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.

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

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

ClubLocationCurrent manager2007–08 season managers
R.S.C. AnderlechtAnderlecht Ariel Jacobs Franky Vercauteren
K.R.C. GenkGenk Ronny Van Geneugden Hugo Broos
Standard LiègeLiège Michel Preud'hommenone
K.A.A. GentGhent Trond Solliednone
R. Charleroi S.C.Charleroi Thierry Siquet Philippe Van de Walle
Club BruggeBrugge Jacky Mathijssennone
K.F.C. Germinal BeerschotAntwerp Harm van Veldhovennone
K.V.C. WesterloWesterlo Jan Ceulemansnone
R.A.E.C. MonsMons Albert Cartier José Riga
R.E. MouscronMouscron Enzo Scifo Marc Brys, Geert Broeckaert
K.S.V. RoeselareRoeselare Dirk Geeraerdnone
Cercle Brugge K.S.V.Brugge Glen De Boecknone
F.C. Molenbeek Brussels StrombeekSint-Jans-Molenbeek Franky Van Der Elst Albert Cartier, Edy De Bolle
S.V. Zulte-WaregemWaregem Francky Durynone
K. Sint-Truidense V.V.Sint-Truiden Dennis Van Wijk Valère Billen, Peter Voets
K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-VlaanderenLokeren Georges Leekensnone
F. C. Verbroedering Dender E.H.Denderleeuw Johan Boskamp Jean-Pierre Vande Velde, Patrick Asselman
Y.R. K.V. MechelenMechelen Peter Maesnone

Managerial changes

Kits

Stadiums

TeamStadiumCapacity
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

Season statistics

Scoring

Top goal scorers

As of May 6, 2008:
PlayerTeamGoals
1Charleroi16
=Genk16
=Standard Liège16
=Zulte Waregem16
=Germinal Beerschot16
6Standard Liège15
7Roeselare14
8YR KV Mechelen13
9Gent11
=Gent11
= †Club Brugge11
=Mouscron11

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