Summary
Union Saint-Gilloise, a Belgian football team, will host Newcastle United in the Champions League. Two of their key players, Christian Burgess and Ross Sykes, have unexpected careers that led them to success in Belgian football. Burgess and Sykes have played pivotal roles in Union's recent achievements.
Key Facts
- Christian Burgess, a history graduate, is the captain of Union Saint-Gilloise, a Belgian football team.
- Burgess was the oldest English outfield player to debut in the Champions League since 1998 when he played against PSV.
- Union Saint-Gilloise will play against Newcastle United in the Champions League on October 1.
- Burgess began his career at Middlesbrough and completed his degree while playing football.
- Ross Sykes, another key player, joined Union Saint-Gilloise from Accrington Stanley in 2022.
- Sykes was once released from Burnley for being "too small" but later found success in Belgium.
- Both Burgess and Sykes played crucial roles in helping Union win their first league title in 90 years.
- Between them, Sykes and Burgess have made 318 appearances for Union.
