Pro League in Japan: why follow Anderlecht?

SUNDAY, 29 JULY 2018, 23:44 - Skyhawk
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OTHER The Jupiler Pro League can now also be followed in Japan, where the matches will be broadcasted for the next two years. But why is the Belgian League, and especially RSC Anderlecht, interesting for the Japanese football fans? Over the next few weeks, we'll give you a few reasons.

Let's start with the Belgian national team, the Red Devils, who ended third on the World Cup in Russia and eliminated Japan during the tournament after a spectacular match. This same Belgian national team owes a lot to RSC Anderlecht's youth training centre, which is one of the best and most advanced of Europe. The Purple Talents programme produced a lot a top players who are currently the backbone of Belgium's national team. Here is an overview:

Romelu Lukaku
Big Rom is a real Anderlecht-boy​​​​​​​ who joined the youth programma in 2006. He made his debute for the first team in 2009 and stayed in Anderlecht until 2011. He scored 33 goals for Anderlecht in 73 games. Lukaku also became the youngest player to score in a European competition when Anderlecht won in Ajax and Lukaku scored twice. He also made a goal in the 4-0 win over Athletic Bilbao. Lukaku was sold to Chelsea for around 20 million euro. He's currently active for Manchester United who bought him from Everton for about 84 million euro.

Vincent Kompany
Vince was​ the first ​​​​​​player from the Purple Talents programme to join the first team. Kompany grew up in Brussels and joined Anderlecht at the age of 8. He made his debute in the first team when he was 17 years old and rapidly took his place in the starting line-up. With Anderlecht he also won several individual prizes such as the Golden Shoe, the Ebony Shoe, Best Young Professional and Best Professional Football Player. Kompany played 73 matches for Anderlecht and scored 5 goals. He also scored in the Champions League against Real Betis. In 2006, he left the club after 3 years for HSV Hamburg. Later he joined Manchester City.

Leander Dendoncker
Leander Dendoncker is one of the latest talents who is currently still active for RSC Anderlecht. Though it is expected he'll be transferred before the end of the transfer window. He made his debute for Anderlecht in 2013 in the Supercup. His first years, he played as a defensive midfielder, but last season he was lined-up as a central defender.​​​​​​​ Dendoncker's most memorable goal was in the quarter final of the Europa League against Manchester United when he headed the 1-1 on the scoreboard.

Youri Tielemans
Youri Tielemans belongs to the same generation as Dendoncker. Tielemans was born in Brussels and joined Anderlecht at the age of 5. Aged 16, he made his debute in the first team. He's also the youngest Belgian to ever be active in the Champions League.​​​​​​​ Tielemans is well known for the quality of his passing and his phenomenal shot. In the play-offs of the season of 2016-2017, he scored two goals in five minutes with two fantastic shots (one left and one right). Tielemans left in 2017 for AS Monaco for 23 million euro. He played 147 matches for Anderlecht and scored 30 goals.

Dries Mertens
​​​​​​​Dries Mertens was active for RSC Anderlecht in the youth teams. Due to his lack of physical power, he never made it to the first team. At later age, Mertens developed to a fantastic player with a fast action and a nose for goals. He currently plays for SSC Napoli.

Adnan Januzaj
​​​​​​​Januzaj was born in Brussels and started his training at FC Brussels before moving to Anderlecht. Januzaj quickly became one of Anderlecht's most talented players. Januzaj already left the club for Manchester United at the age of 16 before having played in the first team. His transfer caused a lot of frustration in Anderlecht at the time, having lost one of the biggest talents. His passage in Manchester wasn't all too successful. At the moment he's active in Spain for Real Sociedad.

Michy Batshuayi
Batshuayi was only active for Anderlecht's youth programme for one year. He behaved himself negatively next to the field and was sent away after an incident in the match against Lierse. He eventually made his way to Standard de Liège and was sold to Marseille and later on Chelsea, that loaned him to Dortmund.
About his passage in Anderlecht, he later said: "They were right to send me away. I wasn't an angel at that time."​​​​​​​

Marouane Fellaini
​​​​​​​Born in Brussels, he joined RSC Anderlecht at the age of 7. Being sent to play in the regional divisions, he left Anderlecht's youth training for a club where he could play in the national divisions. He's currently active for Manchester United.

In our next edition, we'll shed a light on Anderlecht current talents and possible candidates for the Red Devils.



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