The Belgian First Division showed nothing new in terms of emerging wider competitiveness – the leading clubs were the same,which defined the league during the 1970s, with one, and clearly temporary at that, exception: FC Brugge had a relatively weak season. The only mystery was at the bottom of the table.
Berchem Sport was the absolute outsider – 18th with 19 points, but it was no surprise at all. Relegation was more or less expected and normal.
The mystery was about the second relegated team.
With 24 points R. Beringen FC finished just above Berchem Sport – 17th – and had to be relegated. But it was not.
Instead, Beerschot VAV (Antwerpen), 15th in the final table, went down. Why is not clear – unless there was a relegation play-off. Lucky break for lowly Beringen and the city of Antwerpen lost its derby, at least for the next year.
Nothing really strange in the league – minor moves up or down among the bulk of not very strong teams. The only drop happened to FC Brugge – 6th place this season with 37 points.
Third row from left: Birger Jensen, Walter Meeuws, Dirk Ranson, Patrick Verhoosel, René Vandereycken, Zoran Filipovic, Philippe Vande Walle.
Middle row: Han Grijzenhout (coach), Eddy Warrinnier (kine), Paul Courant, Jan Sörensen, Leen Barth, Jan Ceulemans, Georges Leekens, Istvan Magyar, Raymond Mertens (assistant-coach).
Sitting: Laszlo Balint, Jos Volders, Fons Bastijns, Danny Vandenhende, Luc Vanwalleghem, Jacky Debougnoux, Gino Maes, Pettri Kupiainen.
The slip was clearly temporary and most likely due to rebuilding – FC Brugge aged and had to change generations, almost always a problem, at least for awhile. One thing which perhaps made FC brugge shaky this year seemingly was the absence of new bright Belgian talent: the local stars, Jan Ceulemans included, were not new rising boys. Foreign players seemingly were compensating for that and, whether experienced veterans of the league, or new recruits, they also aging players – Birger Jensen, Leen Barth, Laszlo Balint, Istvan Magyar. Jan Sorensen and Pettri Kupianen were not what one may call a star, and Zoran Filipovic, perhaps the most valuable foreign asset, most likely was not going to last. However, in Belgian context, FC Brugge had more than enough class to return quickly to the top.
RWD Molenbeed finished 7th, but the club was slowly slipping down for some time, so nothing surpirsing. Second row: Borremans, Ruiter, De Bolle, Desaeyere, De Cubber, Jansen, Olsen, Cnops, Bogaerts, Deleu ;
Sitting: Devriese, Erkens, De Kip, Boskamp, Cneudt, De Wolf, Martens, Gorez, Luyckx, Soors.
Like it or not, RWD Molenbeek suffered from its predicament – the club was not able to compete with financially stronger clubs, particularly with local rival Anderlecht, and depended on players no longer needed in other teams: Ruiter, De Cubber, Boskamp. They tended to be older and beyond their peak, hence, the club struggled to maintain mid-table position only.
SK Beveren was still running high, but they were even more limited than RWD Molenbeek, so the 4th place was more of an inertia. The strong teams were 3, all of them familiar. Standard (Liege) finished 3rd with 42 points.
Standing from left: ? , Edstroem, Preud’homme, ? , ? .
Crouching: Voordeckers, ? , ? , Renquin, Gerets, Tahamata.
For the moment, just overcoming Beveren, but a team with plenty of talent and potential – not at its peak, though, so they were not a real factor this season.
Lokeren finished comfortably 2nd – not competing for the title, but without a rival for the second best either – 46 points left Standard 4 points behind.
Now, Lokeren was among the stronger Belgian teams for the most of the 1970s and still maintained their position – a good team, but not really a team capable of running for the top spot. It depended largely on increasingly aging foreigners, particularly on once upon a time written off Polish great Lubanski. His compatriot Grzegosz Lato eventually joined the club, but he was not getting younger either, and the Czechoslovak star of the 1970s Karol Dobias was 33 when he came to Lokeren before this season started. The Islander Gudjohnsen was building a good reputation, but he was never a big star, and Preben Elkjar-Larsen was still trying to establish himself, his fame would come later in the decade and not with Lokeren. A good time, but getting stronger was impossible – maintaining good performance was the best possible.
Which left one club dominating the championship. Anderlecht had an easy season, without a real rival. They sailed to yet one more title with 26 wins, 5 ties, and only 3 losses, fantastic goal-difference – 83-24, and 57 points, which was 11 more than what Lokeren managed.
Nothing new under Belgian sun – 17th title, although it was their first after 1973-74. One name is missing here – Maertens is on the first row, between Vercautern and Nielsen. Admirable job for coach Tomislav Ivic, who was still building his European reputation and perhaps this season was the true point of recognition. As usual, Anderelcht was a blend of domestic and foreign stars – the Danish Morten Olsen and the Yugoslav Peruzovic were not young players, but the fitted well. Perhaps the emphasis was too much of foreigners and young Belgian talent was absent, but Anderlecht was the most resourceful Belgian club, so it was just a matter of need and time to get rising local star. This may not have been the most impressive squad, but it was one of the easiest victories of Anderlecht.