On this day 50 years ago, Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht wrote one of the finest chapters in Belgian sporting history by winning the European Cup Winners’ Cup in Brussels. By defeating London side West Ham United 4-2 in the final on Wednesday, May 5, 1976, the Mauves brought Belgium its first European trophy.
After successively eliminating FC Rapid Bucharest (Romania), FK Borac Banja Luka (former Yugoslavia), Wrexham AFC (Wales), and Sachsenring Zwickau (former East Germany), Sporting had the advantage of hosting West Ham at the Heysel Stadium, in front of 51,296 fans largely in their favor. Nevertheless, the task was far from easy.
Without central defender Erwin Vandendaele, coach Hans Croon - who had missed out on the league title and already knew he would not continue at RSCA - was forced to move Gille Van Binst into the role of libero. The Dutch coach also persuaded the injured Jean Thissen to play, while young Michel Lomme completed the lineup.
Sporting’s weakened defense held out for only half an hour against repeated London attacks. Pat Holland opened the scoring with a close-range finish past goalkeeper Jan Ruiter. To make matters worse, Ludo Coeck was also injured and had to be replaced by the very young Franky Vercauteren, who joined Jean Dockx in midfield.
From that point on, the Mauves increasingly took control, with Robbie Rensenbrink and François Van der Elst acting as conductors, as they had throughout the campaign. The brilliant Dutch left winger was in gala form. Well set up by Peter Ressel, the “Snake Man” calmly equalized shortly before halftime.
Early in the second half, his partner Swat gave Anderlecht the lead with a superb strike into the top corner, but Keith Robson equalized just after the hour mark. Everything had to be done again. The British equalizer, however, could not halt the inspired play of Anderlecht’s two standout performers, Rensenbrink and Van der Elst. The “Snake Man” and “Mister Europe” - who else - took Sporting from 2-2 to 4-2. Robbie gave RSCA the lead from the penalty spot, and Swat put the icing on the cake with a devilish and historic solo run.
RSC Anderlecht thus won the first of its three European trophies. Their honors list also includes two European Super Cups, including the one won the following summer against European champions Bayern Munich. However, the Anderlecht players listed below will forever remain the first to have lifted a European trophy.
RSC Anderlecht: Ruiter; Lomme, Broos, Van Binst, Thissen; Dockx, Haan, Coeck (32’ Vercauteren); Van der Elst, Ressel, Rensenbrink
West Ham United: Day; Coleman, Bonds, T. Taylor, Lampard (46’ A. Taylor); Mc Dowell, Peddon, Brooking; Holland, Jennings, Robson
Relive the full match: