Take a look at a list of Belgian First Division title winners and you'll find some familiar names at the top. Anderlecht leads the way with 34 league crowns, followed by last year's winner Club Brugge with exactly half as many titles.
But in third place is a club that even ardent fans of European soccer will struggle to recognize: Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (Union SG for short).
Located on the outskirts of Brussels, Union SG won six straight Belgian First Division titles between 1903 and 1910, plus another five over the ensuing two decades or so.
Since then, success has been minimal for Les Unionistes. The club's last first-tier title came in 1935, and since 1963 Union SG has played predominantly in Belgium's lower divisions.
Then last season, Belgium's most historic club won the second-tier title to return to the top flight for the first time in 48 years. And like it did over a century ago, Union SG has just kept on winning.
Through 11 matches, Les Unionistes sit top of the Belgian Pro League table with 22 points while also posting the best goal differential.
If you’re looking for an underdog to throw your support behind this season, consider Union St. Gilloise who, in their first appearance in the Belgian First Division for 48 years, sit astride the top of the table. pic.twitter.com/LmJToHAiXt
— These Football Times (@thesefootytimes) October 18, 2021
This year's Leicester City anyone?
While Union SG doesn't play the counter-attacking style of Leicester of old, its low-cost squad building philosophy is reminiscent of bargain-minded Leicester. In fact, the club has not paid a transfer fee since the 19-20 campaign.
Les Unionistes are led up top by Deniz Undav and Dante Vanzeir, who have a combined 15 goals and 10 assists. There has only been one match this season in which this duo has not scored at least one goal, and they currently rank first and fourth respectively in WhoScored's Belgian Pro League player ratings.
Both were brought in on free transfers prior to last season and were key members of the promotion-winning side.
While there are no big names in this squad — Anthony Moris probably has the biggest reputation internationally for his 42 appearances for Luxembourg — there are some interesting English connections.
Tony Bloom, chairman for Premier League side Brighton, is a majority shareholder in Union SG and the squad features three English players. Midfielder Marcel Lewis came from Chelsea's U-23's, while defenders Christian Burgess and Matthew Sorinola both arrived from the League One ranks.
The club also brought in Japanese winger Karou Mitoma on loan from Brighton over the summer.
Some of Union SG's success this year can be attributed to its strength of schedule; all three of the club's defeats have come against top-five teams, while five of its seven wins have come against teams in the bottom third.
Les Unionistes have also benefited from a few missteps from second-place Club Brugge, who have drawn three matches in which they initially took the lead.
But despite whatever bit of luck Union SG might have, statistically, they look the part of league leaders — ranking first in team rating by WhoScored while totaling six more shots per game than their opponents.
Winning the Belgian Pro League wouldn't quite equal Leicester's magic in the Premier League, but Union SG's fast start to the season has fans talking about a time that very few of them remember. And maybe they can provide today's fans with their own taste of history.
