UEFA.com works better on other browsers
For the best possible experience, we recommend using Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.

Anderlecht back on top in Belgium

UEFA Europa League quarter-finalists Anderlecht are Belgian champions for the 34th time after outlasting Club Brugge in their first season under Swiss coach René Weiler.

Anderlecht back on top in Belgium
Anderlecht back on top in Belgium ©Getty Images

How they won it
Knocked off the top after 11 matches, Anderlecht recovered the lead in the 30th and final round of the regular season and held off Club Brugge in the championship play-offs. Club Brugge held Anderlecht on Sunday to delay the coronation, but only until Thursday as the capital club won 3-1 at Charleroi, who had earlier beaten them at home, to seal the title with a game to spare.

Swiss coach René Weiler, in his debut Belgian season, put together a successful side combining home-grown players like Youri Tielemans and Leander Dendoncker with signings including captain Sofiane Hanni and top scorer Łukasz Teodorczyk, and also reached the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals – their longest run in Europe since 1996/97. They now end a two-year absence from the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Key number: 34
Anderlecht are celebrating their 34th Begian title, all won since World War II. Before that, other capital sides like Racing Club de Bruxelles, Daring Club de Bruxelles and Union St-Gilloise were the capital's dominant clubs.

The opposition
Anderlecht suffered six defeats and were held to ten draws, but neither reigning champions Club Brugge or 2014/15 winners Gent were able to take advantage. 

Dury and Zulte Waregem's second Cup
Anderlecht were denied by Charleroi in the Belgian Cup round of 16, allowing  Oostende and Zulte Waregem to contest the final. Oostende, in their first Cup final, gave Zulte Waregem a hard time in an exciting match that ended 3-3 after extra time. In the penalty shoot-out, Zulte Waregem's nerve held and they lifted the trophy for the second time, coach Francky Dury having also been in charge on the previous occasion in 2006.

Łukasz Teodorczyk after scoring against Charleroi
Łukasz Teodorczyk after scoring against Charleroi©AFP

Room for improvement
Consistency. Although there were good runs for Anderlecht, they came to an end with sudden surprise defeats. They also slipped up in some decisive moments, like Tielemans missing from the spot in the potential championship decider against Club Brugge. However, if the club can keep the core together, they could improve on that all in the new season.

Biggest win: 7-0 v Excelsior Mouscron
Biggest loss:
1-0 v Charleroi, 2-1 v Westerlo, 2-1 v Club Brugge, 2-1 v Waasland Beveren, 3-2 v Zulte Waregem, 3-2 v KV Mechelen. 
Top scorer: Łukasz Teodorczyk (22)

Selected for you