Zulte-Waregem

SV Zulte Waregem – Club History

SV Zulte Waregem (known as Essevee) was founded in 1991 through the merger of SV Zulte and RC Waregem, two clubs from the West Flanders and East Flanders border region of Belgium. Playing in white and black stripes, Essevee quickly established themselves in the Belgian Pro League (First Division A) and achieved their most notable success in the 2005–06 Belgian Cup, winning their first major trophy. The club represents the textile-manufacturing towns of Zulte and Waregem and has been a consistent Belgian top-flight presence since the merger.

Zulte Waregem's Belgian Cup victory in 2006 qualified them for the UEFA Cup and generated enormous celebration across the clubs' communities. Their Europa League campaigns have brought European opponents to the Jan Breydel Stadium area and given the club continental experience. Under various coaches, Essevee have been consistent Pro League mid-table competitors, developing young Belgian talent and maintaining the community character that has always defined the merged club.

Key Milestones

1991 – Club founded through merger of SV Zulte and RC Waregem. 1998 – Belgian First Division promotion. 2006 – Belgian Cup victory; first major trophy. 2006 – UEFA Cup participation. 2013 – Europa League qualifying rounds. 2017 – Consistent Belgian Pro League competition. 2023 – Belgian Pro League competition.