Anderlecht aim to win 32nd title in style

As RSC Anderlecht prepare to begin the defence of their Belgian First League title at KV Kortrijk on Saturday, new coach John van den Brom said he wants to play with style as the club bid to claim a 32nd crown.

Van den Brom took the reins at Les Mauves following Ariël Jacobs's summer departure to Danish side FC København and is keen to make an impression at his new club. Gohi Bi Cyriac has joined from rivals R. Standard de Liège but with the 21-year-old Ivory Coast striker out injured until January, the onus of making a fast start and playing free-flowing football will fall to the core of last season's championship-winning squad.

"Anderlecht like to play attractive and good football, which is the kind of football I love," said the former ADO Den Haag and Vitesse coach. "I will take care to ensure that we play attractive football. My ambition is to become champions and I am with a team that can, and maybe even must, become champions."

Last season's runners-up Club Brugge KV also have a new man at the helm, with Georges Leekens replacing Christoph Daum, and they should push Anderlecht all the way in the title race. The Blauw-Zwart have shown their ambition and strengthened by bringing in Jesper Jørgensen, Jim Larsen, Ivan Tričkovski and Mohamed Tchite, with the latter set to become the first player to play for Anderlecht, Club Brugge and Standard.

Not to be left out, the other main challengers, Standard, have also installed a new coach. Ron Jans is now in charge of the Liege outfit but if they are to go the distance then his main task will be to fill the void left by the departure of forwards Bi Cyriac and Tchite. KRC Genk, K. Beerschot AC, KV Mechelen, KAA Gent and KSC Lokeren OV also look well equipped to compete for the European places come next spring.