| Challenger Pro League 2022–23 | ||
| ||
| Season information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Winners | RWD Molenbeek | |
| Promoted | RWD Molenbeek | |
| Relegated | Virton | |
| Season statistics | ||
← 2021–22
|
2023–24 →
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The 2022–23 season of the Challenger Pro League began in August 2022 and ended in May 2023. It was the first season under its new name after being renamed from First Division B.
Team changes[]
In[]
- Dender EH were promoted as champions of the 2021–22 Belgian National Division 1.
- Beerschot were relegated from the 2021–22 Belgian First Division A.
- RSCA Futures, Club NXT, Jong Genk and SL16 FC were added to the league as the league was expanded with four U23 teams and they finished as the top four teams in the 2021–22 Belgian U23 league.
Out[]
- Westerlo were promoted from the 2021–22 Belgian First Division B as champions.
- Royal Excel Mouscron folded as a team and ceased to exist.
Name change[]
- Waasland-Beveren found an agreement with the owners of the rights to the former club K.S.K. Beveren, which allowed it to change its name to S.K. Beveren.
Format changes[]
Four U23 teams were added to the league as part of a two-season trial, expanding the league from 8 to 12 teams. These twelve teams will play each other twice in a regular competition, after which the league is split, with the top and bottom six teams playing separate competitions from that point, continuing with the points gained. At the top end, only the champion is promoted as three teams are relegated from the 2022–23 Belgian First Division A to reduce the size back from 18 to 16 teams. At the bottom end, the team finishing last will be relegated. U23 teams cannot be promoted to the Belgian First Division A, but can suffer relegation, furthermore they always have to play at least one level below their A team counterparts, hence could be relegated despite not finishing last.
Team information[]
Stadiums and locations[]
| Matricule | Club | City | First season of current spell at second level |
Coming from | 2021-22 result | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | RSCA Futures | Anderlecht, Brussels | 2022–23 | U23 competition | 2nd U23 competition | King Baudouin Stadium | 38,000 |
| 13 | K Beerschot VA | Antwerp | 2022–23 | Belgian First Division A | 18th (D1A) 
|
Olympic Stadium | 12,771 |
| 4068 | S.K. Beveren | Beveren | 2021–22 | Belgian First Division B | 3rd (D1B) | Freethiel Stadion | 8,190 |
| 3 | Club NXT | Bruges | 2022–23 | U23 competition | 3rd U23 competition | Schiervelde Stadion | 8,340 |
| 818 | K.M.S.K. Deinze | Deinze | 2020–21 | Belgian First Amateur Division | 4th (D1B) | Burgemeester Van de Wiele Stadion | 7,515 |
| 3900 | F.C.V. Dender E.H. | Denderleeuw | 2022–23 | Belgian National Division 1 | 1st (NatD1) 
|
Van Roystadion | 6,429 |
| 322 | Jong Genk | Genk | 2022–23 | U23 competition | 1st U23 competition | Luminus Arena | 24,956 |
| 3970 | Lierse Kempenzonen | Lier | 2020–21 | Belgian First Amateur Division | 5th (D1B) | Herman Vanderpoortenstadion | 14,538 |
| 2554 | Lommel SK | Lommel | 2018–19 | Belgian First Amateur Division | 6th (D1B) | Soevereinstadion | 8,000 |
| 5479 | RWD Molenbeek | Molenbeek, Brussels | 2020–21 | Belgian First Amateur Division | 2nd (D1B) | Edmond Machtens Stadium | 12,266 |
| 16 | SL16 FC | Liège | 2022–23 | U23 competition | 4th U23 competition | Stade Maurice Dufrasne | 30,023 |
| 200 | R.E. Virton | Virton | 2021–22 | Belgian Division 2 | 8th (D1B) | Stade Yvan Georges | 4,015 |
Personnel and kits[]
| Club | Manager | Kit Manufacturer | Sponsors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beerschot |  Andreas Wieland
|
Erreà | Yelo |
| Beveren |  Wim De Decker
|
Uhlsport | Star Casino |
| Club NXT | Hayk Milkon
|
Macron | Alheembouw |
| Deinze | Marc Grosjean
|
Jako | PlaysiaTV |
| Dender EH | Regi Van Acker
|
Nike | Drankendiscount Stravbier |
| Jong Genk | Hans Somers
|
Nike | Beobank |
| Lierse Kempenzonen | Tom Van Imschoot
|
Jako | Keukens Van Lommel |
| Lommel |  Steve Bould
|
Masita | Bingoal |
| RSCA Futures | Guillaume Gillet
|
Joma | DVV Insurance (home) Candriam (away) |
| RWD Molenbeek | Vincent Euvrard
|
Joma | Facebank |
| SL16 FC |  Joseph Laumann
|
Adidas | VOO |
| Virton | José Jeunechamps
|
Kipsta | Leopard Natural |
Managerial changes[]
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position | Replaced by | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deinze | Wim De Decker
|
Mutual consent | End of 2021–22 season | Pre-season |  Takahisa Shiraishi
|
19 May 2022 |
| Beerschot | Greg Vanderidt
|
Replaced | Andreas Wieland
|
23 May 2022 | ||
| Lommel | Brian Eastick
|
End of contract | Steve Bould
|
3 June 2022 | ||
| Beveren |  Jordi Condom
|
End of contract | Wim De Decker
|
5 June 2022 | ||
| Club NXT | Rik De Mil
|
Promoted to Club Brugge as assistant | Nicky Hayen
|
15 June 2022 | ||
| Virton |  Pablo Correa
|
End of contract |  Christian Bracconi
|
9 July 2022 | ||
| SL16 FC | Geoffrey Valenne
|
Replaced | Joseph Laumann
|
11 July 2022 | ||
| Deinze | Takahisa Shiraishi
|
Resigned | 29 September 2022 | 12th | Antonio Calderón (caretaker)
|
30 September 2022 |
| Deinze | Antonio Calderón (caretaker)
|
Caretaker replaced | 24 October 2022 | 12th | Marc Grosjean
|
24 October 2022 |
| RSCA Futures |  Robin Veldman
|
Promoted to Anderlecht as caretaker | 24 October 2022 | 5th | Guillaume Gillet
|
24 October 2022 |
| Dender EH | Regi Van Acker
|
Sacked | 7 February 2023 | 9th | Pieter De Bot (caretaker)
|
7 February 2023 |
| Virton | Christian Bracconi
|
Sacked | 7 February 2023 | 12th | José Jeunechamps
|
7 February 2023 |
| Dender EH | Pieter De Bot
|
Caretaker replaced | 13 February 2023 | 10th | Timmy Simons
|
13 February 2023 |
| Club NXT | Nicky Hayen
|
Promoted to Club Brugge as assistant | 15 March 2023 | 4th | Hayk Milkon
|
15 March 2023 |
League table[]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RWD Molenbeek (C, P) | 32 | 21 | 6 | 5 | 65 | 29 | +36 | 69 | Promoted to Pro League |
| 2 | Beveren | 32 | 20 | 8 | 4 | 75 | 33 | +42 | 68 | |
| 3 | Beerschot | 32 | 15 | 4 | 13 | 43 | 41 | +2 | 49 | |
| 4 | Club NXT | 32 | 14 | 7 | 11 | 51 | 48 | +3 | 49 | |
| 5 | Lierse Kempenzonen | 32 | 14 | 4 | 14 | 53 | 59 | −6 | 46 | |
| 6 | RSCA Futures | 32 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 45 | 55 | −10 | 37 | |
| 7 | Lommel | 32 | 16 | 3 | 13 | 53 | 46 | +7 | 51 | |
| 8 | Deinze | 32 | 15 | 4 | 13 | 49 | 47 | +2 | 49 | |
| 9 | Dender EH | 32 | 11 | 6 | 15 | 41 | 47 | −6 | 39 | |
| 10 | SL16 FC | 32 | 5 | 12 | 15 | 31 | 60 | −29 | 27 | |
| 11 | Jong Genk | 32 | 6 | 8 | 18 | 35 | 57 | −22 | 26 | |
| 12 | Virton (R) | 32 | 5 | 10 | 17 | 32 | 51 | −19 | 25 | Relegated to National Division 1 |
Source: Challengr Pro League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away goals scored; 6) Away matches won; 7) Play-off.
(C) Champion; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away goals scored; 6) Away matches won; 7) Play-off.
(C) Champion; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Results[]
Matches 1–22[]
Matches 23–32[]
Top six[] |
Bottom six[] |
Season statistics[]
Top scorers[]
- As of end of season
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thierno Barry
|
Beveren | 20 |
| 2 |  Mickaël Biron
|
RWD Molenbeek | 16 |
| 3 | Lucas Stassin
|
RSCA Futures | 15 |
| 4 |  Dieumerci Mbokani
|
Beveren | 14 |
| 5 | Thibo Baeten
|
Beerschot | 13 |
 Lucas Ribeiro Costa
|
Beveren | ||
| Thibaut Van Acker
|
Lierse Kempenzonen | ||
| 8 |  Leandro Rocha
|
Lierse Kempenzonen | 11 |
| 9 | Cauê
|
Lommel | 9 |
| Romeo Vermant
|
Club NXT |
Team of the season[]
Upon completion of the regular season a team of the season award was compiled, based upon the results of the team of the week results throughout the season, constructed based on nominations from managers, assistant-managers, journalists and analysts. The results were announced from 22 May 2023, with one player revealed each day.
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