

Koninklijke Atletiek Associatie Gent, commonly known as KAA Gent, is a Belgian professional football club based in Ghent, East Flanders. The football department was founded on 31 October 1900 as part of the multisport organisation Association Athlétique La Gantoise. The organisation received the royal designation in 1914, and in 1972 its name was officially Dutchified to Koninklijke Atletiek Associatie Gent. The club is widely known by its nickname, De Buffalo's, and is traditionally associated with blue and white colours. \n\nKAA Gent has developed into one of Belgium's established professional football clubs. Its most significant domestic achievement came in the 2014–15 season, when it won the Belgian Pro League championship for the first time in its history. The club has also won the Belgian Cup on multiple occasions, including in 1964, 1984, 2010 and 2022. Its league title in 2015 earned it qualification for the UEFA Champions League, where it reached the round of 16 in the 2015–16 campaign. \n\nThe club plays its home matches at the Planet Group Arena, located on Ottergemsesteenweg Zuid in Ghent. The stadium opened in 2013 and provides facilities for professional matches, hospitality, supporters and commercial activities. KAA Gent operates a professional men's first team, youth teams and player development programmes. Its academy and coaching structure focus on identifying and developing young footballers and providing pathways into senior professional football. \n\nThe wider KAA Gent organisation also places importance on community engagement and social responsibility. Through the KAA Gent Foundation, also known as Voetbal in de stad, the club supports initiatives that use football to encourage social inclusion, participation and community development. Its work involves local residents, schools, social organisations and other community partners. The club's stated values include familiarity, fairness, excellence and willfulness, reflecting its ambition to connect sporting performance with its role in the city. \n\nKAA Gent remains a significant sporting institution in East Flanders, combining professional competition, youth development, commercial partnerships and community initiatives. Its history, supporter culture and domestic and European performances have established it as an important part of Belgian football.