Jef Mermans

Jef Mermans is considered one of the greatest legends of Belgian football, particularly RSC Anderlecht. He was one of the most prolific strikers of the 1940s and 1950s.

Trophies

476

Goals

614

Games

1937/41 Tubantia FAC (BEL) 93 matches, 65 goals

1941/57 RSC Anderlecht (BEL) 384 matches, 343 goals

1957/60 Merksem SC (BEL) 81 matches, 41 goals

With the National Team :

56 caps, 27 goals

(Friendly matches: 53 caps, 27 goals)

(World Cup qualifier: 1 cap)

(World Cup: 2 caps)

1st cap: December 15, 1945 against France (2-1)

Last cap: June 3, 1956 against Hungary (5-4)

Joseph Mermans

Born on February 16, 1922 in Merksem (BEL)

Died on January 20, 1966 in Wildert (BEL)

Belgian, Striker, 1m82

Nickname: The Bomber

Start of career in Belgium

Jef Mermans was born on 16 February 1922 in Merksem, Belgium. He grew up in a working-class neighbourhood where he developed his passion from a very young age. He perfected his skills by playing in the street with his friends. His natural talent quickly became apparent and it was therefore quite natural that he was spotted by a local team.

Jef Mermans was a player with incredible qualities. He was particularly fast, very agile and incredibly good at finishing. And it was in the Tubantia FAC club that he began his career in 1937. There, he already proved incredibly decisive, scoring 65 goals in 93 games for his Belgian second division club. Then it was the legendary Belgian club RSC Anderlecht that recruited him in 1941.

One of the most decisive Belgian players of all time

After a very good first season at Anderlecht with more than 20 goals. He proved even more decisive, stringing together 3 consecutive seasons with more than 30 goals:

1943/44: 30 matches, 33 goals

1945/46: 27 matches, 32 goals

1946/47: 34 matches, 38 goals

Jef Mermans was then one of the best Belgian players of his time and one of the most prolific strikers in Europe. During the 1949/50 season, he played 28 matches for 37 goals, proving even more decisive than before.

An absolute legend of Belgian football

During his time at Anderlecht, he scored a large number of crucial goals, but also provided many assists. He had a very good vision of the game and a very good positioning on the field, he won with his club a total of 7 Belgian champion trophies.

Known for his leadership qualities, he had a strict work ethic, always wanting to give the best of himself on the field. Little by little he established himself as one of the best players in the history of the Belgian championship and one of the most decisive of all time.

Jef Mermans is also one of the best players in the history of the Belgian selection. In 56 games for the Red Devils, he scored 27 goals between 1945 and 1956. He is also considered one of the best players in the history of the selection.

In 1957, he left after 16 years at the club, RSC Anderlecht, then aged 35, he joined Merksem SC, a minor club in Belgium. In total, he played there for 3 years, playing 81 matches for 41 goals. Even at an old age, the player kept his efficiency as a scorer. He finally retired at the end of these 3 years, he was then 38 years old.