fourth Division in 1984.[2]
After stabilising for a season, Olympic won its fourth-division group in 1986, securing a return to the third division. A resurgence came in 1996 when the club won the third-division title. However, its second-division campaign in 1996–97 was short-lived, lasting only one season before relegation.
In 2000, Olympic merged with neighbouring RA Marchienne (matricule 278) and became Royal Olympic Club de Charleroi-Marchienne (ROCCM). This merger aimed to consolidate resources and strengthen the club's presence in the lower divisions.[6]
Promotion to second division (2007–2009)
Olympic Charleroi's Stade de la Neuville in 2008, following their return after safety-related relocation.
Olympic returned to prominence by winning the third-division title in the 2006–07 season. This achievement earned the club promotion to the second division after a ten-year absence. Due to safety concerns, home games were temporarily held at Sporting Charleroi's Stade du Pays de Charleroi before returning to Stade de la Neuville.[7]
The 2007–08 season began promisingly, but the club faltered and finished mid-table, narrowly avoiding relegation. Olympic secured its licence for the 2008–09 season but struggled again, ultimately finishing 15th. After losing in the relegation playoffs, the club returned to the third division.[8]
Return to third division and decline (2009–2019)
Olympic remained competitive in the third division, achieving a second-place finish in 2009. However, financial problems began to mount, with €200,000 in debt and unpaid wages reported by 2011.[9][10] On 10 October 2011, the club was declared bankrupt, though its youth teams were permitted to complete their seasons.[11][12]
An investment group led by Adem Sahin revived Olympic in 2012.[13] The club navigated the Belgian Provincial Leagues, fluctuating between the fourth and first divisions in the provincial tiers, before returning to the third division in 2016.[14] During this period, it restored its historical name, Royal Olympic Club de Charleroi.
New merger and return to roots (2019–present)
In 2019, Olympic merged with Châtelet-Farciennes SC (matricule 725), forming R. Olympic Charleroi Châtelet Farciennes.[15][16] The new club inherited Olympic's matricule and began competing in Belgium's highest amateur league, Belgian Division 1. In 2020, the club reverted to its historical name, Royal Olympic Club Charleroi.[2]
Current squad
As of 27 December 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
