Sint-Truidense VV has officially secured a historic ticket for European football in the 2026/2027 season. The club hopes for a 'safety net' ticket. This ticket would be secured if Union wins the cup and STVV finishes third. In that case, the club would be guaranteed European football until the winter break. Even if they lose their first European match, they would still be able to continue playing in the Conference League. For Vrancken, this success is extra special due to his personal connection with the city and the club. In 1999, he played for the club and even scored against Spartak Varna in the Intertoto Cup. 'Those were nice trips, but it's not comparable to the European tickets we can win now,' he remembers. The coach sees how the current results are affecting the supporters. 'I'm a Truienaar myself, so I know how important STVV is within the community in Sint-Truiden. It gives me extra satisfaction that the club is constantly being talked about in the city.' Despite the success, there are still questions about the future. Both about the player core, which will inevitably be in the spotlight after a top season, and about Vrancken's position. The challenge for next season will be to keep the core together. He knows that a top season will inevitably lead to interest in his players. 'That's the business model of almost every Belgian club: developing, improving, and selling players to a bigger competition. In this business, you have to be able to anticipate that.' The coach keeps his options open for his own future. 'The focus is really on the play-offs at the moment. The rest will be seen after the last match against KV Mechelen.'