The 2007–08 season of the Belgian First Division began on August 3, 2007, and concluded on May 10, 2008. The championship was decided in the 31st round on April 20, 2008, when Standard Liège beat Anderlecht 2–0 at home. For Standard it was their 9th League Championship, but just their first in the last 25 years. At the other end of the table, Brussels and Sint-Truiden were relegated on matchdays 31 and 32 respectively. Behind Standard, Anderlecht and Club Brugge fought until the end for the second place which gives right to a place in the qualifying rounds of the 2008–09 UEFA Champions League. On the penultimate matchday, Anderlecht won against Club Brugge with 2–0 which proved decisive in the end for them to become second.
Clubs Eighteen teams played in the Belgian First Division season 2007–08. Twelve teams were from Flanders, four clubs from Wallonia and two clubs from the Brussels-Capital Region.
New teams K.S.K. Beveren had been relegated at the end of the previous season with F. C. Verbroedering Dender E.H. replacing them as they won the Belgian Second Division. Lierse lost their spot during the promotion playoff and were replaced by Y.R. K.V. Mechelen.
Overview
Club Location Current manager 2007–08 season managersR.S.C. AnderlechtAnderlecht Ariel Jacobs Franky VercauterenK.R.C. GenkGenk Ronny Van Geneugden (caretaker) Hugo BroosStandard LiègeLiège Michel Preud'hommenoneK.A.A. GentGhent Trond SolliednoneR. Charleroi S.C.Charleroi Thierry Siquet Philippe Van de WalleClub BruggeBruges Jacky MathijssennoneK.F.C. Germinal BeerschotAntwerp Harm van VeldhovennoneK.V.C. WesterloWesterlo Jan CeulemansnoneR.A.E.C. MonsMons Albert Cartier José RigaR.E. MouscronMouscron Enzo Scifo Marc Brys, Geert Broeckaert (caretaker)K.S.V. RoeselareRoeselare Dirk GeeraerdnoneCercle Brugge K.S.V.Bruges Glen De BoecknoneF.C. Molenbeek Brussels StrombeekSint-Jans-Molenbeek Franky Van Der Elst Albert Cartier, Edy De Bolle (caretaker)S.V. Zulte-WaregemWaregem Francky DurynoneK. Sint-Truidense V.V.Sint-Truiden Dennis Van Wijk Valère Billen, Peter Voets (caretaker)K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-VlaanderenLokeren Georges LeekensnoneF. C. Verbroedering Dender E.H.Denderleeuw Johan Boskamp Jean-Pierre Vande Velde, Patrick Asselman (caretaker)Y.R. K.V. MechelenMechelen Peter Maesnone
Managerial changes Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Sint-Truiden Valère Billen Quit 18 September 2007 Peter Voets (caretaker) 18 September 2007 Anderlecht Franky Vercauteren Mutual consent 12 November 2007 Ariel Jacobs 12 November 2007 Dender EH Jean-Pierre Vande Velde Mutual consent 19 November 2007 Johan Boskamp 27 November 2007 Charleroi Philippe Van de Walle Quit 10 December 2007 Thierry Siquet 10 December 2007 Sint-Truiden Peter Voets Caretaker replaced 10 December 2007 Dennis Van Wijk 10 December 2007 Mouscron Marc Brys Fired 17 December 2007 Geert Broeckaert (caretaker) 17 December 2007 Brussels Albert Cartier Fired 22 December 2007 Edy De Bolle (caretaker) 22 December 2007 Mouscron Geert Broeckaert Caretaker replaced 27 December 2007 Enzo Scifo 27 December 2007 Brussels Edy De Bolle Caretaker replaced 24 January 2008 Franky Van Der Elst 24 January 2008 Mons José Riga Fired 27 January 2008 Albert Cartier 28 January 2008 Genk Hugo Broos Fired 23 February 2008 Ronny Van Geneugden (caretaker) 23 February 2008
Kits Team Kit maker Shirt sponsor Notes Anderlecht Adidas Fortis Genk Airness Euphony, Carglass and Vasco Other sponsor: Asap.be Standard Umbro BASE,TNT Gent Jako VDK Charleroi Errea VOO, Champion Club Brugge Puma Dexia Germinal Beerschot Legea Quick Westerlo Saller Willy Naessens Industriebouw Side sponsors: Sika, Veralu, Gouden Gids, ING, Netex Mons Jako Holcim Side sponsors: SGI, Foruminvest Mouscron Errea Frinver Side sponsors: O2XA, Renault Mouscron Roeselare Joma Deceuninck Side sponsors: Alheembouw, Molecule, Vanheede Cercle Brugge Masita Vacansoleil Side sponsors: Vaillant, Renault Denoyel, Soncotra, Oud Brugge, The city of Bruges Brussels Jartazi Vermeersch Construct and Kia Motors Side sponsors: Crefibel, Tonissteiner, Verabel, Alno Zulte-Waregem Lotto BIK Woningen NV Side sponsors: Nollens Poultry, Stortbeton Declerq, Euphony, Mink, Giks Mode Sint-Truiden Umbro Belisol Side sponsors: Radson, Start People Lokeren Jartazi Edialux Side sponsors: DCM, Q-Team-VP-Lambrecht, Start People, vitrine.be, Garage Van Winckel, Van De Walle Industriebouw, Pingy Dender Nike De Doncker, Van Roy Mechelen Nike Telenet Side sponsors: Veolia Environnement, Krefima, Gybels, United Brands
Stadiums
Team Stadium Capacity Standard Stade Maurice Dufrasne 30,000 Cercle Brugge Jan Breydel Stadium 29,415 Club Brugge Jan Breydel Stadium 29,415 Anderlecht Constant Vanden Stock Stadium 28,063 Charleroi Stade du Pays de Charleroi 25,000 Genk Cristal Arena 24,900 Mechelen Veolia-Stadion 14,145 Gent Jules Ottenstadion 12,919 Sint-Truiden Staaienveld 12,491 Brussels Edmond Machtens Stadium 12,340 Germinal Beerschot Olympisch Stadion 12,148 Mouscron Stade Le Canonnier 11,500 Lokeren Daknamstadion 10,000 Mons Stade Charles Tondreau 9,504 Roeselare Schiervelde Stadion 9,036 Zulte-Waregem Regenboogstadion 8,500 Westerlo Het Kuipje 8,200 Dender Florent Beeckmanstadion 6,800
League standings
Results
Season statistics
Scoring First goal of the season: Marcin Wasilewski for Anderlecht against Mechelen (3 August 2007) Widest winning margin: 6: Westerlo 6–0 Roeselare (20 October 2007) Most goals in a match: 9: Westerlo 7–2 Brussels (19 January 2008) Best offensive team: Cercle Brugge with 62 goals. Best defensive team: Standard Liège with 19 goals. Hattricks scored: Milan Jovanović for Standard Liège against Brussels (11 August 2007) Milan Jovanović for Standard Liège against Roeselare (25 August 2007) Joseph Akpala for Charleroi against Sint-Truiden (26 August 2007) Bertin Tomou for Mouscron against Dender EH (27 October 2007) Bryan Ruiz for Gent against Lokeren (8 December 2007) Elyaniv Barda for Genk against Zulte-Waregem (14 December 2007) Bart Van Den Eede for Westerlo against Brussels (19 January 2008) Joseph Akpala for Charleroi against Genk (12 April 2008) Nicolás Frutos for Anderlecht against Sint-Truiden (26 April 2008)
Cards First yellow card: Nicolas Pareja for Anderlecht against Mechelen (3 August 2007) First red card: Wim Mennes for Westerlo against Brussels (4 August 2007)
Top goal scorers As of May 6, 2008:
PlayerTeamGoals 1 Charleroi 16 = Genk 16 = Standard Liège 16 = Zulte Waregem 16 = Germinal Beerschot 16 6 Standard Liège 15 7 Roeselare 14 8 YR KV Mechelen 13 9 Gent 11 = Gent 11 = †Club Brugge 11 = Mouscron 11
† François Sterchele died on May 8, 2008, in a car crash and thus did not complete the full season.
Attendances Source:
No. Club Average 1 Club Brugge 26,368 2 Standard de Liège 25,785 3 Anderlecht 24,911 4 Genk 23,271 5 Mechelen 11,143 6 Gent 10,690 7 Cercle Brugge 10,101 8 Germinal Beerschot 9,868 9 Charleroi 9,393 10 STVV 7,824 11 Zulte Waregem 6,704 12 Roeselare 6,096 13 Westerlo 5,941 14 Excelsior Mouscron 5,841 15 Lokeren 5,804 16 Brussels 5,219 17 Dender 4,672 18 RAEC 4,647
References
See also 2007–08 R.S.C. Anderlecht season