R.W.D. Molenbeek (2015)

RWD Molenbeek

Full name	Racing White Daring Molenbeek
Founded	1951 (as Standaard Wetteren) 2015 (takeover)
Ground	Edmond Machtens Stadium
Capacity	12,266
Owner	John Textor
Head coach	Cláudio Caçapa
League	Belgian Pro League
2022–23	Challenger Pro League, 1st of 12 (promoted)
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours

Racing White Daring Molenbeek, also known as RWD Molenbeek and often referred to as RWDM, is a Belgian professional football club based in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Brussels. The club currently plays in the Belgian Pro League from 2023–24 after it managed to get promotion from the Challenger Pro League in 2022–23. It participated in the 2015–16 Belgian Cup, where it reached the fourth round.

History

The club was founded in 1951 as Standard Wetteren. In 2015, Wetteren folded and merged with another club, liberating the matricule which was sold to people wanting to revive the former RWDM with matricule 47 which folded in 2002. As such the new club was named RWDM47. The club quickly rose through the ranks, winning two consecutive promotions from the fifth to the third tier. In December 2021, the club announced that it had come under the ownership of American business executive John Textor, who also holds stakes in English side Crystal Palace, Brazilian side Botafogo and French side Lyon.

RWDM's academy is considered one of the best in Belgium, and many footballers have come from there, notably Adnan Januzaj and Michy Batshuayi to name a few Belgian internationals as well as a few internationals for other countries.

On 13 May 2023, RWDM secured promotion to the Belgian Pro League by winning the Challenger Pro League title in a narrow 1–0 victory over RSCA Futures, with Mickaël Biron scoring the winning goal.

Rivalries and fanbase

RWDM's traditional rival is Union Saint-Gilloise, which goes back to the 19th century when RWDM were known as Daring Club. RWDM also have a rivalry with RSC Anderlecht, with just 3 kilometres separating the two clubs and the fixtures often taking over the mantle of the "Derby of Brussels" in the professional era due to Union's relative decline. RWDM also have rivalries with Eendracht Aalst, Lierse, and RFC Liège.

RWDM drew support from across the Belgian capital due to its merger of 4 teams, as well as in the Periphery, where many Brusseleirs migrated to, in contrast to the more locally based Saint-Gilles support and the nationwide Anderlecht support. It had high attendances for a big part of its existence as RWDM, until financial troubles and the subsequent changeover with Johan Vermeesch in charge of the new club led to the name change to FC Brussels, and caused a split in the fanbase. During their years as FC Brussels, the Ultra group Brussels Power 05 emerged, while many of the "old school" casuals "Brussels Boys" boycotted. These days both supporter groups sit in the same Bloc A.

Players

First-team squad

As of 25 January 2024.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Club staff

Honours

• Challenger Pro League
  • Winner (1): 2022–23

See also

• RWD Molenbeek (1909)