'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
KRC Genk is a relatively new side after having been founded in 1988. Despite their 20-year-old history, Genk have the joint 9th highest number of league titles alongside Royal Antwerp, KV Mechelen and the now-dissolved Lierse SK with 4. They are also one of the six teams from Belgium to make an appearance in the Champions League.
With one of the best youth academies in the world, the Belgian side has made discovered and nurtured some of the biggest names in Belgian football. Here we form a team of 11 active players who were sold by Genk in the past decade. Formation: 4-3-3
#1 Goalkeeper
A product of Genk Academy, Thibaut Courtois spent just two seasons with the Belgian side before moving to Chelsea. The Belgium No.1 joined the Academy at the age of seven and spent almost 10 years with the junior team before turning professional in 2009.
Trending
After being second fiddle to Laszlo Koteles during his first season, Courtois became the first choice the next season following issues with Koteles' registration. He went on to become the Goalkeeper of the Year and Genk's Player of the Year as the Belgian side won their third League title.
A move to Chelsea followed in 2011 but he spent his first three seasons on loan with Atletico Madrid. After seven seasons as a Chelsea player, Thibaut Courtois completed his dream move to Real Madrid last season after a very impressive World Cup with the national side.
Also check out:Champions league top scorers Champions League table EPL fixtures
#2 Defence
It is hard to imagine Kalidou Koulibaly playing in a team other than Napoli. The Senegal international made his name at Genk before moving to Napoli in 2014.
Although he won just one Belgian Cup, he has had a successful career with Napoli. The 28-year-old is now one of the leading central defenders in the world with many teams vying to add him to their roster.
Christian Kabasele gets the nod to partner Koulibaly in defence. The Belgium international joined Genk as the replacement for the Napoli-bound Koulibaly. Like his predecessor, Kabasele just spent two seasons at the Belgian side before moving to Premier League side Watford.
He made 81 appearances and scored 7 times for Genk, but failed to win any silverware with the Belgian side.
Another product of the Genk youth academy, Timothy Castagne is widely considered to be one of the most exciting young defensive prospects in the world at the moment. The right-back and Kabasele made their Genk debut during the same season.
Castagne like Kabasele failed to win any silverware with the Belgian side before moving to Atalanta last season. The 23-year-old was an integral part of Gian Piero Gasperini's side as La Dea qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history.
Yannick Carrasco never made a single appearance for Genk after coming through their youth setup. The Belgian international made the move to Monaco at the age of 16 and five years later moved to Atletico Madrid. He signed for Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang last year.
One of the most versatile players in the Belgium national team at the moment, Yannick Carrasco's ability to play as a full-back and a winger has seen him turn into an indispensable player in Roberto Martinez's squad.
#3 Midfield
In defensive midfield, Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi gets the nod. The Nigerian international made his debut for Genk as an 18-year-old.
Two seasons later Leicester City came calling for the young defensive midfielder. Wilfred Ndidi is now one of the most underrated players in the Premier League. The 22-year-old, to a certain degree, has done the near-impossible job of replacing N'Golo Kante. Wilfred Ndidi had the most number of successful tackles in the Premier League last season.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic had a short but impressive spell with Genk. The Serbian international joined the Belgian side in 2014 after nearly 8 years with his boyhood side FK Vojvodina.
In his only season with the club, Milinkovic-Savic made 24 appearances and scored five times before moving to Lazio. At the moment, the youngster is one of the most sought after midfielders in the world.
The biggest and most successful player to come out of the Gent youth academy, Kevin De Bruyne is one of the best playmakers in the world at the moment. Surprisingly, De Bruyne spent four seasons with the Belgian side before being spotted by Chelsea.
After a brief spell at Chelsea under Jose Mourinho, Kevin De Bruyne lit up the Bundesliga after moving to Wolfsburg. Two seasons later, De Bruyne was back in the Premier League, joining Manchester City for a then club-record fee.
The midfielder won the Belgian League, the Belgian Cup and the Belgian Super Cup during his time with Genk.
#4 Attack
The latest name to come out of Genk, Leandro Trossard joined Premier League side Brighton Hove & Albion this season after leading the Belgian side to their first league title in almost eight years.
Like many of the names on this list, Trossard is an academy graduate and made his professional debut in 2012. The winger had to spend his first four seasons out on loan before finally cementing a place in the first team in 2016.
Primarily a left-winger, Leandro Trossard scored an incredible 22 goals in 47 appearances, in all competitions, during his final season with the club.
Leon Bailey joined Genk from Slovakian side Trencin in 2015. The Jamaican winger quickly established himself as one of the starters for the Belgian side. Bailey won the Belgian Young Footballer of the Year award in his debut season. The winger caught the eye of European heavyweights as he scored seven goals in 12 appearances in the Europa League.
Leon Bailey joined Bayer Leverkusen in 2017 and has been a key figure for the Die Werkself ever since.
From being on the fringes of Liverpool's first-team to being a Champions League winner, Divock Origi has seen a lot. The Belgian striker though first caught the eye as a teenager with Genk. The forward never made an appearance for the Belgian side but spent nine years in the youth academy before joining Lille in 2010.
The strike moved to Liverpool in 2014 and is now a fan favourite at Anfield after helping Liverpool win the Champions League last season.
