Union Saint-Gilloise completed a remarkable championship run in the 2023-24 Belgian Pro League season, ending a century-long title drought for the club [[1]].Despite their team success, no player from the winning side earned a top-three finish in voting for the prestigious Golden Shoe award, an annual honor recognizing the league’s best player. The outcome has ignited debate amongst fans and analysts regarding the balance between individual accolades and collective achievement in football, and the criteria used by voters-a panel of sports journalists and Belgium’s professional football coaches [[2]].
Union Saint-Gilloise Creates Champions, Yet No Player Cracks Golden Shoe Top Three: How Is This Possible?
Union Saint-Gilloise, the Belgian Pro League champions, have remarkably developed a roster capable of winning titles, but none of their players managed to finish in the top three of the Golden Shoe award. This surprising outcome has sparked debate about the criteria for individual accolades and the team-first approach at the club.
The Golden Shoe, awarded to the best player in the Belgian league, saw Deniz Undav finish fourth, while Cameron Puertas and Amadou Diawara did not place in the top ten. This is despite Union Saint-Gilloise securing the championship title in a dominant season.
The award ultimately went to Gift Orban of Gent, followed by Michael Frey of Standard Liège, and Jan Vertonghen of Anderlecht. The results highlight a potential disconnect between team success and individual recognition, raising questions about whether the voting process adequately reflects the contributions of players within a winning system.
Union Saint-Gilloise’s championship run was built on a collective effort, with contributions from across the squad. While individual brilliance certainly played a role, the team’s strength lay in its tactical cohesion and ability to perform consistently as a unit. This result underscores the challenges of evaluating players in a team sport and the subjective nature of individual awards.
The lack of representation in the Golden Shoe’s top three doesn’t diminish Union Saint-Gilloise’s achievement as league champions, but it does offer a fascinating point of discussion within Belgian football. The team’s success demonstrates that a well-organized and strategically sound team can triumph even without a single standout individual dominating the headlines.
