About K.R.C. Genk
K.R.C. Genk, commonly known as Genk, is a football club based in Genk, Belgium. Formed in 1988 through the merger of Waterschei Thor and K.F.C. Waterschei, it is regarded as one of Belgium's four most successful football clubs. Having competed in the Belgian Pro League since the 1996-97 season, Genk has won multiple Belgian league and cup titles and regularly qualifies for European competitions. Boasting one of the strongest fan bases in the Benelux region, the club has 68 officially registered fan clubs.
Club History
The merged club, named K.R.C. Genk, retained K.F.C. Waterschei's squad but finished bottom of the Pro League in its first season. The following year, Genk won the Belgian Second Division playoff to secure promotion back to the top flight, where it remained for four consecutive seasons. In 1995, the club appointed Aimé Anthuenis as head coach, leading to a rapid rise to second place in the league. After finishing seventh in 1997, Genk enjoyed a standout 1997-98 season, claiming its first cup title and finishing as league runners-up.
European Performence
The 1998-99 season marked Genk's European debut. In the final edition of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, the club eliminated Apollonia and Duisburg consecutively before being knocked out by RCD Mallorca in the round of 16 on the away goals rule following a 1-1 aggregate draw. That season also saw Genk lift its first Belgian Pro League title, after which the trophy-winning coach Anthuenis moved to Anderlecht.
K.R.C. Genk continued its European journey in the 1999-00 UEFA Champions League but was eliminated by NK Maribor in the second qualifying round. However, the club won the Belgian Cup for the second time by defeating Standard Liège, despite finishing ninth in the league. In 2001, Genk finished 11th in the league and reached the second round of the UEFA Cup, where it was knocked out by Werder Bremen after beating FC Zurich in the first round.
