Cercle Brugge will be ready on Saturday at 13:00 for the first real friendly of the season against Lommel SK, with an expected 1,500 supporters. The team will debut in the new retro‑kits that hark back to the historic year 1926.

Why are the retro kits so significant?

The club celebrates this year a century since the legendary 1926 season, when Cercle won four trophies: the league, the cup, the Jan De Clercq cup and the DH cup. Communications manager Louis‑Philippe Depondt explains that the vertical stripes and a neck‑badge depicting the four cups directly reference those glory days. The design aims to remind fans of a unique chapter in Cercle's history.

What happens on the pitch and beyond?

The greenkeepers have spent the past weeks converting one of the Gulden Kamer fields into a full‑size professional pitch. After the match, the annual player showcase takes place, followed by a guided tour of the shell of the new training complex. The field is not one of the future A‑core pitches; those remain on Jan Breydel for now.

How does the goalkeeper situation look?

Warleson is leaving permanently for Botafogo, leaving the club still owed €750,000. Meanwhile, Cercle has reached an agreement with Sampdoria for Gaëtan Coucke, who already trained with the squad on Friday. Whether Coucke will start in goal on Saturday is unclear; Bas Langenbick or Maxime Delanghe could also guard the net. The club intends to work long‑term with a trio of keepers – Coucke, Langenbick and De Bel.

What does the stadium plan mean for the future?

The stadium dossier revealed last week sparked mixed reactions. Club Brugge secured a third changing room in the new Jan‑Breydel complex, but Cercle fears a move to the blue stadium from 2028‑29 onward. Therefore, the club is already developing its own 8,500‑seat stadium, following the La Louvière model.

How does this fit into the current competition?

Cercle Brugge currently sits second in the Jupiler Pro League with 38 points (9 W‑11 D‑13 L) and a recent form of WWDWL. The team has scored 48 goals and conceded 50 this season, a –2 goal difference. They are 19 points behind leaders Club Brugge KV and recently suffered a 1‑4 loss to RAAL La Louvière on 9 May 2026.

What can fans expect?

Besides the match and player showcase, the crowd will get an exclusive look at the new training complex. The retro kits will be on sale immediately, allowing supporters to wear a piece of club history. It promises a day full of nostalgia, future plans and the first test for the season.