Another year, another season in which OH Leuven finished the Belgian Pro League regular season in 12th. For context, the side, who share owners with Leicester City, have never finished higher than 10th since returning to the Pro League in 2020. In that time they have finished 11th on three occasions, 10th once (2022/2023) and 12th twice. For a side that has better infrastructure and resources than many other clubs in the Belgian Pro League, this summer requires another few months of reflecting on why OH Leuven just cannot seem to push on.
This is an article I have written before. The side are always active in the transfer market, but rarely have any of their signings really shone. Ezechiel Banzuzi, now of RB Leipzig, was one of the rare exceptions. At least this season, former Cardiff City striker Sory Kaba looks set to hit double figures for goals, the first OH Leuven striker to do so since Mario Gonzalez was on loan in 2022/2023. Prior to that, Kaba himself had scored 12 in all competitions. In 2023/2024 and 2024/2025, the top scorer for the side had four goals in the league.
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Of the 10 players OH Leuven signed this season, arguably only two alongside Kaba have been difference makers. Noe Dussene added experience at the back, while midfielder Lukasz Lakomy, on loan from Young Boys, has shown some quality in midfield. The rest have not really delivered much to elevate OH Leuven above mediocraty, something that is sadly being repeated by the club year on year.
What is worrying is that, over in England, their parent club Leicester City are doing worse. Once champions of England and Cup winners, the side are now fighting a relegation battle in the Championship. How a relegation for Leicester City would impact OH Leuven is not quite known, as so far the Belgian side have been well backed by the owners and immune to anything happening in England. There is also very little player movement between the two sides anyway.
For now at least, OH Leuven can relax knowing that relegation is off the cards for another season. However, Felice Mazzu will certainly not want to be fighting against a bottom four finish next season. If that is the case, it is likely that he wouldn’t be in charge anyway.
OH Leuven just need to look at the likes of KV Mechelen and Sint Truiden from this season. Both sides have positioned themselves well to take advantage of the struggles of some of the regular ‘big’ teams in Belgium and fight their way into the top six. OH Leuven have the financial capability to do the same. In Sint Truiden’s case, they escaped the bottom four last season and have bounced back in fantastic fashion under Wouter Vrancken. Fighting for a top six finish should be the ambition for everyone at OH Leuven next season.
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