WHO ARE ANDERLECHT?

The most successful club in Belgian football history, Anderlecht have a healthy link to the South African game

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Sporting Club Anderlechtois was founded on 27 May 1908 by a group of football enthusiasts led by Charles Roos. They met at the Concordia Café in the Brussels municipality of Anderlecht, which gives the club its name. Their first game was an 11-8 victory over Institut Saint-Georges and the following year they entered official competitions. They reached the top division in Belgium in 1920/21, their progress having been stunted by the First World War.

TOUGH BEGINNINGS

Anderlecht were relegated four times in 10 seasons, but on each occasion bounced back to the top division. Each demise was met with much mirth by local Brussels rivals Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, with whom they have maintained a hate-hate relationship to this day. It was not until the 1946/47 season, after the Second World War, that Anderlecht claimed a first league title. Union SaintGilloise had won 11 league titles up to that point, but have not claimed one since, while Anderlecht have racked up 34.

CREST AND COLOURS