This week, all eyes are on Brussels as Anderlecht and Union St Gilloise prepare to battle it out in an electrifying all-Brussels Belgian Cup final. Union St Gilloise, a club that once dominated Belgian football before the World Wars, has staged a remarkable comeback in recent years. Meanwhile, Anderlecht remains one of the country's most storied powerhouses. But let's take a trip back in time—20 years ago, the Belgian Cup final featured a very different pair of underdogs and giants.
On May 13, 2006, at the King Baudouin Stadium, Zulte Waregem faced off against Mouscron in a match that would become a defining moment for one of Belgium's most remarkable Cinderella stories. For Zulte Waregem, this final wasn't just a trophy—it was the culmination of a breathtaking rise under head coach Franky Drury, who would later come within a whisker of winning the league with the same club.
Believe it or not, Zulte Waregem had only been around for five years at that point. Formed in 2001 from a merger between Zultse VV and KSV Waregem, the club wasted no time making history. During the 2001-2002 season, they clinched the third division title in dramatic fashion, beating Hamme on the final day thanks to a late winner from Frederik D'hollander. That goal sent them soaring into the second division—and the dream was just beginning.
Fast forward to April 17, 2005, and Zulte Waregem reached the Belgian top flight for the first time. Under Drury's guidance, they had rocketed from the third division to the first in just three seasons. But they weren't done yet. The 2006 cup final would prove they belonged on the biggest stage.
Their opponents, Royal Excelsior Mouscron, sadly no longer exist in their original form. Like Zulte Waregem, Mouscron was born from a merger—this one in 1964 between Stade Mouscron and A.R.A. Mouscron. Just a year after earning promotion to the top flight in 1996, Mouscron qualified for the UEFA Cup, knocking out Cyprus's Apollon Limassol before falling to Metz. They returned to European qualification in 2002 after losing the 2001-2002 Belgian Cup final to Club Brugge.
Both clubs had tasted triumph and heartbreak, but for Zulte Waregem, the 2006 final was a statement: this plucky new club was here to stay. And for any fan of the beautiful game, it's a reminder that sometimes the most unforgettable moments come from the most unexpected places.