Football Season Guide

Last season was another without a trophy for Belgium’s most successful club side. They never really mounted a title challenge and finished 3rd, while they made it to the Belgian Cup Final but were beaten. The close season has seen the departure of manager and club icon Vincent Kompany. In his place comes Felice Mazzu, the man who masterminded Anderlecht’s local rivals Union Saint-Gilloise’s excellent campaign last season which saw them finish 2nd. A question mark over Mazzu is how he handles the expectations of managing this big club. On the playing roster Anderlecht were again looking for a new striker after Zirkzee and Kouame’s loans ended. After the undoubted success of Zirkzee, and Nmecha the year before, they have stuck to their tried and tested formula; loaning in a young striker from a big European club, 20-year-old Esposito joining from Inter Milan. The other two acquisitions so far are wingback Abdulrazak, who impressed in Sweden’s top flight over the last few seasons, and young Ecuadorian striker Angulo. The remainder of their squad remains strong with a mix of experienced campaigners and exciting youngsters. Anderlecht will hope valuable defender Delcroix can stay fit this season after he was injured for most of the last campaign.