:Erwin Vandenbergh

At the age of 16, Erwin Vandenbergh made his debut in the team of his hometown, Ramsel. In his first season, the striker immediately scored 18 goals in 28 games. He was quickly noticed by the Belgian elite clubs. Vandenbergh could have gone to Beveren, Diest and Lokeren but he chose the nearby Lierse SK, the club he had supported since he was a child.{{Cite web |date=15 July 2018 |title=Hoe is het met ... Erwin Vandenbergh |url=https://www.rtv.be/hoe-het-met-erwin-vandenbergh |website=rtv.be |language=nl}} Things went fast. After 6 months with the reserves, his career took off. The young Vandenbergh became the founder of Lierse's rise to the Belgian sub-top.{{Cite web |date=1 April 2020 |title=De « Sniper » |url=https://www.rsca.be/nl/news/de-sniper |website=rsca.be |language=nl}} The club was able to force European football in the 1977–78 season after finishing fourth in the standings.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

In the 1979–80 season, Erwin Vandenbergh became the national and European top scorer with 39 goals, despite the fact that his team only finished sixth in the competition. Juventus, Naples, Hamburg and Bayern Munich were angling for his services, without success. He also became top scorer in the following season (24 goals) and in 1981 he won the Golden Shoe.{{Cite web |date=24 June 2020 |title=Erwin Vandenbergh kreeg in Moulin Rouge als enige Belg ooit de Europese Gouden Schoen: “Ge hebt dat of ge hebt dat niet. En ik had het” |trans-title=Erwin Vandenbergh was the only Belgian to ever receive the European Golden Shoe at Moulin Rouge: “You either have it or you don't. And I had it” |url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20200623_04999277 |website=Het Nieuwsblad |language=nl}} In the 1981–82 season, he became Belgium's top scorer once more with 25 goals.

As a result of all that success, Lierse SK had to let their forward go to Anderlecht for 60 million Belgian francs (1.5 million euros), a fortune at the time.{{Cite web |date=30 January 2025 |title=Lierse eert Gouden Schoen-winnaars tegen RWDM – Erwin Vandenbergh: "Tof dat jongere generaties me niet vergeten zijn" |trans-title=Lierse honours Golden Shoe winners against RWDM – Erwin Vandenbergh: "It's great that younger generations haven't forgotten me" |url=https://www.hln.be/sport-in-de-buurt/lierse-eert-gouden-schoen-winnaars-tegen-rwdm-erwin-vandenbergh-tof-dat-jongere-generaties-me-niet-vergeten-zijn~a81fa2613/ |website= |language=nl}}

Anderlecht also bought forward Alex Czerniatynski that season. The collaboration between the two was initially difficult. Erwin Vandenbergh could not thrive in the demanding “Ivic System”. When the Croat was fired 3 months later, Erwin Vandenbergh breathed a sigh of relief. Under the new coach, Anderlecht club icon Paul Van Himst, things went well immediately.Steegen, D. & Van Loock, S. (2008) 100 jaar Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht. Leuven: Uitgeverij Van Halewyck He became top scorer in the national competition for the fourth time in a row, with 20 goals.

In his first season with the club, he also immediately won his first trophy with a team: the UEFA Cup. He just missed the title of top scorer in that tournament, as Zoran Filipović, player of their opponents in the final Benfica, had scored 1 time more with 8 goals.{{cite web |date=6 January 2025 |title=Anderlecht edge out Benfica to triumph |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/history/seasons/1982/statistics/ |access-date= |work=UEFA |language=}}

Vandenbergh won his first national title with Anderlecht in the 1984–85 season. The final of the UEFA Cup was also reached again, but after penalties the trophy went to Tottenham.{{cite web |date=6 January 2025 |title=Tottenham keep cool to dispatch Anderlecht |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/history/seasons/1983/statistics/ |access-date= |work=UEFA |language=}}

With the next trainer, problems arose again. The striker thought that the football was too defensive under coach Arie Haan. He scored less, although he still netted 27 goals in the 1985–86 season under the Dutchman. Anderlecht could also extend their title. When Haan left him out of the selection for most of the European Cup matches, his decision was made: he decided to leave, despite the fact that he still had one more season under contract.

After the 1986 World Cup, he left for the French Flanders side Lille, which was trained by former Anderlecht star Georges Heylens.{{cite web |date=20 December 2022 |title=Georges Heylens (ex-LOSC) : « Je ne garde que de bons souvenirs du LOSC » |url=https://lepetitlillois.com/2022/12/20/georges-heylens-ex-losc-je-ne-garde-que-de-bons-souvenirs-du-losc/ |access-date= |work=lepetitlillois.com |language=fr}} Despite an offer from Barcelona, the home-loving Vandenbergh chose a team located close to the Belgian border. Although Vandenbergh would later consider rejecting the Barcelona contract as a mistake.{{Cite web |date=27 April 2020 |title=Erwin Vandenbergh, 40 jaar later nog steeds de enige Belgische Europese Gouden Schoen: “Ik heb enkel spijt dat ik een aanbod van Barcelona heb laten schieten” |trans-title=Erwin Vandenbergh, 40 years later still the only Belgian European Golden Shoe winner: “I only regret that I turned down an offer from Barcelona” |url=https://www.hln.be/voetbal/erwin-vandenbergh-40-jaar-later-nog-steeds-de-enige-belgische-europese-gouden-schoen-ik-heb-enkel-spijt-dat-ik-een-aanbod-van-barcelona-heb-laten-schieten~a181ea9a/ |website=Het Laatste Nieuws |language=nl}}

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He would stay at the French club for four seasons, scoring 38 goals in the Division 1 and 44 overall. These numbers were generally below his standard. Lille was one of the lowest scoring teams in the competition, no trophies could be won and the club usually finished in the middle of the standings at its best. Coach Georges Heylens left at the end of the 1989–90 season.{{cite web |date=14 May 2013 |title=G.Heylens:"Le LOSC et Anderlecht? Mes deux princesses!" |url=https://www.losc.fr/actualites-foot-lille/gheylensle-losc-et-anderlecht-mes-deux-princesses |access-date= |work=losc.fr |language=fr}}

In 1990, aged 31, Vandenbergh moved to Belgian side AA Gent, coached by his former Anderlecht teammate René Vandereycken. During the 1990–91 season, Gent was also leading the league after 24 games but ultimately had to let the title to his former team Anderlecht.{{cite web |date=4 May 2015 |title=Gent doet net zo goed als in 1991 met Viscaal en Vandenbergh |url=https://sporza.be/nl/2015/05/04/gent-doet-net-zo-goed-als-in-1991-met-viscaal-en-vandenbergh-1-2327898/ |access-date= |work=Sporza |language=nl}} Vandenbergh became top scorer for the sixth and final time, with 23 goals. In the 1991–92 season, Gent surprisingly managed to reach the quarter finals of the UEFA Cup.{{cite web |date=17 February 2016 |title=Retro: AA Gent beleefde in 1991-1992 al Europese hoogdagen |url=https://sporza.be/nl/2016/02/17/retro_-aa-gent-beleefde-in-1991-1992-al-europese-hoogdagen-1-2575233/ |access-date= |work=Sporza |language=nl}}

After his contract with Standard Liège was not extended, coach René Vandereycken moved to Brussels side RWDM. He convinced Erwin Vandenbergh to also make the transfer to the club. Season 1994–95 would be his only one at the club, and immediately his last as a professional footballer.{{cite web |date=15 January 2019 |title=De stille killer |trans-title=The silent killer |url=https://www.knack.be/sport/de-stille-killer/ |access-date= |work=knack.be |language=nl}}

Erwin Vandenbergh reached a sporting peak quite early, in 1979. At that time, he was the most productive forward in Europe. That did not go unnoticed by then national coach Guy Thys either. He selected the 20-year-old attacker for the Red Devils. His first international match was on 19 December 1979 against Scotland.{{Cite web |date=26 January 2019 |title=VIDEO. Erwin Vandenbergh wordt zestig en kiest vijf van zijn mooiste goals: “Ik kan er nog vergeten zijn” |trans-title=VIDEO. Erwin Vandenbergh turns sixty and chooses five of his best goals: “I may have forgotten some” |url=https://www.hln.be/voetbal/video-erwin-vandenbergh-wordt-zestig-en-kiest-vijf-van-zijn-mooiste-goals-ik-kan-er-nog-vergeten-zijn~a87f71c9/ |website=Het Laatste Nieuws |language=nl}} Belgium won 1–3 and Vandenbergh scored once.{{Cite web |date=11 November 2017 |title=Het kanon van Erwin Vandenbergh: zes keer Belgisch topschutter en eeuwige glorie met treffer tegen Argentinië |trans-title=Erwin Vandenbergh's cannon: six times Belgian top scorer and eternal glory with goal against Argentina |url=https://www.hln.be/rode-duivels/het-kanon-van-erwin-vandenbergh-zes-keer-belgisch-topschutter-en-eeuwige-glorie-met-treffer-tegen-argentinie~ad93a291/ |website=Het Laatste Nieuws |language=nl}}

The successful debut made Vandenbergh a regular in the national team in no time. In 1980 he was allowed to go to the European Championship in Italy. Belgium reached the final, but lost to West Germany. Vandenbergh had played three times, but he did not score.

In the run-up to the 1982 World Cup in Spain, Vandenbergh played seven World Cup Cup qualifying matches in which he scored five times. {{Cite web |date=4 June 2021 |title=Erwin Vandenbergh verrast wereldkampioen Argentinië op het WK van 1982 |trans-title=Erwin Vandenbergh surprises world champion Argentina at the 1982 World Cup |url=https://www.pickx.be/nl/2140467/17-erwin-vandenbergh-verrast-wereldkampioen-argentinie-op-het-wk-van-1982 |website=pickx.be |language=nl}} Belgium played the tournament opening match against reigning world champion Argentina in Camp Nou, the stadium of FC Barcelona. Vandenbergh scored the only goal of the match after a long, crooked cross from Frank Vercauteren. Because of the importance of the goal and the cry of joy - Goaaaal, goal, goal! - from the Belgian reporter Rik De Saedeleer, the goal went down in Belgian history as one of the most famous goals ever scored by the Red Devils.{{cite web |date=6 January 2023 |title="Daar is 'em, daar is 'em! Goaaal!": Exact 40 jaar geleden vloert Erwin Vandenbergh Argentinië |trans-title="There he is, there he is! Goaaaal!": Exactly 40 years ago Erwin Vandenbergh floors Argentina |url=https://sporza.be/nl/2022/06/13/-daar-is-em-daar-is-em-exact-40-jaar-geleden-vloert-erwin-vandenbergh-argentinie~1655112673185/ |access-date=6 January 2023 |work=Sporza |language=nl}} De Saedeleer's famous reaction later became the title of Vandenbergh's biography.{{cite web |date=6 March 2013 |title=Erwin Vandenbergh - Goal! |url=https://www.deslegte.com/erwin-vandenbergh-goal-1633553/ |access-date= |work=deslegte.com |language=nl}} Belgium eventually won the group, but were eliminated in the next round. Poland and the Soviet Union proved too strong.{{cite web |date=6 January 2010 |title=World Cup 1982 finals |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/82full.html |access-date= |work=rsssf.org |language=}}

Vandenbergh was also present at the 1984 European Championship. Belgium had won silver at the previous European Championship, so expectations were high. Belgian coach Thys saw how his Red Devils started the tournament well. Vandenbergh scored a goal in the first game for the 2–0 victory against Yugoslavia. But the Belgians only ended up third in the group stage, after host country France and Denmark.{{cite web |date=24 June 2024 |title=Erwin Vandenbergh vertel over het EK in 1984 |url=https://www.knack.be/sport/voetbal/erwin-vandenbergh-over-het-ek-1984-negen-op-de-tien-matchen-startten-we-als-underdog/ |access-date= |work=Knack |language=nl}}

At the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, Vandenbergh was 27 years old. It would be his last international tournament with the Red Devils. Belgium got through the group stage as the best third-placed team. Vandenbergh only played against Mexico. In that match, lost with 1–2, he scored the only Belgian goal.{{cite web |date=20 June 2024 |title=Erwin Vandenbergh Goal 45' {{!}} Belgium v Mexico {{!}} 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico |url=https://www.plus.fifa.com/en/content/erwin-vandenbergh-goal-45-belgium-v-mexico-1986-fifa-world-cup-mexicotm-1986/55491727-db17-4590-a9ee-96503c45fd70?gl=be |access-date= |work=plus.fifa.com |language=}} Due to an injury, Vandenberg left the squad earlier than expected.{{cite web |date=31 May 2021 |title=Vandaag 35 jaar geleden, start Wereldkampioenschap voetbal 1986 in Mexico |url=https://gisterennogvandaag.wordpress.com/2021/05/31/vandaag-35-jaar-geleden-start-wereldkampioenschap-voetbal-1986-in-mexico/ |access-date= |work=gisterennogvandaag.wordpress.com |language=nl}} The Red Devils eventually reached the semi-finals, but this time Argentina, with star player Maradona, was too strong.{{Cite web |date=15 December 2022 |title=Why Diego Maradona against Belgium was his most complete display at the 1986 World Cup |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3540424/2022/12/15/diego-maradona-belgium-1986-world-cup/ |website=nytimes.com |language=}} Belgium finished the World Cup in fourth place, the best result achieved by the Red Devils until 2018.{{cite web |date=6 January 2010 |title=World Cup 1986 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/86full.html |access-date= |work=rsssf.org |language=}}

Belgium did not qualify for the 1988 European Championship and the then 31-year-old Vandenbergh was not called up for the 1990 World Cup. He had been more or less forgotten at Lille. Guy Thys preferred Nico Claesen and attacking midfielders such as Jan Ceulemans and Marc Degryse.{{cite web |date=4 March 2022 |title=Italia 1990 - Belgium preview |url=https://italia1990.com/uefa/group-7/belgium/preview/ |access-date= |work=italia1990.com |language=}} The non-selection seemed to be the end of Vandenbergh with the national team. But a strong season at KAA Gent brought him back into the spotlight. Vandenbergh was allowed to play in the Euro 1992 qualifying matches again and scored his last goal for the Red Devils at the age of 32.{{Cite web |date=24 February 2025 |title=Erwin Vandenbergh - Goals in International Matches |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/vandenbergh-intlg.html |website=rsssf.org |language=}} That was in the match against Luxembourg on 27 February 1991, which was won 3–0.{{cite web |date=14 May 2019 |title=Erwin Vandenbergh |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/erwin-vandenbergh/ |access-date= |work=worldfootball.net |language=}}

Vandenbergh can be described as a typical example of a pure striker, capable of making the actions himself but above all instinctively feeling where to position himself to score a goal. Author Raf Willems described him as "A phenomenal finisher but at the same time elegant and aesthetic in his movements. With insight as his greatest quality, as an instinctive gift.".{{Cite web |date=17 May 2024 |title=9 september 1981: België – Frankrijk 2-0, de mooiste van het Guy Thystijdperk volgens Erwin Vandenbergh |url=https://boeken.cafe/9-september-1981-belgi-frankrijk-2-0-de-mooiste-van-het-guy-thystijdperk-volgens-erwin-vandenbergh/ |website=boeken.cafe |language=nl}}

{{notelist}}

:Scores and results list Belgium's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Vandenbergh goal.

Anderlecht{{cite web|title=RSC Anderlecht {{!}} Palmares|url=https://www.rsca.be/nl/club/palmares}}

• Belgian First Division: 1984–85, 1985–86
• Belgian Super Cup: 1985
• UEFA Cup: 1982–83; runners-up 1983–84
• Jules Pappaert Cup: 1977, 1983, 1985{{cite web|title=Jules Pappaert Cup|url=https://www.dhnet.be/sports/football/le-trophee-pappaert-c-est-reparti-5bb21893cd70a16d8128c4d6}}
• Bruges Matins: 1985{{cite web|title=Winnaars Brugse Metten|url=http://users.skynet.be/rfcb-web/va-brmetten.htm}}

Belgium

• UEFA European Championship: runners-up 1980{{cite web|title=UEFA Euro 1980|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/seasons/1980/matches/}}
• FIFA World Cup: fourth place 1986{{cite web|title=FIFA 1986 World Cup|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/mexico1986/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605153554/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/mexico1986/|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 June 2016}}
• Belgian Sports Merit Award: 1980{{cite web|title=Nationale Trofee voor Sportverdienste|url=https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20191107_04705232}}

Individual

• Belgian First Division top scorer: 1979–80 (39 goals), 1980–81 (24 goals), 1981–82 (25 goals), 1982–83 (20 goals), 1985–86 (27 goals), 1990–91 (23 goals){{cite web|title=Topscorer Eerste Klasse|url=https://www.voetbal.com/topscoorders/bel-eerste-klasse-a/}}
• European Golden Shoe: 1979–80 (39 goals){{cite web|title=A History of European Golden Shoe Award + Winners List|url=https://sportmob.com/en/article/843055-a-history-of-european-golden-shoe-award-winners-list}}
• Ballon d'Or nominations: 1980,{{cite web|title=Ballon d'Or 1980|url=https://www.francefootball.fr/news/1980-k-h-rummenigge/423420}} 1983{{cite web|title=Ballon d'Or 1983|url=https://www.francefootball.fr/news/1983-michel-platini/423425}}
• Belgian Golden Shoe: 1981{{cite web|title=Winnaars Gouden Schoen|url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20120111_213}}
• UEFA Cup top scorer: 1982–83 (seven goals){{Cite web|title=Fairs/UEFA Cup Topscorers|url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec3tops.html|access-date=2020-11-08|website=RSSSF}}
• UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying: Group 1 top scorer (four goals)
• Best AA Gent-Player of the Season: 1990–91{{Cite web|title=Erelijst Trofee Jean-Claude Bouvy|url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20150519_01689059|access-date=2020-11-08|website=Het Nieuwsblad|language=nl-BE}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{FIFA player}}
• {{UEFA player}}
• {{RBFA player}}
• {{WorldFootball.net}}

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