With the play-offs well and truly up and running in Belgium, it felt like the right time to look back at the sides that have already begun their post season review. Only the top eight continue to play, but what about those who didn’t end up in the post-season. This is our team of the season, but only made up of those teams that failed to reach the final eight.
Goalkeeper:
Bart Verbruggen (Anderlecht)
He may have only played 17 league games this season, but Bart Verbruggen impressed with every performance. The 20-year-old made a number of impressive performances as he kept eight clean sheets and was awarded man of the match a number of times. This may well be the only time we see Verbruggen in Belgium, with plenty of Premier League sides hoping to bring him to England in the summer.
Defenders:
Louis Patris (OH Leuven)
Louis Patris ahd a break out season for OH Leuven and was arguably their best player this season. The defender, who operated at right-back of centre-back, led the side in assists with six, while also chipping in with two goals in 33 games. At just 21-years-old, the future looks bright for the Belgian youngster.
Damien Marcq (Sporting Charleroi)
Its never easy to pick central defenders from teams that have certainly not been the best defensively in the league, but many would have been surprised at the beginning of the season to see Damien Marcq on this list. The 34-year-old was given a starting place under Felice Mazzu and was key as Charleroi made a late play-off run. His winning goal against former club Zulte Waregem was one of the goals of the season.
Zeno Debast (Anderlecht)
Like Verbruggen, this may be the last season we see Zeno Debast in Belgium. The 19-year-old has had his break out season, with 34 appearances for the club. Alongside Jan Vertonghen, Debast has put in a number of quality displays that have attracted a number of the top clubs in Europe. Many see Debast as the next top Belgian central defender and a regular for the Red Devils.
Eric Bocat (Sint-Truiden)
Sint-Truiden signed 23-year-old Eric Bocat on a free in the summer, after his former side Mouscron went into administration. The left back had to bide his time before getting a start, but after he did he played well enough to earn Bernd Hollerbach’s trust. He gave the very defensive side a more attacking left-side, while also proving better defensively than Aboubakary Koita. The former Lille man played 25 times for the Canaries and is one of the few players that has a contract with the club next season.
Midfield
Geoffry Hairemans (KV Mechelen)
Geoffry Hairemans had his best ever season in Belgium during 2022/2023. The 31-year-old was the main reason Mechelen avoided being fully sucked into the relegation battle. The midfielder, who played centrally and out wide, scored nine goals and provided eight assists, the highest of his career so far. Unfortunately, the former Antwerp man was unable to crown his season with a cup win as they lost 2-0 to his former side in the final.
Adem Zorgane (Charleroi)
There was no way that this list would be able to no include Algerian international Adem Zorgane. The 23-year-old is almost certainly going to leave Charleroi this summer, and after his four goals and eight assists in 31 league games, plenty of clubs will be lining up for his signature. Zorgane joined from Paradou AC back in the summer of 2021 and has two great seasons in Belgium. Charleroi will certainly find it difficult to replace the imposing midfielder.
Stef Peeters (Eupen)
Another one on this list who will be well sought after in the summer, Stef Peeters was one of the only reasons Eupen remained in the league. With seven goals and seven assists, the 31-year-old led the side in both goals and assists, dragging them through games when he had to. It was inevitable that Peeters would leave the Pandas after their dismal season, and he has shown the rest of Belgium he still has plenty to offer.
Faiz Selemani (Kortrijk)
Like Hairemans, without Faiz Selemani Kortrijk would have been in a far worse position, and potentially relegated. The Comoros international decided against a January move, instead wanting to help keep the side in the league. With his eight goals and four assists he certainly played his part, leading the club in both assists and goals. Selemani will be off in the summer, but Kortrijk fans should be grateful that he stayed to help them avoid relegation.
Forwards
Gianni Bruno (Sint-Truiden)
Gianno Bruno was in the running for the golden boot before his side’s season was ended. The striker, on loan from Gent, scored 18 goals for Sint-Truiden. As a side the Canaries only scored 37 goals in 34 games, with Bruno contributing almost half of these. Plenty of Belgian sides are interested in the striker, with Gent unlikely to keep him after his move from Zulte Waregem did not go as planned. There were also rumours that the striker was being considered by Roberto Mancini for the Italian national team.
Jon Thorsteinsson (OH Leuven)
Regular watchers of Belgian football may question this one, but Thorsteinsson did play as a central forward a few times for OH Leuven, and he was certainly their main goal threat going forwards. The Icelandic international was one of the main reasons that OH Leuven remained in the hunt for a play-off spot for so long. In his first season in Belgium, the 24-year-old scored 12 goals and provided three assists in 33 games. Don’t be surprised if his name pops up in a few transfer rumours this summer.
There are always a few who, despite good seasons, don’t quite make the final XI. Ken Nkuba of Charleroi had a strong season, while winter signing Islam Slimani also impressed for Anderlecht. Alieu Fadera was a hard one to ignore with his six goals and six assists, while Zinho Gano also grabbed 12 goals for the relegated Zulte Waregem side.
