Club info
After two years playing against the best in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague, Belgacom Spirou Charleroi returns to the Eurocup. By advancing through the qualifying rounds both seasons, the Belgian powerhouse proved with its results that it can win big games at home and on the road and now in the Eurocup will try and translate that experience into a run for the title. Born from the ashes of Spirou Monceau, which moved to Charleroi in 1989, the team reached the Belgian League playoffs in 1992 for the first time ever. Four years later, Spirou claimed the 1996 Belgian Cup title to become the first club from the Wallone Region to win a trophy. Then came the first league title, which led to its debut Euroleague appearance. Charleroi continued ruling Belgium from 1997 to 1999 and returned to the Euroleague from 2000 to 2002. Its efforts seemed to take away from its strength at home, where no new titles came. That changed when Charleroi found a perfect balance, finding success in the ULEB Cup, while winning domestic titles in Belgium. In 2004, Charleroi reached the ULEB Cup elimination rounds, losing in the eighthfinals against Estudiantes. It also won the Belgian League title following a five-game battle with Liege. The 2003-04 season was another special one for the club. Not only did Spirou win its second straight Belgian League title, but its home court, the Spiroudome, hosted the ULEB Cup Final for the first time. Charleroi made the 2005 ULEB Cup quarterfinals and returned to the elimination rounds in 2006. A short dry spell ensued – including missing the 2006-07 ULEB Cup – but by the next season Charleroi was back. Spirou eventually reeled off four successive Belgian League crowns – including a double in 2009! Stars Andre Riddick and Demond Mallet were the leaders as Spirou made waves with its back-to-back Euroleague appearances. However last season Charleroi’s dominance at home ended with an overtime loss to rival Telenet BC Oostende in the fifth and deciding game of the Belgian finals. Nevertheless, Spirou comes into a new season poised to continue making waves in the Belgian League and Eurocup.
Trophy Case
Belgian League: 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11
Belgian National Cup: 1996, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2009
Belgian Supercup: 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2010