Charleroi

The second-division title of 1946–47 came at the end of a decade that gave Charleroi its best players — René Thirifays and Léon Gillaux, both forwards, both called up by Belgium. That promotion set the pattern the club has followed ever since. The second such title arrived in 2011–12.

Between them sits the season the club came closest to something larger. In 1968–69 Charleroi finished runners-up in the Belgian First Division. The Cup has been no kinder — finals in 1977–78 and 1992–93, and no winner's medal from either. The club has never lifted the Belgian Cup or the Super Cup.

The name people use is the Zebras, and it comes straight off the shirt: black and white stripes, worn since the club was formed in 1904. In Charleroi itself the supporters answer to Les Carolos, after the people of the city.

One player holds both club records. Dante Brogno captained the side across 15 years, from 1986 to 2001, and left with 426 appearances and 121 goals — figures nobody has approached since. He won 13 caps for Belgium in that time. Philippe Albert passed through much earlier in his career, spending two seasons at Charleroi before Newcastle United came for him and Belgium took him to two World Cups.

The Stade du Pays de Charleroi has held 15,000 since its capacity was cut in 2013. Its loudest fixture is not a national one: the derby carolo, against ROC de Charleroi-Marchienne, the club that was once Olympic Charleroi.

Charleroi's business now is the Belgian top flight, where the immediate task is the same one the club has set itself through most of its history — finishing high enough to matter in the play-off round rather than the one below it.