2012–13 Oud-Heverlee Leuven season

Oud-Heverlee Leuven
2012–13 season
ChairmanBelgium Jan Callewaert
ManagerBelgium Ronny Van Geneugden
StadiumDen Dreef
Belgian Pro League10th
Belgian CupRound 6
Top goalscorerLeague: Ibou, 19 goals
All: Ibou, 19 goals
Highest home attendance9,500 vs Club Brugge and vs Mechelen
Lowest home attendance6,746 vs Cercle Brugge

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.

Season Overview[edit]

April/May[edit]

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]

June[edit]

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]

July[edit]

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]

August[edit]

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]

September[edit]

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]

October[edit]

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]

November[edit]

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.

December[edit]

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]

January[edit]

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]

February[edit]

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]

March[edit]

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]

April & May[edit]

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.

Team kit[edit]

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

First team squad[edit]

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 Belgium 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 Germany Mönchengladbach
Defenders
2 Tomislav Mikulić  Croatia (1982-01-04)January 4, 1982 (aged 30) 2013 Belgium Beerschot
3 Robson  Brazil (1983-07-10)July 10, 1983 (aged 29) 2012 Portugal Marítimo
4 Wim Raymaekers  Belgium (1985-04-04)April 4, 1985 (aged 27) 2010 Belgium Red Star Waasland
5 Kenny Thompson  Belgium (1985-04-26)April 26, 1985 (aged 27) 2012 Belgium Lierse
15 Wout Bastiaens  Belgium (1994-04-30)April 30, 1994 (aged 18) 2012 Belgium Westerlo
16 Cédric Buekers  Belgium (1994-04-17)April 17, 1994 (aged 18) 2013 Belgium Sint-Truiden
17 Koen Weuts  Belgium (1990-09-18)September 18, 1990 (aged 21) 2009 Belgium Lierse
18 Jonas De Roeck  Belgium (1979-12-20)December 20, 1979 (aged 32) 2012 Germany Augsburg
24 Ludovic Buysens  Belgium (1986-03-16)March 16, 1986 (aged 26) 2012 Belgium Sint-Truiden
32 Günther Vanaudenaerde  Belgium (1984-01-23)January 23, 1984 (aged 28) 2012 Belgium Westerlo
Midfielders
2 Frederik Boi  Belgium (1981-10-25)October 25, 1981 (aged 30) 2011 Belgium Cercle Brugge
6 Kenneth Van Goethem  Belgium (1984-02-12)February 12, 1984 (aged 28) 2010 Belgium KV Mechelen
7 Ovidy Karuru  Zimbabwe (1989-01-23)January 23, 1989 (aged 23) 2012 France Boulogne
8 Karel Geraerts  Belgium (1982-01-05)January 5, 1982 (aged 30) 2011 Belgium Club Brugge
20 Evariste Ngolok  Belgium (1988-11-15)November 15, 1988 (aged 23) 2012 Belgium Westerlo
27 Stefán Gíslason  Iceland (1980-03-15)March 15, 1980 (aged 32) 2012 Norway 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 Portugal Marítimo
11 Alessandro Cerigioni  Belgium (1992-09-30)September 30, 1992 (aged 19) 2013 Belgium Lommel United
12 Ibou  Gambia (1986-09-07)September 7, 1986 (aged 25) 2012 Belgium Kortrijk
13 Bjorn Ruytinx  Belgium (1980-08-18)August 18, 1980 (aged 31) 2004 Belgium Kermt-Hasselt
14 Thomas Azevedo  Belgium (1991-08-31)August 31, 1991 (aged 20) 2011 Belgium Lommel United
19 Loris Brogno  Belgium (1992-09-18)September 18, 1992 (aged 19) 2012 Belgium Charleroi
22 Emmerik De Vriese  Belgium (1985-02-14)February 14, 1985 (aged 27) 2011 Belgium Antwerp
23 Chuka  Nigeria (1990-03-19)March 19, 1990 (aged 22) 2011 Qatar Umm Salal
25 Christopher Verbist  Belgium (1991-10-08)October 8, 1991 (aged 20) 2012 Belgium Standard Liège
28 Mazin Ahmed Al-Huthayfi  Saudi Arabia (1985-07-29)July 29, 1985 (aged 26) 2013 Saudi Arabia 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

Transfers[edit]

In[edit]

Summer[edit]

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

Winter[edit]

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

Loan In[edit]

Winter[edit]

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

Out[edit]

Summer[edit]

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

Loan Out[edit]

Summer[edit]

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

Winter[edit]

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

Statistics[edit]

Appearances and goals[edit]

Last updated on 19 May 2013.
No. Pos Nat Player Total Belgian Pro League Belgian Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Belgium BEL Yves Lenaerts 1 0 0+1 0 0 0
2 DF Croatia CRO Tomislav Mikulić 13 1 13 1 0 0
3 DF Brazil BRA Robson 28 1 27+1 1 0 0
4 DF Belgium BEL Wim Raymaekers 13 1 13 1 0 0
5 DF Belgium BEL Kenny Thompson 23 0 20+2 0 1 0
6 MF Belgium BEL Kenneth Van Goethem 31 1 31 1 0 0
7 MF Zimbabwe ZIM Ovidy Karuru 22 1 13+8 1 1 0
8 MF Belgium BEL Karel Geraerts 33 8 32 8 1 0
11 FW Belgium BEL Alessandro Cerigioni 9 2 8+1 2 0 0
12 FW The Gambia GAM Ibou 36 19 35+1 19 0 0
13 FW Belgium BEL Bjorn Ruytinx 14 2 3+11 2 0 0
14 MF Belgium BEL Thomas Azevedo 29 1 6+22 1 1 0
15 DF Belgium BEL Wout Bastiaens 1 0 1 0 0 0
16 DF Belgium BEL Cédric Buekers 0 0 0 0 0 0
17 DF Belgium BEL Koen Weuts 26 1 23+2 1 1 0
18 DF Belgium BEL Jonas De Roeck 15 0 12+3 0 0 0
19 FW Belgium BEL Loris Brogno 8 0 2+5 0 0+1 0
20 MF Belgium BEL Evariste Ngolok 28 2 22+6 2 0 0
21 GK Belgium BEL Dean Michiels 0 0 0 0 0 0
22 MF Belgium BEL Emmerik De Vriese 0 0 0 0 0 0
23 FW Nigeria NGA Chuka 38 8 31+6 8 1 0
24 DF Belgium BEL Ludovic Buysens 18 0 11+6 0 1 0
25 FW Belgium BEL Christopher Verbist 2 0 1 0 1 0
26 GK Belgium BEL Logan Bailly 39 0 38 0 1 0
27 DF Iceland ISL Stefán Gíslason 30 2 28+1 2 1 0
28 FW Saudi Arabia KSA Mazin Ahmed Al-Huthayfi 2 0 0+2 0 0 0
29 FW Belgium BEL Joren Dehond 6 2 0+5 1 0+1 1
30 MF Belgium BEL Simon Bracke 0 0 0 0 0 0
31 FW Belgium BEL Ben Yagan 12 0 6+6 0 0 0
32 DF Belgium BEL Günther Vanaudenaerde 33 0 31+1 0 1 0
Players who are out on loan
2 MF Belgium BEL Frederik Boi 2 0 2 0 0 0
9 FW Cameroon CMR Christian Pouga 20 5 9+10 5 0+1 0

Top scorers[edit]

Includes all competitive matches.

Goals[edit]

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 The Gambia Ibou 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 2
8 Nigeria Chuka 3 1 1 1 1 1
Belgium Karel Geraerts 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
5 Cameroon Christian Pouga 1 2 1 1
2 Belgium Alessandro Cerigioni 1 1
Belgium Joren Dehond 1 1
Iceland Stefán Gíslason 1 1
Belgium Evariste Ngolok 1 1
Belgium Bjorn Ruytinx 1 1
1 Belgium Thomas Azevedo 1
Zimbabwe Ovidy Karuru 1
Croatia Tomislav Mikulić 1
Belgium Wim Raymaekers 1
Brazil Robson 1
Belgium Kenneth Van Goethem 1
Belgium Koen Weuts 1
Own Goal 1
A goal was scored from a penalty kick

Source: Match reports in Competitive matches.

Penalties Taken[edit]

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

Goals conceded[edit]

Includes all competitive matches. Sorted by shirt number.

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

Penalties Conceded[edit]

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

Disciplinary record[edit]

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
Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card
DF Brazil 3 Robson 4 0 0 0 4 0
DF Belgium 4 Wim Raymaekers 3 0 0 0 3 0
MF Belgium 5 Kenny Thompson 6 1 0 0 6 1
MF Belgium 6 Kenneth Van Goethem 3 0 0 0 3 0
FW Cameroon 9 Christian Pouga 3 0 0 0 3 0
FW The Gambia 12 Ibou 3 0 0 0 3 0
MF Belgium 14 Thomas Azevedo 1 0 0 0 1 0
DF Belgium 17 Koen Weuts 2 0 0 0 2 0
DF Belgium 18 Jonas De Roeck 7 0 0 0 7 0
FW Nigeria 23 Chuka 4 0 0 0 4 0
DF Belgium 24 Ludovic Buysens 2 0 0 1 2 1
MF Iceland 27 Stefán Gíslason 4 0 0 0 4 0
DF Belgium 32 Günther Vanaudenaerde 3 0 1 0 4 0
TOTALS 45 1 1 1 46 2

Suspensions during the season[edit]

Includes suspensions for competitive matches.

Last updated on 13 April 2013
Date Player/Coach Reason Punishment Source
27 August 2012 (appeal 28 August 2012) Belgium 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 Belgium Jonas De Roeck 5x Yellow card One match ban (away to Charleroi)
20 October 2012 Belgium Kenny Thompson Yellow card Yellow-red card at home vs Club Brugge One match ban (away to Beerschot)
1 December 2012 Belgium Kenny Thompson 5x Yellow card One match ban (away to Cercle Brugge)
19 January 2013 Brazil Robson 5x Yellow card One match ban (away to Waasland-Beveren)
26 January 2013 Iceland Stefán Gíslason 5x Yellow card One match ban (at home vs Charleroi)
9 February 2013 Belgium Günther Vanaudenaerde 5x Yellow card One match ban (at home vs Beerschot)
9 February 2013 Belgium Kenny Thompson Red card away to Club Brugge Three match ban (at home vs Beerschot & Standard Liège and away to Mechelen)
16 March 2013 Croatia Tomislav Mikulić 5x Yellow card One match ban (at home vs Waasland-Beveren)
30 March 2013 Belgium Koen Weuts Yellow card Yellow-red card at home vs Waasland-Beveren One match ban (away to Charleroi)

Severe injuries during the season[edit]

Last updated on 15 January 2013
Date Player Injury Initial Estimated Return In Full Training First Match after Injury Source
Pre-Season Belgium Emmerik De Vriese Underwent knee surgery August 2012 ohl.be
27 June 2012 Belgium Bjorn Ruytinx Torn anterior cruciate ligament during friendly match against Kampenhout December 2012 January 2013 12 January 2013 [16][17]
30 June 2012 Belgium Kenny Thompson Meningitis August 2012 Third week of August 2012 25 August 2012 [19]
8 August 2012 Belgium Günther Vanaudenaerde Torn muscle in his abdomen during match against Genk September 2012 August 2012 1 September 2012 [27]
31 October 2012 Belgium Wim Raymaekers Suffered severe knee injury during match against Mechelen March 2013 [47]

Overall[edit]

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 Belgium Jonas De Roeck, 7 yellow cards.
Best result(s) W 0 – 4 (A) at CharleroiBelgian Pro League – 6 October 2012
Worst result(s) L 5 – 2 (A) at MonsBelgian Pro League – 28 July 2012
Most appearances 3 players with 18 appearances
Top scorer The Gambia Ibou, 16 goals

Last updated: 15 January 2013
Source: Competitions' Wikipedia articles.

Club[edit]

Coaching staff[edit]

Position Staff
Head coach Belgium Ronny Van Geneugden
Assistant First Team Coach Netherlands Arnold Rijsenburg
Belgium Hans Vander Elst
Goalkeeping coach Belgium Jurgen De Braekeleer

Last updated: 21 May 2012
Source: OHL.be

Other information[edit]

Owner/Chairman Belgium Jan Callewaert
Ground (capacity and dimensions) Den Dreef (9,000 / )

Updated to match played 21 May 2012
Source: OHL.be

Competitions[edit]

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

Friendly matches[edit]

Pre-season[edit]

4 July 2012 Den Bosch Netherlands 1 – 2 Belgium Oud-Heverlee Leuven Opleidings- en Trainingscomplex Den Bosch, 's-Hertogenbosch
19:00 CEST Bilgin (Report) Gíslason
Weuts

During the season[edit]

6 September 2012 Linden Belgium 0 – 6 Belgium Oud-Heverlee Leuven Voetbalterrein VK Linden, Linden
18:30 CET (Report) Ngolok 5'
Brogno 25'
Bastiaens 61'
Chuka 64'
Dehond 80'
Claes 87'

Belgian Pro League[edit]

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

Regular season[edit]

League table[edit]

Pos Team 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
Source: Belgian Pro League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) number of matches won; if teams are still tied a playoff is organised.
Results summary[edit]
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

Last updated: 16 March 2013.
Source: [citation needed]

Points breakdown[edit]
Results by round[edit]
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
GroundAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA
ResultLDDWDDLDWWWWWLDLDDDLDLLLWLDWLD
Position161413101012141311866366889999101010101010101010
Updated to match(es) played on 16 March 2013. Source: [citation needed]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Playoffs[edit]

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.

Table[edit]

Pos Team 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
Source: [citation needed]
(A) Advanced to the Final

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.

Matches[edit]

28 July 2012 Matchday 1 Mons 5 – 2 Oud-Heverlee Leuven Stade Charles Tondreau, Mons
20:00 CEST Matumona 14'
Timmermans 24'
Franquart 28'
Nong Yellow card 35'
Nicaise Yellow card 43'
Jarju 77'
Nong 80'
Report Geraerts 15'
Ibou 25'
Raymaekers Yellow card 35'
Chuka Yellow card 51'
De Roeck Yellow card 69'
Vanaudenaerde Yellow card 84'
Attendance: 3,500
Referee: Peter Vervecken
5 August 2012 Matchday 2 Oud-Heverlee Leuven 2 – 2 Genk Den Dreef, Heverlee
18:00 CEST Ibou Yellow card 64'
Tshimanga 77' (o.g.)
Ibou 84' (pen.)
Report Hyland Red card 36'
Vossen Yellow card 37'
Benteke 44'
Gorius Yellow card 45'
Buffel 71'
Croux Yellow card 90+2'
Attendance: 7,082
Referee: Alexandre Boucaut
12 August 2012 Matchday 3 Gent 1 – 1 Oud-Heverlee Leuven Jules Ottenstadion, Ghent
18:00 CEST Wallace 26'
van der Bruggen Yellow card 55'
Conté Yellow card 80'
Arbeitman Yellow card 82'
Report Ibou 1'
Weuts Yellow card 53'
Van Goethem Yellow card 63'
Attendance: 9,566
Referee: Laurent Colemonts
18 August 2012 Matchday 4 Oud-Heverlee Leuven 3 – 2 Cercle Brugge Den Dreef, Heverlee
20:00 CEST Ngolok 38'
Ibou 64' (pen.)
Geraerts 82'
Report Iachtchouk 27' (pen.)
Van Eenoo Yellow card 52'
Rudy 61'
Wils Yellow card 90+3'
Attendance: 6,746
Referee: Jérôme Efong Nzolo
25 August 2012 Matchday 5 Oud-Heverlee Leuven 1 – 1 Anderlecht Den Dreef, Heverlee
18:00 CEST Ibou 32'
Ibou Yellow card 32'
Chuka Yellow card 51'
De Roeck Yellow card 62'
Report Iakovenko 11' Attendance: 8,931
Referee: Serge Gumienny
1 September 2012 Matchday 6 Lierse 1 – 1 Oud-Heverlee Leuven Herman Vanderpoortenstadion, Lier
20:00 CEST Hazurov 45+1' Report Raymaekers Yellow card 26'
Vanaudenaerde Yellow card 71'
Azevedo Yellow card 75'
De Roeck Yellow card 82'
Buysens Yellow card 84'
Pouga 90+4'
Pouga Yellow card 90+5'
Attendance: 6,735
Referee: Claude Bourdouxhe
15 September 2012 Matchday 7 Oud-Heverlee Leuven 0 – 1 Zulte Waregem Den Dreef, Heverlee
20:00 CEST Ibou Yellow card 19'
Thompson Yellow card 34'
De Roeck Yellow card 35'
Pouga Yellow card 90+4'
Report Malanda Yellow card