Thirteen football lovers formed Sporting Club Anderlechtois on May 27th, 1908, in order to develop sports, not only football, in the Brussels district of Anderlecht. The name of the new side was to remain unchanged until 1933, when it celebrated its 25th birthday and obtained the title of Société Royale (Royal Company).

Anderlecht didn’t immediately take part in a competition, but as the new Brussels team used to thrash its opponents in friendly games, the secretary soon decided to let the “Mauve et Blanc” enter the competitions run by the UBSSA, the former URBSFA (the Belgian FA).For its first season, Anderlecht landed at the third regional level, ended on the podium and promoted.A master stroke at the very first attempt.

Anderlecht reached the national level in 1912, and didn’t have to wait for too long (until 1921) to reach the Division d’Honneur (nowadays : Première Division, the Belgian Premier League).But the club couldn’t settle in Division d’Honneur, and experienced the relegation-and-promotion phenomenon four times in 10 years. It came back at the top national level in 1935, and never left it since then (only Standard de Liège has a better record, as it has been part of the top division uninterruptedly since 1921).

Success has been Anderlecht’s trademark since the end of World War II. The first Belgian title clinched by the Brussels side dates back to 1947. 24 other national titles, 8 Belgian Cups, 4 Belgian Supercups, 3 European Cups and 2 European Supercups were to follow.

The next stage in the club’s evolution was Europe. The team got quite good results in European Cups, but had to wait till the 70’s and the 80’s to dominate the continent (EC II in 1976 and 1978, European Supercup in 1976 and 1978, EC III in 1983). But unfortunately, Anderlecht never brought the Champions’ Cup back to Brussels.

Nowadays, Anderlecht is fighting to recover its former European status, after years of hard time in the late 90’s. This year’s Belgian title will be purple (nobody doubts it in Belgium), and for its come-back in Champions’ League next year, the club means to field a team that would be able to reach at least the quarter-finals of the prestigious European competition. Nobody should underestimate the potential of the greatest Belgian side : Anderlecht could be the revelation of the next European campaign.