2007–08 Belgian First Division

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 Brugge with 2–0 which proved decisive in the end for them to become second.

Belgian First Division
Season2007–08
ChampionsStandard Liège
RelegatedSint-Truidense
Brussels
Champions LeagueStandard Liège
Anderlecht
UEFA CupClub Brugge
Gent
Matches played306
Goals scored795 (2.6 per match)
Top goalscorer
Joseph Akpala
Elyaniv Barda
Milan Jovanović
Mbaye Leye
Sanharib Malki (16 each)

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
Location of teams in Belgian First Division 2007–08
Club Location Current manager 2007–08 season managers
R.S.C. Anderlecht Anderlecht Ariel Jacobs Franky Vercauteren
K.R.C. Genk Genk Ronny Van Geneugden (caretaker) Hugo Broos
Standard Liège Liège Michel Preud'homme none
K.A.A. Gent Ghent Trond Sollied none
R. Charleroi S.C. Charleroi Thierry Siquet Philippe Van de Walle
Club Brugge Brugge Jacky Mathijssen none
K.F.C. Germinal Beerschot Antwerp Harm van Veldhoven none
K.V.C. Westerlo Westerlo Jan Ceulemans none
R.A.E.C. Mons Mons Albert Cartier José Riga
R.E. Mouscron Mouscron Enzo Scifo Marc Brys, Geert Broeckaert (caretaker)
K.S.V. Roeselare Roeselare Dirk Geeraerd none
Cercle Brugge K.S.V. Brugge Glen De Boeck none
F.C. Molenbeek Brussels Strombeek Sint-Jans-Molenbeek Franky Van Der Elst Albert Cartier, Edy De Bolle (caretaker)
S.V. Zulte-Waregem Waregem Francky Dury none
K. Sint-Truidense V.V. Sint-Truiden Dennis Van Wijk Valère Billen, Peter Voets (caretaker)
K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen Lokeren Georges Leekens none
F. C. Verbroedering Dender E.H. Denderleeuw Johan Boskamp Jean-Pierre Vande Velde, Patrick Asselman (caretaker)
Y.R. K.V. Mechelen Mechelen Peter Maes none

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment
Sint-Truiden Valère Billen Quit 18 September 2007 [1] Peter Voets (caretaker) 18 September 2007
Anderlecht Franky Vercauteren Mutual consent 12 November 2007 [2] Ariel Jacobs 12 November 2007
Dender EH Jean-Pierre Vande Velde Mutual consent 19 November 2007 [3] Johan Boskamp 27 November 2007
Charleroi Philippe Van de Walle Quit 10 December 2007 [4] Thierry Siquet 10 December 2007
Sint-Truiden Peter Voets Caretaker replaced 10 December 2007 [5] Dennis Van Wijk 10 December 2007
Mouscron Marc Brys Fired 17 December 2007 [6] Geert Broeckaert (caretaker) 17 December 2007
Brussels Albert Cartier Fired 22 December 2007 [7] Edy De Bolle (caretaker) 22 December 2007
Mouscron Geert Broeckaert Caretaker replaced 27 December 2007 Enzo Scifo 27 December 2007 [8]
Brussels Edy De Bolle Caretaker replaced 24 January 2008 Franky Van Der Elst 24 January 2008
Mons José Riga Fired 27 January 2008 [9] Albert Cartier 28 January 2008 [10]
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
StandardStade Maurice Dufrasne30,000
Cercle BruggeJan Breydel Stadium29,415
Club BruggeJan Breydel Stadium29,415
AnderlechtConstant Vanden Stock Stadium28,063
CharleroiStade du Pays de Charleroi25,000
GenkCristal Arena24,900
MechelenVeolia-Stadion14,145
GentJules Ottenstadion12,919
Sint-TruidenStaaienveld12,491
BrusselsEdmond Machtens Stadium12,340
Germinal BeerschotOlympisch Stadion12,148
MouscronStade Le Canonnier11,500
LokerenDaknamstadion10,000
MonsStade Charles Tondreau9,504
RoeselareSchiervelde Stadion9,036
Zulte-WaregemRegenboogstadion8,500
WesterloHet Kuipje8,200
DenderFlorent Beeckmanstadion6,800

League standings
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Standard Liège (C) 34 22 11 1 61 19 +42 77 Qualification to Champions League third qualifying round
2 Anderlecht 34 21 7 6 59 31 +28 70 Qualification to Champions League second qualifying round
3 Club Brugge 34 20 7 7 45 30 +15 67 Qualification to UEFA Cup first round
4 Cercle Brugge 34 17 9 8 62 33 +29 60
5 Germinal Beerschot 34 16 7 11 46 34 +12 55 Qualification to Intertoto Cup second round[11]
6 Gent 34 14 10 10 57 46 +11 52 Qualification to UEFA Cup second qualifying round
7 Zulte Waregem 34 13 8 13 47 54 −7 47
8 Charleroi 34 13 7 14 41 45 −4 46
9 Westerlo 34 12 9 13 43 37 +6 45
10 Genk 34 12 9 13 54 55 −1 45
11 Mouscron 34 12 6 16 38 43 −5 42
12 Lokeren 34 9 15 10 32 33 −1 42
13 Mechelen 34 10 10 14 45 52 −7 40
14 Roeselare 34 9 11 14 36 55 −19 38
15 Dender 34 9 6 19 33 59 −26 33
16 Mons 34 7 12 15 37 45 −8 33
17 Sint-Truiden (R) 34 6 9 19 32 58 −26 27 Relegation to 2008–09 Belgian Second Division
18 Brussels (R) 34 4 7 23 27 66 −39 19
Source: Jupiler League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) number of matches won; if teams are still tied a playoff is organised.
(C) Champion; (R) Relegated.
 Belgian League 2007–08 Winners 
Standard Liège
9th title

Season statistics

Scoring

Cards

Results
Home \ Away AND GNK STA GNT CHA BRU GBA WES MON MOU ROE CER FCB ZWA STV LOK DEN KVM
Anderlecht 1–0 0–0 2–1 0–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 3–2 2–1 5–0 3–1 3–0 2–2 4–1 1–0 1–0 1–0
Genk 1–1 0–2 3–3 1–0 1–2 1–3 1–0 1–2 3–1 0–0 3–1 2–1 5–2 0–1 2–3 2–0 2–1
Standard Liège 2–0 3–1 0–0 5–1 2–1 3–1 2–1 2–0 1–0 0–0 4–1 4–1 3–1 2–1 1–0 3–0 2–2
Gent 2–3 5–0 1–1 2–1 0–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–2 1–0 1–1 2–3 4–2 2–4 4–1
Charleroi 0–2 3–1 2–1 1–2 1–1 0–0 1–1 3–1 1–3 1–1 1–3 1–0 2–3 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–0
Club Brugge 1–0 2–6 1–2 0–0 0–2 3–0 4–0 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 3–2 1–1 2–0 2–0
Germinal Beerschot 2–0 1–2 1–2 2–2 1–0 0–1 0–2 2–0 3–0 2–0 3–0 3–0 0–0 2–1 1–1 1–0 4–3
Westerlo 0–2 2–1 1–3 2–0 1–0 0–0 1–2 0–0 0–2 6–0 1–1 7–2 1–1 2–0 1–2 0–0 1–1
Mons 1–2 1–1 1–1 4–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 1–3 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–1 3–0 0–0 0–1 2–2 1–1
Mouscron 1–2 1–1 0–0 1–4 3–1 2–0 1–0 1–2 3–1 1–3 1–0 1–1 0–2 0–0 2–0 2–1 0–1
Roeselare 2–2 0–0 0–4 0–1 1–2 1–2 1–0 0–2 4–3 2–1 0–2 2–0 3–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–2
Cercle Brugge 0–0 5–1 0–0 4–1 3–1 1–2 1–1 1–0 0–0 3–0 0–0 0–0 2–0 5–1 3–2 3–0 2–0
Brussels 2–4 0–5 0–1 0–2 1–2 1–3 1–2 0–1 1–1 0–2 0–0 1–4 1–2 2–0 2–0 4–1 2–2
Zulte Waregem 1–0 2–2 1–4 2–1 2–2 2–3 2–1 1–0 2–1 2–1 3–1 0–3 1–0 3–2 1–1 1–2 2–0
Sint-Truiden 4–3 1–2 0–0 2–1 1–3 1–1 0–3 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–1 0–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–2 0–1
Lokeren 0–0 1–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 0–1 0–0 1–1 1–2 0–0 3–0 1–1 0–1 0–0 2–1 1–0 3–1
Dender 2–2 2–0 0–0 0–3 2–4 1–0 1–2 2–0 0–3 0–3 2–1 2–4 1–1 2–1 1–0 0–1 0–3
Mechelen 0–1 2–2 0–1 1–0 1–0 1–1 1–2 1–0 2–0 2–2 4–3 0–4 4–0 2–1 2–3 1–1 2–2
Source: Jupiler League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top goal scorers

As of May 6, 2008:

Player Team Goals
1  Joseph Akpala (NGA) Charleroi 16
=  Elyaniv Barda (ISR) Genk 16
=  Milan Jovanović (SRB) Standard Liège 16
=  Mbaye Leye (SEN) Zulte Waregem 16
=  Sanharib Malki (SYR) Germinal Beerschot 16
6  Dieumerci Mbokani (COD) Standard Liège 15
7  Mahamadou Dissa (MLI) Roeselare 14
8  Aloys Nong (CMR) YR KV Mechelen 13
9  Dominic Foley (IRL) Gent 11
=  Bryan Ruiz (CRI) Gent 11
=  François Sterchele (BEL) † Club Brugge 11
=  Bertin Tomou (CMR) Mouscron 11

† François Sterchele died on May 8, 2008 in a car crash and thus did not complete the full season.[12]

References
  1. "Valère Billen neemt ontslag als hoofdcoach STVV" (in Dutch). demorgen.be. 2007-09-18.
  2. "RSCA and Vercauteren end current contract". rsca.be. 2007-11-13.
  3. "Kreeg vuur bij Dender niet aangewakkerd" (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2007-11-19.
  4. "Philippe Vande Walle stapt op bij Charleroi" (in Dutch). knack.be. 2007-12-10. Archived from the original on 2008-05-04. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
  5. "Dennis van Wijk nieuwe trainer Sint-Truiden" (in Dutch). nusport.nl. 2007-12-10. Archived from the original on 2008-05-18.
  6. "Moeskroen ontslaat trainer Marc Brys" (in Dutch). knack.be. 2007-12-17. Archived from the original on 2008-03-29. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
  7. "FC Brussels ontdoet zich van coach Cartier" (in Dutch). voetbalzone.nl. 2007-12-17.
  8. "Enzo Scifo nieuwe trainer van Moeskroen" (in Dutch). hln.be. 2007-12-27.
  9. "Bergen ontslaat José Riga nu toch" (in Dutch). belgiumsoccer.be. 2008-01-28. Archived from the original on 2008-01-30. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
  10. "Albert Cartier nieuwe coach Bergen" (in Dutch). hln.be. 2008-01-28.
  11. "Cercle laat Intertoto-ticket aan G.Beerschot" (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2008-05-13. Archived from the original on 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
  12. "François Sterchele (26) killed in car accident". deredactie.be. 2008-05-08. Archived from the original on 2008-05-12. Retrieved 2008-05-09.

See also
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