Historical Crests Club Brugge KV

Name: ​ ​Club Brugge KV

Nickname(s): Blauw-Zwart (Blue-Black)

Founded: 1891

Stadium: Jan Breydel Stadium

Capacity: ​ 29,062

Club Brugge K.V. Crest History

The crest history of Club Brugge K.V. reflects the club's evolution from a relatively simple football identity into one of the most recognisable badges in Belgian football. Throughout most of its modern history, the blue-and-black colours, diagonal stripes and royal crown have remained the defining elements.

Between 1965 and 1972, Club Brugge used a distinctive circular emblem dominated by dark blue and outlined in gold. The initials “FCB” appeared across the badge, while curved gold lines divided the centre into sections. A large royal crown sat above the emblem, representing the club's royal status. Although very different from today's crest, this badge already established the combination of blue, black, gold and royal symbolism.

In 1972, the club introduced a completely redesigned badge. The initials disappeared and were replaced by the now-familiar blue-and-black diagonal stripes. A broad red outer ring carried the inscription “CLUB BRUGGE K.V.”, while a detailed royal crown was positioned at the top. This design introduced the basic striped identity that would become central to almost every subsequent Club Brugge crest.

A major departure followed in 1980. The circular badge was replaced by a horizontal black oval, outlined in gold and topped by an elaborate royal crown. Inside, the words “CLUB BRUGGE” appeared in gold within a blue oval. The traditional diagonal stripes were removed entirely. This unusual design survived for only three years.

In 1983, Club Brugge returned to its traditional football imagery. The new crest featured a smaller circular blue-and-black striped badge surrounded by a green laurel wreath. A royal crown appeared above, while the Latin motto “MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO” encircled the striped centre together with the foundation year 1891. This was one of the most elaborate crests in the club's history.

Another major redesign arrived in 1995. The laurel wreath and Latin motto disappeared, and the club returned to a much cleaner circular badge. The blue-and-black diagonal stripes occupied the centre, surrounded by a red ring containing the name “CLUB BRUGGE KV.” A red-and-black royal crown completed the design. This version formed the basis for the crests used during the following decades.

For the 2011–12 season, the traditional design received a commemorative treatment. The familiar striped centre and red outer ring remained, but the badge was given a more three-dimensional appearance. The foundation year 1891 was prominently displayed beneath the crown, emphasising Club Brugge's long history.

In 2012, Club Brugge introduced a much more radical modernisation. The red outer ring was replaced by white, creating the black, white and blue appearance that remains familiar today. The central blue-and-black diagonal stripes were retained, while a simplified black-and-white royal crown appeared above. Small gold laurel branches and the foundation year 1891 provided additional historic details.

A special commemorative crest appeared in 2016 to celebrate the club's 125th anniversary. The traditional circular badge was surrounded by an elaborate gold laurel wreath. The dates 1891 and 2016 appeared beneath the crest together with the Roman numerals CXXV, representing 125 years of Club Brugge history.

In 2017, the club returned to a simplified version of the 2012 crest. The commemorative wreath was removed, leaving the white circular border, black club name, blue-and-black striped centre and royal crown. A single gold star was displayed above the crown, representing Club Brugge's achievement of at least ten Belgian league championships.

The most recent change came in 2026. Following another landmark in the club's championship history, the crest was updated with two gold stars above the royal crown. In Belgian football, each star traditionally represents ten national league championships, so the two stars commemorate Club Brugge reaching the milestone of 20 Belgian titles.

The 2026–Present crest otherwise preserves the established modern design: a white circular outer section, blue-and-black diagonal stripes, the foundation year 1891, gold laurel details and the prominent royal crown.

Club Brugge K.V. Club History

Founded on 13 November 1891, Club Brugge KV is one of Belgium's oldest and most successful football clubs. Originally established as Brugsche Football Club, the club adopted the name Football Club Brugeois in 1897 before becoming Club Brugge following the gradual Dutchification of Belgian football after the Second World War. Throughout its history, the club has represented the city of Bruges and has become synonymous with success in Belgian football.

Club Brugge enjoyed its first major successes during the early twentieth century, winning its first Belgian Championship in 1919–20. The club established itself as a regular contender in the national league throughout the interwar period, but it was after the Second World War that Brugge truly emerged as one of Belgium's dominant football clubs.

The arrival of Austrian coach Ernst Happel in 1974 transformed the club into a European powerhouse. Under Happel, Club Brugge won multiple Belgian First Division titles and reached the 1976 UEFA Cup Final, where it narrowly lost to Liverpool. Two years later, the club achieved its greatest European success by reaching the 1978 European Cup Final, once again facing Liverpool at Wembley Stadium. Although defeated 1–0, Club Brugge became the first, and still only, Belgian club to reach the final of the European Cup in its modern format.

Throughout the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, Club Brugge remained one of Belgium's leading clubs, consistently competing for domestic honours while regularly qualifying for European competitions. The club won numerous league championships, Belgian Cups and Belgian Super Cups, establishing an intense rivalry with RSC Anderlecht as the country's two most successful clubs.

A new golden era began during the 2010s. Under coaches including Michel Preud'homme, Ivan Leko, Philippe Clement and later Nicky Hayen, Club Brugge reclaimed its position at the summit of Belgian football. The club won multiple Belgian Pro League titles and became a regular participant in the UEFA Champions League, earning impressive results against some of Europe's biggest clubs.

The highlight of the club's modern European resurgence came in the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League, when Club Brugge reached the Round of 16 for the first time in its history. Further success followed in the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League, where the club reached the semi-finals, reaffirming its reputation as Belgium's strongest representative in European competition.

Today, Club Brugge KV plays its home matches at the Jan Breydel Stadium, which it shares with local rivals Cercle Brugge.

 The club's fiercest rivalry is the Bruges Derby against Cercle Brugge, while matches against RSC Anderlecht, often referred to as Belgium's biggest football rivalry, frequently decide domestic honours. Encounters with KAA Gent, Racing Genk and Standard Liège also rank among the country's most significant fixtures. With more than a century of success, a rich European pedigree and one of the largest supporter bases in Belgium, Club Brugge remains one of the giants of Belgian football.

Go to Club Brugge K.V. Ground & Tickets

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