Joseph Mermans
Encyclopedia
Joseph Mermans usually referred to as Jef Mermans (nicknamed "The Bomber") was a football
striker
from Belgium
, who played much of his career at Anderlecht
, with whom he won 7 Belgian Championship
titles and finished top scorer of this competition 3 times.
Mermans played 56 matches with the Belgium national football team, 2 of which in the Football World Cup 1954. He is also the 4th top scorer ever for the Belgium national team with 27 goals.
(a small club in the Antwerp suburb) and managed to force themselves a way into the youth team.
Five years later, Mermans entered the first team. His progress caught attention of the federal coach and Jef was selected for a Belgium B squad match against Luxembourg
in January 1939. At this point, he received twice in two years a proposal to play in the Beerschot
team, but Tubantia Borgerhout refused.
A member of the Anderlecht staff arrived at Borgerhout
in 1942 with a blank check
that was filled in with the record sum of 125,000 Belgian francs
in a quarter of an hour.
, the Championship was quite erratic due to the World War II
, but he helped Anderlecht in becoming a regular team. In 1947, Mermans was the key player in the conquest of the first Anderlecht title in first division as he scored 38 goals (succeeding to Bert De Cleyn as top scorer). At the peak of his career, Anderlecht received offers from A.S. Roma
, Torino Calcio, Atalanta Bergamo, Real Madrid
, SS Lazio and Atlético Madrid but refused them all.
to 2nd division
and even finished 4th in 1960 for its first season at this level. Later on, the club was renamed Olse Mermans to celebrate the player.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
from Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, who played much of his career at Anderlecht
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
, with whom he won 7 Belgian Championship
Jupiler League
The Belgian Pro League is the top league competition for association football clubs in Belgium. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Belgian Second Division...
titles and finished top scorer of this competition 3 times.
Mermans played 56 matches with the Belgium national football team, 2 of which in the Football World Cup 1954. He is also the 4th top scorer ever for the Belgium national team with 27 goals.
Early career
In the early 1930s, the young Mermans, along with a couple of friends, went to Antwerp FC in the hope to receive a ball and a pair of shoes, but his request was not met. Eventually, the boys tried their luck at Tubantia F.A.C.K. Tubantia Borgerhout V.K.
K. Tubantia Borgerhout V.K. is a Belgian association football club from the town of Borgerhout in the municipality of Antwerp. It was given the matricule n°64 by the Belgian Football Association and it now plays in the highest regional league of the Antwerp province. The club is known to have...
(a small club in the Antwerp suburb) and managed to force themselves a way into the youth team.
Five years later, Mermans entered the first team. His progress caught attention of the federal coach and Jef was selected for a Belgium B squad match against Luxembourg
Luxembourg national football team
The Luxembourg national football team is the national football team of Luxembourg, and is controlled by the Luxembourg Football Federation. The team play most of their home matches at the Stade Josy Barthel, in Luxembourg.- History :...
in January 1939. At this point, he received twice in two years a proposal to play in the Beerschot
K. Beerschot V.A.C.
Koninklijke Beerschot Voetbal en Atletiek Club is a former Belgian football club from Antwerp. The club was founded in 1899 when most players of R. Antwerp F.C. left the club. It played in the 1920 Olympic Games Stadium named the "Kiel". After many financial problems over the years, the club was...
team, but Tubantia Borgerhout refused.
A member of the Anderlecht staff arrived at Borgerhout
Borgerhout
Borgerhout is a district of the municipality and city of Antwerp in the Flemish Region of Belgium. The district houses 41,614 inhabitants reflecting 90 nationalities...
in 1942 with a blank check
Blank check
A blank cheque , in the literal sense, is a cheque that has no numerical value written in, but is already signed...
that was filled in with the record sum of 125,000 Belgian francs
Franc
The franc is the name of several currency units, most notably the Swiss franc, still a major world currency today due to the prominence of Swiss financial institutions and the former currency of France, the French franc until the Euro was adopted in 1999...
in a quarter of an hour.
Anderlecht career
On his arrival at AnderlechtAnderlecht
Anderlecht is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region.There are several historically and architecturally distinct districts within the Anderlecht municipality.-Pronunciation:* Dutch: * French:...
, the Championship was quite erratic due to the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, but he helped Anderlecht in becoming a regular team. In 1947, Mermans was the key player in the conquest of the first Anderlecht title in first division as he scored 38 goals (succeeding to Bert De Cleyn as top scorer). At the peak of his career, Anderlecht received offers from A.S. Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...
, Torino Calcio, Atalanta Bergamo, Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, SS Lazio and Atlético Madrid but refused them all.
Late career
In 1957, the Bomber, as he was called for his powerful strikes, left Anderlecht for the small K. Olse Merksem club in his native town. With him, the club promoted from 3rdBelgian Third Division
The Belgian Third Division is the third highest level in Belgian football. It has two leagues of 18 teams each at the same level. This competition, known as the Belgian Promotion was first played in the 1926-27 season with three leagues, then with four leagues between 1931 and 1952. From 1952...
to 2nd division
Belgian Second Division
The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,...
and even finished 4th in 1960 for its first season at this level. Later on, the club was renamed Olse Mermans to celebrate the player.