Following a season of struggle that saw the club narrowly avoid relegation, KV Kortrijk enters 2026/27 facing a full-blown crisis: bottom of the Belgian Pro League with zero points from six matches, a goal difference of -14, and a change of head coach after just three games. This is the definitive guide to the current Kerels squad.
Technical Leadership & Coaching Profile
Manager: Christophe Lepoint (Interim)
KV Kortrijk parted ways with head coach Michiel Jonckheere on 13 September 2026 following a disastrous start to the season, with the club rooted to the bottom of the Pro League table after six straight defeats. Assistant coach Christophe Lepoint, a former Belgian international midfielder, was immediately appointed to take charge of the daily sporting operations. Lepoint has expressed confidence in his ability to steady the ship: “I didn’t hesitate for a second. I obtained my diploma for this opportunity. It happened quickly, but I’m ready for it”. He is expected to be given the match against SK Beveren to prove himself, with the club potentially considering a longer-term appointment if results improve.
Tactical Philosophy
Under Jonckheere, Kortrijk deployed a 3-1-4-2 formation in the opening match against Club Brugge before switching to a 3-4-3 for subsequent fixtures. The results have been catastrophic: one goal scored and fifteen conceded across six league matches, with the club averaging just 0.33 goals per game while shipping 3.00 at the other end. The defensive structure has been repeatedly exposed, and the attacking output has been virtually non-existent. Lepoint’s immediate priority will be restoring organisation and resilience to a squad that appears completely devoid of confidence.
Preferred Formations
3-4-3 / 3-1-4-2 in possession.
Strategic Transfer Activity
KV Kortrijk’s summer window focused on acquiring young talent with resale potential and adding experienced Belgian Pro League professionals to steady the ship. The club’s recruitment strategy reflects a sustainable model: free transfers, loan deals with purchase options, and modest fees for players with upside. Sporting Director Nils Vanneste has overseen a significant squad overhaul, with the emphasis on players who can adapt quickly to the demands of the Belgian top flight.
Table A: Summer Major Transfer Influx
| Player | Position | Former Club | Fee Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axel Drouhin | Centre-Back | FC Annecy | Undisclosed |
| Goduine Koyalipou | Striker | RC Lens | Loan (option to buy) |
| Ken Masui | Attacking Midfielder | Nagoya Grampus | Loan (option to buy) |
| Suf Podgoreanu | Winger | Maccabi Haifa | Free |
| Shandre Campbell | Winger | Club Brugge | Undisclosed |
| Matthew Anderson | Left-Back | — | Undisclosed |
| Harrison Murray-Campbell | Centre-Back | Chelsea U18 | Loan |
The First-Team Roster
Goalkeepers
Marko Ilić (#31): The Serbian goalkeeper has been entrusted with the starting role despite the defensive collapse around him, accumulating 540 minutes across six matches. At 28, Ilić’s shot-stopping has been tested to the limit, and his confidence must be severely damaged after conceding fifteen goals in six outings. His contract runs until June 2029, suggesting the club views him as a long-term option.
Patrik Gunnarsson (#1): The Icelandic goalkeeper provides experienced backup coverage, his professionalism valued within a goalkeeping group that has endured a torrid start to the season.
Ebbe De Vlaeminck (#13): The 21-year-old Belgian goalkeeper continues his development as third-choice option, gaining exposure to first-team standards.
Defenders
Axel Drouhin (#21): The French centre-back arrived on Transfer Deadline Day from FC Annecy, signing a three-year contract until 2029. Sporting Director Nils Vanneste praised the acquisition: “Axel is a central defender who fits well with what we envisage as a club. He brings physical presence, duelling strength and experience. We are convinced he strengthens our defensive options”. At 26, Drouhin’s immediate integration is essential given Kortrijk’s defensive crisis.
Gilles Ruyssen (#22): The veteran centre-back, now 32, remains a commanding presence in the heart of defence when available, his experience and aerial dominance providing a foundation of stability within an otherwise fragile backline.
James Ndjeungoue (#5): The Cameroonian defender has been a first-team regular, his physical profile and defensive discipline offering a different dimension to the defensive options.
Matthew Anderson (#3): The Scottish left-back arrived as part of the summer recruitment drive, bringing Scottish Premiership experience to the left flank.
Harrison Murray-Campbell (#4): The young English centre-back arrived on loan from Chelsea’s academy, representing the club’s investment in high-potential youth.
Gilles Dewaele (#20): The Belgian right-back provides versatility across defence and midfield, his familiarity with the Pro League adding valuable experience.
Rudy Kohon (#36): The 22-year-old defender continues his development within the first-team squad, his potential offering long-term security.
Mohamed Fofana (#15): The young Ivorian defender provides additional depth across the backline.
Midfielders
Jamie Roche (#24): The Swedish midfielder is Kortrijk’s most valuable asset at €3.50 million, his contract running until 2029. At 25, Roche’s physical presence and box-to-box energy make him a crucial figure in the engine room, though the defensive collapse has exposed the limitations of the structure around him.
Brecht Dejaegere (#19): The veteran Belgian midfielder and former captain has been a consistent presence, his experience invaluable within a youthful squad. At 35, Dejaegere’s leadership and tactical intelligence offer a reference point for younger teammates during the club’s crisis.
Ken Masui (#71): The Japanese attacking midfielder arrived on loan from Nagoya Grampus with a purchase option, bringing creativity and technical quality to the attacking midfield role. Sporting Director Nils Vanneste praised his qualities: “He brings creativity, energy and maturity. We believe he can play an important role within our team”.
Nayel Mehssatou (#8): The Chilean midfielder provides tactical discipline and progressive passing in central areas, his contract until 2029 reflecting the club’s long-term commitment.
Liam De Smet (#6): The 22-year-old Belgian midfielder has established himself as a first-team regular, his energy and work rate making him a reliable presence in the engine room.
Lennard Hens (#10): The experienced attacking midfielder provides additional creativity in advanced positions, his technical quality offering a different dimension to the attacking structure.
Rok Storman (#17): The Slovenian midfielder offers versatility and tactical intelligence, his development continuing within the first-team environment.
Basile Vroninks (#25): The young Belgian midfielder represents the club’s commitment to internal development.
Forwards
Goduine Koyalipou (#10): The Central African Republic international arrived on loan from RC Lens with a purchase option, representing Kortrijk’s most significant attacking addition. Koyalipou previously starred for SK Beveren in the Challenger Pro League, scoring 16 goals in 30 matches to win the division’s top scorer award before earning a move to CSKA Sofia, where he scored 15 goals in just 17 appearances. Sporting Director Vanneste praised his profile: “Goduine combines speed, power and depth with a real winning mentality. Moreover, he knows the Belgian competition, so we are convinced he will adapt quickly”.
Thierry Ambrose (#68): The French forward, valued at €1.80 million, provides pace and directness in the attacking line. At 29, Ambrose’s experience across European leagues adds a different dimension to the forward options, though he has struggled for service during the club’s difficult start.
Shandre Campbell (#11): The South African winger signed a four-year contract until 2030 after arriving from Club Brugge. Campbell was part of the Bafana Bafana squad at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and scored 11 goals in 25 appearances for Brugge’s reserve side. Sporting Director Vanneste described him as bringing “creativity, speed and depth” to the squad.
Suf Podgoreanu (#18): The Israeli winger arrived on a four-year contract until 2030, bringing versatility across both flanks and the striker position. Podgoreanu developed at Maccabi Haifa before a move to AS Roma’s Primavera setup, and gained Eredivisie experience at Heracles Almelo.
Jellert Van Landschoot (#18): The Belgian forward provides depth and competition in the attacking line, his experience adding stability to a youthful forward group.
Csanád Dénes (#11): The young Hungarian forward continues his development within the first-team squad.
Sixtus Ogbuehi (#90): The Nigerian forward offers physical presence and athleticism in the attacking third.
Cassius Mailula (#21): The South African forward provides additional depth and pace in the attacking options.
Leadership Group & Squad Regulations
Club Captain: Brecht Dejaegere
The veteran midfielder wears the armband and embodies the standards the club aspires to, even as results have collapsed around him. His experience across Belgian football and his leadership within the dressing room are invaluable during the current crisis.
The Leadership Committee
Gilles Ruyssen and Jamie Roche serve as senior voices alongside Dejaegere, their combined experience providing essential guidance through the most challenging period in the club’s recent history.
Homegrown Quota Check
With several academy graduates in the first-team squad, KV Kortrijk maintains a connection to their youth pipeline. The club’s investment in internal development remains a cornerstone of its identity, though the current crisis has limited opportunities for emerging talents.
Financial & Contractual Health
Financial Balance Overview
KV Kortrijk operates with a modest budget relative to many Pro League competitors, with a total squad market value of approximately €13.30 million and an average player value of €391,000. The summer transfer window showed a net spend of approximately €725,000, reflecting the club’s sustainable operating model. The emphasis on loan deals with purchase options and free transfers allows the club to compete while maintaining financial discipline.
Contract Red Alerts
Securing the long-term futures of key assets like Jamie Roche, whose contract runs until 2029 and whose market value of €3.50 million makes him the squad’s most valuable player, will be essential. The loan arrangements for Goduine Koyalipou and Ken Masui include purchase options that the club may exercise if their performances warrant it.
The Academy Pipeline & Loan Tracker
Breakout Talents to Watch
Shandre Campbell (#11) arrives with a reputation forged at Club Brugge, where he gained Champions League experience and scored prolifically for the reserve side. Ken Masui (#71) brings creativity and maturity despite his youth, his loan spell at Beerschot having prepared him for the demands of Belgian football.
Notable Out on Loan
KV Kortrijk’s focus on immediate survival means the loan tracker is less prominent, with the squad assembled for competitive contribution rather than long-term development.
Set-Piece Specialists & FPL Cheat Sheet
Penalties: Goduine Koyalipou (First Choice) / Thierry Ambrose (Second Choice).
Direct Free-Kicks: Ken Masui / Lennard Hens.
Corners & Crosses: Ken Masui / Brecht Dejaegere.
Final Outlook: Navigating the Tactical Horizon
KV Kortrijk enters 2026/27 in the midst of a full-blown crisis. Six matches, six defeats, one goal scored, fifteen conceded, and zero points. The club is rooted to the bottom of the Belgian Pro League, and the dismissal of head coach Michiel Jonckheere after just three games laid bare the scale of the challenge.
The statistics paint a grim picture: Kortrijk have averaged just 0.33 goals per game while shipping 3.00 at the other end, a goal difference of -14 that reflects the gulf in quality between the Kerels and their Pro League opponents. The defensive structure has been repeatedly exposed, and the attacking output has been virtually non-existent. The 26% possession figure against Club Brugge and the 49% against Antwerp suggest a team struggling to impose itself at either end of the pitch.
Christophe Lepoint inherits an almost impossible task. The former Belgian international has no head coaching experience but has approached the challenge with admirable conviction: “I didn’t hesitate for a second”. His immediate priority must be restoring organisation and resilience to a squad that appears completely devoid of confidence. The arrivals of Axel Drouhin and Goduine Koyalipou provide fresh options in defence and attack, but integration takes time that Kortrijk may not have.
The road ahead is unforgiving. With Beveren, La Louvière, and Zulte Waregem among the upcoming fixtures, Kortrijk must find a way to grind out results against fellow strugglers. The January window will be crucial for addressing the glaring gaps that the summer recruitment failed to fill. But the foundation remains: a squad with a blend of experienced Pro League professionals and emerging young talent, a Sporting Director in Nils Vanneste who has demonstrated an eye for value in the market, and a fanbase that understands the cyclical nature of football in Belgium’s top flight. The margin for error is non-existent, and the mission is clear: survival.
