Fans who have been following RSCA Futsal/Halle-Gooik for a long time will feel a sense of nostalgia when they watch the U21s in the coming months. With Frank Luypaert, a familiar face returns to the Alfasun Indoor Arena, while at the same time the club secures a highly experienced coach who knows the place well.
Frank Luypaert has been active in futsal for many years. More recently, he worked with Besiktas Gent. During the off-season, he was offered the opportunity to become head coach of Hasselt, a first division side, but Luypaert chose instead to take charge of the U21s at RSCA. His task will be to oversee the development and progression of young talents towards the first team.
Luypaert is no stranger to RSCA Futsal/Halle-Gooik. As a goalkeeper, he reached the Belgian national team, and as a coach he enjoyed immediate success with Amigo Schepdaal, winning four national titles in the BZVB.
In the 2012-2013 season, he took over from Tim Vergauwen, back when Halle-Gooik was still known as Asse-Gooik. The team was then playing in the second division and achieved impressive results. Luypaert guided the club to the top division and even reached the Belgian Cup semi-final as a second-tier team. The 30-3 victory over Turquoise Antwerp remains a club record to this day.
The following season – still under the name Asse-Gooik – the team excelled in its first year in the top division. They finished third in the regular season and reached the semi-finals in both the play-offs and the Belgian Cup, each time falling to Châtelineau.
In 2014-2015, Frank Luypaert became the first head coach of Halle-Gooik. The team immediately claimed its first league title and Belgian Cup. Unfortunately, he could not finish the job himself: after losing the support of part of the squad, he was dismissed in the winter. A decision that still leaves a bitter taste with the current management.
With Frank Luypaert’s return to the Alfasun Indoor Arena, the circle seems complete. Welcome back, Frank.