# 2013–14 Oud-Heverlee Leuven season

The 2013–14 season was Oud-Heverlee Leuven's 12th competitive season in professional football and the team's third season in the Belgian Pro League. After struggling the whole season, OH Leuven ended 15th in the league and was forced to play the relegation playoffs against Mons. They did get past Mons but were eventually relegated as they did not manage to win the Belgian Second Division final round. OH Leuven also had a mediocre cup run, struggling past Belgian Second Division team Visé before falling 3-0 to Gent.

## Season overview
### Pre-season

Not counting defender Zainoul Haidara, who had already signed a contract during the winter 2012–13 transfer window to join the club for the coming season, OHL announces its first signing for the new season with David Wijns, coming from Kortrijk. Wijns is a 26-year-old Belgian defender born in Leuven who played most of his career with Heist, helping the team move up two divisions into the Belgian Second Division before joining Kortrijk.
In the beginning of June, former Belgian international Kevin Roelandts, who was out on loan to Antwerp, signs for Maldegem and thus permanently leaves OH Leuven. Just a few days later, the Belgian Pro League fixtures for the 2013–14 season are announced on June 10. Oud-Heverlee Leuven opens the season with an away match to Kortrijk on 27 July 2013. Just like the previous season, Genk will be the first opponent to come and play at Den Dreef on matchday 2.
Just like Roelandts two weeks before, Nicky Hayen also leaves the club after a loan spell at Antwerp. Hayen becomes player-coach at Belgian Third Division team Dender EH.
First goalkeeper Logan Bailly, who had only recently signed a contract extension in December 2012, prolongs his contract again by two years on June 18, keeping him in Leuven until 2016. Two days later, OHL signs 29-year-old Belgian midfielder Mohamed Messoudi from Gent. Near the end of June yet another player out on loan leaves the club, when striker Christian Pouga, who was out on loan to Lierse, signs for Turkish team Ankaraspor in the Turkish Second Division.
In July, the team is very active on the transfer market, starting with four transfers occurring in the beginning of the month, with both Frederik Boi (to Cercle Brugge), Jonas De Roeck (to Antwerp) and Koen Weuts (to Helmond Sport) leaving the club, while Tom Pettersson is announced as a new player, arriving on loan from Åtvidaberg. OH Leuven states that they have also obtained a clause to activate a permanent transfer of the 23-year-old Swedish defender. One week later, three more incoming transfers are announced, as OHL brings in two international players, Belgian Marvin Ogunjimi and Bosnian Muhamed Subašić, both on loan respectively from Mallorca and Olimpic Sarajevo, together with a second Brazilian player Douglas Maia, who was a free agent. At the same time, OHL sees another two players depart the club, as striker Chuka and defender Tomislav Mikulić seek new challenges. Chuka has been with the team for two seasons, scoring many goals, while Mikulić had helped out to strengthen the defence during the last 6 months. Chuka moves to CFR Cluj, while Mikulić moves to Panthrakikos. The stream of transfers is interrupted by the news that wingback Günther Vanaudenaerde has fractured his tibia during the friendly against Heerenveen and will be out for at least three months. To replace this loss, OH Leuven signs international Bulgarian wingback Ivan Bandalovski, while youngsters Loris Brogno and Christopher Verbist are loaned out to second division team Lommel United to get more first team experience.

### August

OHL suffers a bad start to the season, scoring only one point out of the first four matches, drawing away to newly promoted Oostende.

## First team squad

    As of 31 August 2013. OHL Team 2013–14
Indicates that the player was only part of the team during the first half of the season  Indicates that the player was only part of the team during the second half of the season
| No. | Name | Nationality | Date of Birth (Age at 27/07/2013) | First match for OHL | Previous Club/Signed From |
| Goalkeepers ||||||
| 1 | Yves Lenaerts | Belgium | (1983-02-27)February 27, 1983 (aged 30) | 2010 | Club Brugge |
| 21 | Dean Michiels | Belgium | (1991-07-04)July 4, 1991 (aged 22) | 2010 | Youth Product |
| 26 | Logan Bailly | Belgium | (1985-12-27)December 27, 1985 (aged 27) | 2012 | Mönchengladbach |
| Defenders ||||||
| 2 | Tom Pettersson | Sweden | (1990-03-25)March 25, 1990 (aged 23) | 2013 | Åtvidaberg |
| 3 | Robson | Brazil | (1983-07-10)July 10, 1983 (aged 30) | 2012 | Marítimo |
| 4 | Wim Raymaekers | Belgium | (1985-04-04)April 4, 1985 (aged 28) | 2010 | Red Star Waasland |
| 5 | Kenny Thompson | Belgium | (1985-04-26)April 26, 1985 (aged 28) | 2012 | Lierse |
| 15 | Wout Bastiaens | Belgium | (1994-04-30)April 30, 1994 (aged 19) | 2012 | Westerlo |
| 16 | Cédric Buekers | Belgium | (1994-04-17)April 17, 1994 (aged 19) | 2013 | Sint-Truiden |
| 18 | David Wijns | Belgium | (1987-01-09)January 9, 1987 (aged 26) | 2013 | Kortrijk |
| 23 | Ivan Bandalovski | Bulgaria | (1986-11-23)November 23, 1986 (aged 26) | 2013 | CSKA Sofia |
| 24 | Ludovic Buysens | Belgium | (1986-03-16)March 16, 1986 (aged 27) | 2012 | Sint-Truiden |
| 25 | Muhamed Subašić | Bosnia and Herzegovina | (1988-03-19)March 19, 1988 (aged 25) | 2013 | Olimpic Sarajevo |
| 28 | Zainoul Haidara | Guinea | (1992-10-25)October 25, 1992 (aged 20) | 2013 | Bleid-Gaume |
| 32 | Günther Vanaudenaerde | Belgium | (1984-01-23)January 23, 1984 (aged 29) | 2012 | Westerlo |
| Midfielders ||||||
| 6 | Kenneth Van Goethem | Belgium | (1984-02-12)February 12, 1984 (aged 29) | 2010 | KV Mechelen |
| 7 | Ovidy Karuru | Zimbabwe | (1989-01-23)January 23, 1989 (aged 24) | 2012 | Boulogne |
| 8 | Karel Geraerts | Belgium | (1982-01-05)January 5, 1982 (aged 31) | 2011 | Club Brugge |
| 10 | Douglas Maia | Brazil | (1989-04-24)April 24, 1989 (aged 24) | 2013 | Free agent |
| 17 | Mohamed Messoudi | Belgium | (1984-01-07)January 7, 1984 (aged 29) | 2013 | Gent |
| 20 | Evariste Ngolok | Belgium | (1988-11-15)November 15, 1988 (aged 24) | 2012 | Westerlo |
| 27 | Stefán Gíslason | Iceland | (1980-03-15)March 15, 1980 (aged 33) | 2012 | Lillestrøm |
| 30 | Simon Bracke | Belgium | (1995-11-17)November 17, 1995 (aged 17) | 2011 | Youth Product |
| Forwards ||||||
| 11 | Alessandro Cerigioni | Belgium | (1992-09-30)September 30, 1992 (aged 20) | 2013 | Lommel United |
| 12 | Ibou | Gambia | (1986-09-07)September 7, 1986 (aged 26) | 2012 | Kortrijk |
| 12 | Marvin Ogunjimi | Belgium | (1987-10-12)October 12, 1987 (aged 25) | 2013 | Mallorca |
| 13 | Bjorn Ruytinx | Belgium | (1980-08-18)August 18, 1980 (aged 32) | 2004 | Kermt-Hasselt |
| 14 | Thomas Azevedo | Belgium | (1991-08-31)August 31, 1991 (aged 21) | 2011 | Lommel United |
| 22 | Emmerik De Vriese | Belgium | (1985-02-14)February 14, 1985 (aged 28) | 2011 | Antwerp |
| 29 | Joren Dehond | Belgium | (1995-08-08)August 8, 1995 (aged 17) | 2011 | Youth Product |
| 31 | Ben Yagan | Belgium | (1995-02-09)February 9, 1995 (aged 18) | 2012 | Youth Product |

## Transfers
### In
#### Summer

| Squad # | Position | Player | Transferred from | Fee | Date |
| 10 | MF | Douglas Maia | Free Agent | NA | 15 July 2013 |
| 17 | MF | Mohamed Messoudi | Gent | Undisclosed | 22 May 2013 |
| 18 | DF | David Wijns | Kortrijk | Undisclosed | 22 May 2013 |
| 23 | DF | Ivan Bandalovski | CSKA Sofia | Undisclosed | 25 July 2013 |

### Loan in
#### Summer

| Squad # | Position | Player | On loan from | Fee | Date |
| 2 | DF | Tom Pettersson | Åtvidaberg | Undisclosed | 2 July 2013 |
| 12 | FW | Marvin Ogunjimi | Mallorca | Undisclosed | 13 July 2013 |
| 25 | DF | Muhamed Subašić | Olimpic Sarajevo | Undisclosed | 10 July 2013 |

### Out
#### Summer

| Squad # | Position | Player | Transferred to | Fee | Date |
| 2 | DF | Tomislav Mikulić | Panthrakikos | Free (was on loan to | 17 July 2013 |
| 17 | DF | Koen Weuts | Helmond Sport | Free | 5 July 2013 |
| 18 | DF | Jonas De Roeck | Antwerp | Free | 1 July 2013 |
| 23 | FW | Chuka | CFR Cluj | Undisclosed | 16 July 2013 |
| 28 | MF | Mazin Ahmed Al-Huthayfi | Ittihad | Loan Return | 1 July 2013 |
| | MF | Frederik Boi | Cercle Brugge | Free (Was already on loan to Cercle Brugge, now released) | 1 July 2013 |
| | MF | Kevin Roelandts | Maldegem | Free (Was on loan to Antwerp, now released to Maldegem) | 6 June 2013 |
| | MF | Nicky Hayen | Dender EH | Free (Was on loan to Antwerp, now released to Dender EH) | 14 June 2013 |
| | FW | Christian Pouga | Ankaraspor | Free (Was on loan to Lierse, to Ankaraspor) | 26 June 2013 |

### Loan out
#### Summer

| Squad # | Position | Player | On loan to | Fee | Date | Source |
| 19 | FW | Loris Brogno | Lommel United | Undisclosed | 31 July 2013 | |
| 25 | FW | Christopher Verbist | Lommel United | Undisclosed | 31 July 2013 | |

## Club
### Coaching staff

| Position | Staff |
| Head Coach | Ronny Van Geneugden |
| Assistant First Team Coach | Arnold Rijsenburg |
| Assistant First Team Coach | Hans Vander Elst |
| Goalkeeping coach | Jurgen De Braekeleer |
Last updated: 2 July 2013 Source: OHL.be

### Other information

| Owner/Chairman | Jan Callewaert |
| Ground (capacity and dimensions) | Den Dreef (9,493 / ) |
Updated to match played 21 May 2012 Source: OHL.be

## Competitions

| Competition | Started round | Current position / round | Final position / round | First match | Last match |
| Belgian Pro League | — | — | 15th | 27 July 2013 | 16 March 2014 |
| Belgian Cup | 6th Round | — | 7th Round | 25 September 2013 | 4 December 2013 |
Updated to match played 16 May 2014 Source: Competitions

### Belgian Pro League

OHL's third season in the Belgian Pro League began on 27 July 2013.

#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 12 | Lierse | 30 | 9 | 5 | 16 | 36 | 53 | −17 | 32 | Qualification for the Europa League play-offs |
| 13 | Mechelen | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 34 | 51 | −17 | 31 | Qualification for the Europa League play-offs |
| 14 | Waasland-Beveren | 30 | 6 | 13 | 11 | 28 | 35 | −7 | 31 | Qualification for the Europa League play-offs |
| 15 | OH Leuven | 30 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 30 | 47 | −17 | 27 | Qualification for the Relegation play-offs |
| 16 | Mons | 30 | 6 | 4 | 20 | 29 | 53 | −24 | 22 | Qualification for the Relegation play-offs |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 16 March 2014. Source:

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Ground | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A |
| Result | L | L | D | L | W | D | D | L | D | L | W | L | D | L | W | D | L | D | L | L | W | L | W | L | D | L | L | D | W | L |
| Position | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |

#### Relegation playoff and Second Division final round

After finishing 15th during the regular season, OHL was forced to play the Relegation Playoff together with Mons. OHL started with a three-point head start and home advantage. After winning twice at home and drawing away, OHL had obtained an unattainable lead, causing Mons to be relegated. Meanwhile, OHL thereby won the right to play the Second Division final round which they needed to win to remain in the Belgian Pro League.

##### Final round table

Final standings :
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Mouscron-Péruwelz | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 11 |
| Eupen | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 11 | −2 | 8 |
| Sint-Truiden | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 11 | −1 | 7 |
| OH Leuven | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 7 |