Club Brugge KV

In 1890, students from the Catholic school Broeders Xaverianen and the neutral school Koninklijk Atheneum joined together to form the Brugsche Football Club. The former students christened the club's founding by establishing the Latin motto 'mens sana in corpore sano' (a healthy mind in a healthy body).[10] A year later on 13 November 1891, the club was re-created under Brugsche FC, and this is now seen as the official foundation of the current Club Brugge In 1892, an official board was installed at the club to oversee all operations and team decisions. In 1895, the national athletics sports union was founded, predecessor of the later national football association, under the name UBSSA (Union Belge des Sociétés de Sports Athlétiques); Brugsche FC was a founding member of the UBSSSA and as such took part in the first league campaign organized in Belgian football during the 1895–96 season.[11] Financial difficulties the following year forced the club to leave the UBSSA and soon after, Football Club Brugeois were formed by breakaway club members. The two sides were reunited in 1897 under the French name of Football Club Brugeois; they did not take on the Flemish title Club Brugge until 1972.[10]

In 1914, FC Brugeois reached their first Belgian Cup final, but lost 2–1 to Union SG. Six years later, the club claimed their first trophy, by winning the Belgian First Division during the 1919–20 season.[12] They celebrated by changing their title to Royal FC Brugeois – with their regal status now reflected in their modern prefix KV, standing for Koninklijke Vereniging (royal club).[10] Only eight years later though, the club was relegated to the Belgian Second Division for the first time in their history following a relegation play-off.[12] Further lean times followed the relegation in 1928, as they spent much of the 1940s and 1950s in the second division of Belgian football.[10]

Following the 1958–59 season, the club earned promotion back to the First Division and have not been relegated since.[10] The club were able to add to their trophy cabinet in 1968, winning the first of their record 11 Belgian Cup titles for the first time after defeating Beerschot A.C. 7–6 in a penalty-shootout after a 1–1 draw.

The club enjoyed their most success under legendary Austrian manager Ernst Happel as he led the club to three straight league championships from 1975–76 to 1977–78 and a Belgian Cup victory in 1976–77.[13] Happel also guided Club Brugge to their first European final, reaching the 1976 UEFA Cup Final. Over the two-legged final against English giants Liverpool, Club Brugge fell 3–4 on aggregate.[14] Two years later, Brugge again met Liverpool in a European final, this time in the 1978 European Cup Final at Wembley, becoming the first Belgian club to reach the final of the competition. Brugge fell to a lone second-half goal from Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool won their second European Cup and third European trophy in succession.[15][16] Following the cup final loss to Liverpool, Happel left Club Brugge and would lead Netherlands later that summer to the final of the 1978 FIFA World Cup.[17]

On 25 November 1992, Brugge player Daniel Amokachi became the first goal scorer in the Champions League. He scored in a 1–0 win over CSKA Moscow.[18]

The club don a black and blue home kit as has been traditional through their history. Away from home they wear a red strip. The club's current kit supplier is Macron.[19]

Jan Breydel Stadium

The club's original home in the Sint-Andries district of Bruges was known as the Rattenplein (rats' stadium) since it was owned by the local fox terrier club, who used it for another imported English pastime: rat baiting.[20][10] This non-UEFA affiliated 'sport' involved getting dogs to chase and kill rats.[20][10] In 1911, the team moved to a new ground, called De Klokke (after a nearby pub), which was renamed the Albert Dyserynckstadion after the sudden death of Club Brugge chairman Albert Dyserynck.[10]

Their current stadium, since 1975, was rebranded in honour of local butcher and revolutionary Jan Breydel in 1998.[10] Breydel led a rising against the city's French overlords in the 1300s.[10] The venue – which Club Brugge share with local rivals Cercle Brugge – was previously named the Olympiastadion.[10][21]

In November 2016, the club broke ground on a new training complex at Westkapelle, including four training pitches and an additional training centre for the senior squad plus the U21 and U19 teams; all in addition to the already available sports complex Molenhoek.[22]

Tifo before the Champions League game Club Brugge-Rapid Wien in 2005

Club Brugge is the most supported club in Belgium. It has fans all over the country. Attendances are high. The Jan Breydel Stadium is almost sold out at every home game. Some of these fans are part of 62 supporter clubs in Belgium, which have more than 10,000 members. The "Supportersfederatie Club Brugge KV", founded in 1967, is recognized as the official supporters club of Club Brugge. The federation is made up of 60 recognized supporters' clubs and has an elected board to steer the operation in the right direction.[23]

In tribute to the fans, often dubbed the twelfth man in football, Club Brugge no longer assigns the number 12 to players. Club Brugge also has a TV show, CLUBtv, on the Telenet network since 21 July 2006.[24] This twice weekly show features exclusive interviews with players, coaches and managers.

The three Bears; mascots of Club Bruges

The official mascot of Club Bruges is a bear, symbol of the city of Bruges. The history of the bear is related to a legend of the first Count of Flanders, Baldwin I of Flanders, who had fought and defeated a bear in his youth. Since the end of 2000, a second mascot, always a bear, travels along the edge of the field during home games for fans to call and encourage both their favorites. These two bears are called Belle and Bene. In 2010, a third bear named Bibi, made its appearance. He is described as the child of the first two mascots, and is oriented towards the young supporters.

Like many historic clubs, Club Brugge contests rivalries with other Belgian clubs, whether at local (Cercle Brugge) or regional level (Gent and Antwerp) or nationally competitive (Anderlecht and Standard Liège).

• Club YLA (Club Brugge women)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Club Brugge.

• Official website (in Dutch, French, English, and Spanish)
• Official Facebook Fanpage
• Official Twitter account
• Official Fan Federation (in Dutch)
• Blue Army – Fan Association & Fan-zine (in Dutch)
• Club Brügge KV XtraTime Fanpage (in English)
• Club Brügge at UEFA.COM (in English)
• Club Brügge at EUFO.DE
• Club Brügge at Weltfussball.de
• Club Brügge at Football Squads.co.uk
• Club Brügge at National Football Teams.com
• Club Brügge at Football Lineups.com