1961–62 in Belgian football
The 1961–1962 season was the 59th season of competitive football in Belgium. RCS Anderlechtois won their 9th Division I title.[1] Standard Liège entered the 1961–62 European Champion Clubs' Cup as Belgian title holder and became the first Belgian club to reach the semifinals of this competition. RU Saint-Gilloise entered the 1961–62 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. The Belgium national football team finished their unsuccessful 1962 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign with a loss and played 7 friendly matches (5 wins, 2 losses).[2]
Overview
At the end of the season, K Waterschei SV Thor Genk and KSC Eendracht Aalst were relegated to Division II and were replaced in Division I by R Berchem Sport and K Beringen FC from Division II.
The bottom 2 clubs in Division II (K Sint-Niklaasse SK and RRC Tournaisien) were relegated to Division III, to be replaced by KRC Mechelen and R Crossing Club Molenbeek from Division III.
The bottom club of each Division III league (RUS Tournaisienne, Kontich FC, R Fléron FC and Aarschot Sport) were relegated to the Promotion, to be replaced by VC Zwevegem Sport, FC Vigor Hamme, R Stade Waremmien FC and FC Eendracht Houthalen from Promotion.
National team
| Date | Venue | Opponents | Score* | Comp | Belgium scorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 4, 1961 | Heysel Stadium, Brussels (H) | Sweden | 0-2 | WCQ | |
| October 18, 1961 | Heysel Stadium, Brussels (H) | France | 3-0 | F | Pierre Hanon, Paul Vandenberg, Roger Claessen |
| November 12, 1961 | Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam (A) | The Netherlands | 4-0 | F | Roger Claessen (2), Paul Vandenberg, Paul Van Himst |
| December 24, 1961 | Heysel Stadium, Brussels (H) | Bulgaria | 4-0 | F | Jacques Stockman, Armand Jurion, Paul Van Himst (2) |
| April 1, 1962 | Bosuilstadion, Antwerp (H) | The Netherlands | 3-1 | F | Armand Jurion, Paul Vandenberg (2) |
| May 13, 1962 | Heysel Stadium, Brussels (H) | Italy | 1-3 | F | Paul Van Himst |
| May 17, 1962 | Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon (A) | Portugal | 2-1 | F | Jacques Stockman, Armand Jurion |
| May 23, 1962 | 10th-Anniversary Stadium, Warsaw (A) | Poland | 0-2 | F |
* Belgium score given first
Key
- H = Home match
- A = Away match
- N = On neutral ground
- F = Friendly
- WCQ = World Cup qualification
- o.g. = own goal
European competitions
Standard Liège qualified for the first round of the 1961–62 European Champion Clubs' Cup by defeating Fredrikstad FK of Norway (wins 2-1 at home and 0-2 away) in the preliminary round. They then eliminated successively FC Haka of Finland (wins 5-1 at home and 0-2 away) and Rangers of Scotland (win 4-1 at home and defeat 2-0 away) to reach the semifinals. At this stage of the competition, Standard lost to Real Madrid (losses 4-0 away and 0-2 at home).
RU Saint-Gilloise lost in the first round of the 1961–62 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup to Hearts of Scotland (losses 1-3 at home and defeat 2-0 away).
Honours
Final league tables
Premier Division
- 1961-62 Top scorer: Jacques Stockman (RSC Anderlechtois) with 29 goals.
- 1961 Golden Shoe: Paul Van Himst (RSC Anderlechtois)