# 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 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 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 | Bruges | 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. | Bruges | 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 | 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

| 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 |
| 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 | Relegation to 2008–09 Belgian Second Division |

## Results

| Home \ Away | AND | GBA | CER | BRU | CHA | DEN | GNK | GNT | LOK | KVM | FCB | MON | MOU | ROE | STA | STV | WES | ZWA |
| Anderlecht | | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 5–0 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 |
| Germinal Beerschot | 2–0 | | 3–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–3 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 |
| Cercle Brugge | 0–0 | 1–1 | | 1–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 5–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 |
| Club Brugge | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–6 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 1–0 |
| Charleroi | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 |
| Dender | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–4 | 1–0 | 2–4 | | 2–0 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
| Genk | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | | 3–3 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 5–2 |
| Gent | 2–3 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–4 | 5–0 | | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 |
| Lokeren | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 |
| Mechelen | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–3 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 2–1 |
| Brussels | 2–4 | 1–2 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 |
| Mons | 1–2 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 3–0 |
| Mouscron | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | | 1–3 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 |
| Roeselare | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–3 | 2–1 | | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 |
| Standard Liège | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 5–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 |
| Sint-Truiden | 4–3 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | | 0–2 | 2–1 |
| Westerlo | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 7–2 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 6–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | | 1–1 |
| Zulte Waregem | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 1–0 | |

## 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:
| | 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.