Franz Tangala

Franz Tangala came through the Zulte Waregem academy, joining the club's youth setup in 2023 and playing the following season for Jong Essevee in the Belgian fourth division, where he made 49 appearances. He made his senior competitive debut in the Belgian Pro League in August 2024. No transfer fee was involved at any stage of his rise through the ranks.

Since that debut, first-team opportunities have been sparse rather than absent. He made a single appearance in his first senior season, then four appearances the following year, and has again featured four times so far this season. Each of those spells has amounted to under two hours on the pitch in total. He has yet to score a goal or register an assist in a Zulte Waregem shirt.

Tangala is a right-back by trade, though the club has occasionally used him further forward in midfield. His contract situation has moved with his gradual integration into the squad: an initial deal that looked set to run out in the summer of 2025 was instead extended, keeping him at the club through the current season. He has not yet been called up by Belgium at any youth level.