on the club though. 2 players of the club, national goalkeeper Frans Christiaens and Frans Vervoort died during allied bombardments on a factory in German-occupied Mortsel. Also Jules Van Craen, topscorer of the Belgian League in the 1943 season died during the war. In the season 1944–45 Lierse, together with three other clubs from the Antwerp area, did not compete in the league, due to the German bombardments on the Port of Antwerp. These facts, combined with some of the older players retiring caused the club to decline until they finished bottom of the league in 1948. After 21 years at the highest level, Lierse were relegated for the first time in its history. 1953–2018 In 1953, Lierse secured promotion to the highest level once again. In 1960, K. Lierse S.K won their third championship title, and distinguished themselves at European level. In 1969, Lierse won the Belgian Cup for the first time. September 21, 1971, is considered an important day for Lierse. Two weeks earlier, Lierse had lost 0–2 at home to the far superior Leeds United in the first round of the UEFA Cup. Nobody expected that Lierse would win in Leeds, but Lierse had an improbably 0–4 win, and Leeds, the Cup holders, were knocked out. In 1986, Lierse were again relegated, but in 1988, they were promoted back to the top division. Keeping up with the elite clubs in Belgium had now become the top priority. Rich clubs such as Anderlecht and Club Bruges reigned supreme in the Belgian League. 1991–1994: Telefusion Belgium sponsored Lierse in these years. In 1997, Lierse became league champions again, to a large amount of people's surprise. The hotly tipped favourites, Club Bruges, were surprisingly beaten to the title by Lierse. Two years later (1999), Lierse won the Belgian Cup again. In May 2018, owner Maged Samy and David Nakhid failed to agree on terms for a possible acquisition, making the future of the club uncertain. Coaching staff Managers Honours League Belgian First Division Champions: 1931–32, 1941–42, 1959–60, 1996–97 Runners-up: 1934–35, 1938–39 Belgian Second Division Winners: 1926–27, 2009–10 Runners-up (5): 1924–25, 1948–49, 1949–50, 1952–53, 2008–09 Belgian Second Division Final Round Winners: 1974, 1988, 2006 Cups Belgian Cup Winners: 1968–69, 1998–99 Runners-up: 1975–76 Belgian Super Cup Winners: 1997, 1999 European record As of 2019: Stadium Since 1925 Lierse played in the Herman Vanderpoortenstadion often referred to as Lisp. The latter is the