DATA-DRIVEN SUCCESS

THE MAN BEHIND THE REBIRTH OF BELGIAN CHAMPIONS UNION SAINT-GILLOISE GREW UP IN CAPE TOWN

- By Mark Gleeson

The rise of Union Saint-Gilloise to the summit of Belgian football with the Brussels club winning the league title for the first time in 90 years has much to do with the work of a former Orlando Pirates assistant coach.

Chris O'Loughlin has come a long way from the time he assisted Kalamby 'Bibey' Mutombo at the Buccaneers in 2007 and a year later worked at SuperSport United in their academy.

In Belgium he has become a veritable guru, as Union have used extensive data analysis in making choices around buying players and putting together a team that could take the 2024/25 title.

Percy Tau was among their former players when they were making their way back up to the topflight after almost four decades in the wilderness.

Now they find themselves among the European elite, chasing a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

In the book