Jupiler League 2003-04
Encyclopedia
The 2003/04 season of the Belgian First Division was held between August 8, 2003 and May 15, 2004. Sporting Anderlecht
became champions on April 24, 2004.
at the start of the season:
). Though, a bad finish from Anderlecht kept the suspense until the 31st matchday when Club Brugge drew with Mouscron
while the team from Brussels made the same result (1-1) at Herman Vanderpoortenstadion, the homeground of Lierse
.
preliminary round with a 1-0 win against Standard Liège
, then third-placed team. In spite of this defeat, Standard managed to qualify for the UEFA Cup
as it was 6 points ahead of Mouscron after the 32nd matchday. The suspense was killed after a 1-1 draw against Charleroi
the next Saturday.
and Charleroi, which finally saved themselves, R. Antwerp F.C. and K. Beringen-Heusden-Zolder
finishing respectively 6 and 5 points beyond.
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
became champions on April 24, 2004.
Promoted teams
These teams were promoted from the second divisionBelgian Second Division
The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,...
at the start of the season:
- Cercle Brugge K.S.V.Cercle Brugge K.S.V.Cercle Brugge Koninklijke Sportvereniging is a Belgian football team from Bruges. Cercle have played in the Belgian Pro League since the 2003-04 season, having previously spent several years in the Belgian Second Division following relegation in 1997. Their matricule is the n°12. The club play...
(second division champions) - K. Heusden-ZolderK. Beringen-Heusden-ZolderK. Beringen-Heusden-Zolder is a former Belgian football club, from the municipalities of Heusden-Zolder and Beringen in Limburg. Its stadium has been located in the municipality of Beringen-Mijn from 2004 to 2006 .-History:It was founded in 1936 as S.K. Heusden and it eventually changed its name...
(playoff winner)
Relegated teams
These teams were relegated to the second division at the end of the season:- K. Heusden-ZolderK. Beringen-Heusden-ZolderK. Beringen-Heusden-Zolder is a former Belgian football club, from the municipalities of Heusden-Zolder and Beringen in Limburg. Its stadium has been located in the municipality of Beringen-Mijn from 2004 to 2006 .-History:It was founded in 1936 as S.K. Heusden and it eventually changed its name...
- R. Antwerp F.C.
Anderlecht's title success
The battle for the title was not so long since Anderlecht had respectable advance on their opponents (mainly Club BruggeClub Brugge
Club Brugge Koninklijke Voetbalvereniging is a football club from Bruges in Belgium. It was founded in 1891 and is one of the top clubs in Belgium. Its home ground is the Jan Breydel Stadium, which has a capacity of 29,472....
). Though, a bad finish from Anderlecht kept the suspense until the 31st matchday when Club Brugge drew with Mouscron
R.E. Mouscron
R.E. Mouscron was a Belgian association football club from the municipality of Mouscron, Hainaut. In December 2009 they were declared bankrupt and suspended operations soon after marking the end of professional football in Mouscron.-History:...
while the team from Brussels made the same result (1-1) at Herman Vanderpoortenstadion, the homeground of Lierse
Lierse S.K.
Koninklijke Lierse Sportkring is a Belgian professional football club, from the city of Lier in the Antwerp province. Lierse has been playing in the Belgian Pro League since the 2010-11 season and they have already won the competition 4 times. They also have won 2 Belgian Cups...
.
Battle for Europe
The next week, Club Brugge was sure to enter the UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
preliminary round with a 1-0 win against Standard Liège
Standard Liège
Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège....
, then third-placed team. In spite of this defeat, Standard managed to qualify for the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
as it was 6 points ahead of Mouscron after the 32nd matchday. The suspense was killed after a 1-1 draw against Charleroi
R. Charleroi S.C.
Sporting du Pays de Charleroi is a Belgian football club based in the city of Charleroi, in the province of Hainaut. Charleroi plays in the Belgian Pro League and their current spell at the highest level in Belgian football has started in the 1985–86 season...
the next Saturday.
The relegation dog fight
The end of the league was thus centered on the battle against relegation. Four teams were concerned : R.A.E.C. MonsR.A.E.C. Mons
R.A.E.C. Mons is a Belgian football club based in Mons, Belgium. The team was promoted to the Belgian Jupiler League recently on 29 May 2011 after beating Waasland-Beveren in a "Winner-Take-All" Test match of the Final Tour of the Belgian second division and has Re-Joined the Top Belgian League...
and Charleroi, which finally saved themselves, R. Antwerp F.C. and K. Beringen-Heusden-Zolder
K. Beringen-Heusden-Zolder
K. Beringen-Heusden-Zolder is a former Belgian football club, from the municipalities of Heusden-Zolder and Beringen in Limburg. Its stadium has been located in the municipality of Beringen-Mijn from 2004 to 2006 .-History:It was founded in 1936 as S.K. Heusden and it eventually changed its name...
finishing respectively 6 and 5 points beyond.
Final league table
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 1 | Anderlecht R.S.C. Anderlecht Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the... |
34 | 25 | 6 | 3 | 77 | 27 | 81 |
| 2 | Club Brugge Club Brugge Club Brugge Koninklijke Voetbalvereniging is a football club from Bruges in Belgium. It was founded in 1891 and is one of the top clubs in Belgium. Its home ground is the Jan Breydel Stadium, which has a capacity of 29,472.... |
34 | 22 | 6 | 6 | 77 | 31 | 72 | |
| 3 | Standard Liège Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège.... |
34 | 18 | 11 | 5 | 68 | 31 | 65 | |
| 4 | Genk K.R.C. Genk Koninklijke Racing Club Genk , usually referred to as Racing Genk or simply Genk, is a Belgian professional football club based in the city of Genk in Belgian Limburg. Racing Genk plays in the Belgian Pro League and they have won 3 Belgian champion titles in 1998–99, in 2001–02 and in 2010–11 as... |
34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 58 | 40 | 59 | |
| 5 | Mouscron R.E. Mouscron R.E. Mouscron was a Belgian association football club from the municipality of Mouscron, Hainaut. In December 2009 they were declared bankrupt and suspended operations soon after marking the end of professional football in Mouscron.-History:... |
34 | 15 | 14 | 5 | 64 | 42 | 59 | |
| 6 | Westerlo K.V.C. Westerlo Koninklijke Voetbal Club Westerlo is a Belgian professional football club located in the city of Westerlo in the province of Antwerp. Westerlo has been playing in the Belgian Pro League since 1997–98. Their highest finish is a 6th place in 1999–2000, 2003–04 and 2008–09. They have won 1 Belgian... |
34 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 51 | 45 | 52 | |
| 7 | Germinal Beerschot | 34 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 34 | 40 | ||
| 44 | |||||||||
| 8 | Louviéroise R.A.A. Louviéroise R.A.A. Louviéroise, sometimes referred to as La Louvière or RAAL, was a Belgian football club located in the city of La Louvière, in the province of Hainaut. It had been playing its latest run in the Belgian First Division from 2000-01 to 2005-06 included... |
34 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 45 | 46 | ||
| 44 | |||||||||
| 9 | Gent | 34 | 8 | 16 | 10 | 33 | 34 | ||
| 40 | |||||||||
| 10 | Lokeren | 34 | 10 | 9 | 15 | 45 | 54 | ||
| 39 | |||||||||
| 11 | Lierse Lierse S.K. Koninklijke Lierse Sportkring is a Belgian professional football club, from the city of Lier in the Antwerp province. Lierse has been playing in the Belgian Pro League since the 2010-11 season and they have already won the competition 4 times. They also have won 2 Belgian Cups... |
34 | 8 | 15 | 11 | 33 | 40 | ||
| 39 | |||||||||
| 12 | Beveren K.S.K. Beveren Koninklijke Sportkring Beveren was a Belgian association football club from the town of Beveren in East Flanders. It was famous for its goalkeeping school that has produced such players as Jean-Marie Pfaff, Filip De Wilde, Geert De Vlieger, Erwin Lemmens, and Tristan Peersman, all of whom have... |
34 | 11 | 5 | 18 | 45 | 58 | ||
| 38 | |||||||||
| 13 | Sint-Truidense | 34 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 36 | 50 | ||
| 38 | |||||||||
| 14 | Cercle Brugge Cercle Brugge K.S.V. Cercle Brugge Koninklijke Sportvereniging is a Belgian football team from Bruges. Cercle have played in the Belgian Pro League since the 2003-04 season, having previously spent several years in the Belgian Second Division following relegation in 1997. Their matricule is the n°12. The club play... |
34 | 7 | 14 | 13 | 28 | 52 | ||
| 35 | |||||||||
| 15 | Charleroi R. Charleroi S.C. Sporting du Pays de Charleroi is a Belgian football club based in the city of Charleroi, in the province of Hainaut. Charleroi plays in the Belgian Pro League and their current spell at the highest level in Belgian football has started in the 1985–86 season... |
34 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 35 | 47 | ||
| 33 | |||||||||
| 16 | Mons R.A.E.C. Mons R.A.E.C. Mons is a Belgian football club based in Mons, Belgium. The team was promoted to the Belgian Jupiler League recently on 29 May 2011 after beating Waasland-Beveren in a "Winner-Take-All" Test match of the Final Tour of the Belgian second division and has Re-Joined the Top Belgian League... |
34 | 7 | 12 | 15 | 29 | 52 | ||
| 33 | |||||||||
| R | 17 | Heusden-Zolder K. Beringen-Heusden-Zolder K. Beringen-Heusden-Zolder is a former Belgian football club, from the municipalities of Heusden-Zolder and Beringen in Limburg. Its stadium has been located in the municipality of Beringen-Mijn from 2004 to 2006 .-History:It was founded in 1936 as S.K. Heusden and it eventually changed its name... |
34 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 36 | 68 | |
| 28 | |||||||||
| R | 18 | Antwerp | 34 | 7 | 6 | 21 | 30 | 67 | |
| 27 |
Top goal scorers
| Scorer | Goals | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Luigi Pieroni Luigi Pieroni Luigi Pieroni is a Belgian football striker, currently playing for French club AC Arles-Avignon.-Career:He finished the Jupiler League 2003-04 season as topscorer with 28 goals while he was playing for R.E. Mouscron. He previously played with R.F.C... |
28 | R.E. Mouscron R.E. Mouscron R.E. Mouscron was a Belgian association football club from the municipality of Mouscron, Hainaut. In December 2009 they were declared bankrupt and suspended operations soon after marking the end of professional football in Mouscron.-History:... |
| Emile Mpenza Émile Mpenza Eka Basunga Lokonda "Émile" Mpenza is a Belgian footballer who plays for Neftchi Baku as a striker. He has been capped at international level by Belgium. His older brother, Mbo, was also a footballer who represented Belgium.... |
21 | Standard Liège Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège.... |
| Tosin Dosunmu Tosin Dosunmu Tosin Dosunmu is a Nigerian footballer who currently plays for Royal Antwerp F.C. in Belgium.-Career:Before, he played for AS Nancy, KV Mechelen, K.V.C. Westerlo and Austria Wien. In the season 2005-2006, while he played for Beerschot, Dosunmu became top scorer in the Belgian First Division with... |
16 | K.V.C. Westerlo K.V.C. Westerlo Koninklijke Voetbal Club Westerlo is a Belgian professional football club located in the city of Westerlo in the province of Antwerp. Westerlo has been playing in the Belgian Pro League since 1997–98. Their highest finish is a 6th place in 1999–2000, 2003–04 and 2008–09. They have won 1 Belgian... |
| Aruna Dindane | 15 | R.S.C. Anderlecht R.S.C. Anderlecht Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the... |
| Gert Verheyen | 15 | Club Brugge Club Brugge Club Brugge Koninklijke Voetbalvereniging is a football club from Bruges in Belgium. It was founded in 1891 and is one of the top clubs in Belgium. Its home ground is the Jan Breydel Stadium, which has a capacity of 29,472.... |
| Andrés Augusto Mendoza Andrés Augusto Mendoza Andrés Augusto Mendoza Azevedo is a Peruvian footballer.-Club career:Mendoza started playing professionally with Sporting Cristal, which he helped become national champion in his first season.... |
14 | Club Brugge Club Brugge Club Brugge Koninklijke Voetbalvereniging is a football club from Bruges in Belgium. It was founded in 1891 and is one of the top clubs in Belgium. Its home ground is the Jan Breydel Stadium, which has a capacity of 29,472.... |
| Cédric Roussel Cédric Roussel Cédric Roussel is a Belgian football striker currently at RUS Beloeil in France.-Career:In 1997, Roussel took part in the FIFA World Youth Championship... |
14 | K.R.C. Genk K.R.C. Genk Koninklijke Racing Club Genk , usually referred to as Racing Genk or simply Genk, is a Belgian professional football club based in the city of Genk in Belgian Limburg. Racing Genk plays in the Belgian Pro League and they have won 3 Belgian champion titles in 1998–99, in 2001–02 and in 2010–11 as... |