Belgian top club founded in 1930, has dominated all competitions and has an unprecedented and impressive list of successes: The national record shows that they won 33 national championships and has 20 triumphs at the Belgian Cup. This year they won the 19th double title in Belgium. The international successes are even more impressive: the club took part in 4 finals of the former European National Champions Cup, bringing the trophy to Charleroi in 1994 and 1996. Ever since the foundation of our European Champions League, the club has been one of the title favorites, and is the record winner.

In the first 2 years Charleroi won their group and came close to secured the title, but proved unlucky in the finish. The turning point came in 2000. The commitment of the Belarus national player, Vladimir SAMSONOV, proved a stroke of good luck and brought four titles in succession. In season 2004/2005 the defense of their title seemed a sure thing but they had to give it up to TTV RE-BAU Gönnern in a very dramatic encounter. The year 2005/2006 brought a repeat of that unlucky incident, with a close defeat to Gönnern yet again. However, in the next season, 2006/2007 they returned.

After the close win in the quarterfinals against Ochsenhausen, in which even the ratio of scored points had to be counted, after a draw in games, they were able to defeat defending champions TTV RE-BAU Gönnern twice. The final saw them renew their vigor against SVS Niederösterreich and they came out with two secure wins. Nevertheless, in the last two season this unique winning streak was broken by the Lower Austrians and then against Borussia Dusseldorf.

Three seasons ago the team based around Vladimir SAMSONOV did enter the final after safely dispatching of TTC Frickenhausen in the quarter- and Borussia Düsseldorf in the semifinal, and played their 8th final encounter in the club’s history. However that time they had to concede two defeats, even though the home match was rather close. Royal Villette Charleroi had weakest season this year, failed to reach the final for the first time after 2001.

Last season they were back stronger with German Dimitrij OVTCHAROV on their side. In the club were also Petr KORBEL, WANG Jian Jun and Jean Michel SAIVE. They reached new ECL final, but suffered two losses against Borussia.

In this season club after more than decade will not be one of favorites. Due to financial reasons club couldn’t continue with OVTCHAROV who went to new ECL club, ETTU-Cup winner, Orenburg (Russia). Without him and KORBEL, Charleroi starts in new season as no.13 seed. Ne face is Croat Andrej GACINA. Jean-Michel SAIVE, who celebrated his 40th birthday last November, continues as the best ranked club’s player.