Belgian First Division - Players - Top Scorers

Top Scorers

All-time top scorers in the Belgian First Division
Rank Player Goals
1 Albert De Cleyn 350
2 Joseph Mermans 339
3 Bernard Voorhoof 281
4 Arthur Ceuleers 280
5 Rik Coppens 258
6 Erwin Vandenbergh 252
7 Paul Van Himst 237
8 Raymond Braine 192

Erwin Vandenbergh is the only player to have claimed the top scorer title 4 consecutive times, between 1979–80 and 1982-83 (the first three times while at Lierse SK and the last time while at RSC Anderlecht). He is also the player to have claimed the most Belgian First Division top scorer titles in his career (6 times with 3 different clubs: 3 times with Lierse SK, twice with RSC Anderlecht and once with KAA Gent). Victor Wegria and Josip Weber won the title 3 consecutive times (resp. between 1958–59 and 1960-61 while at RFC Liégeois and between 1991–92 and 1993-94 while at Cercle Brugge KSV). Wegria eventually finished top scorer a 4th time in 1962-63 still with RFC Liégeois, making him the second player with the most top scorer titles in the history of Belgian First Division top scorers.

The introduction of this title of honour in 1945 was maybe a little too late for first winner Bert De Cleyn as this player has scored the most goals in the history of the Belgian First Division since 1895 (350 goals in 395 games between 1932 and 1954 with KV Mechelen), though he won the top scorer title only once. Other players in the top ten of the all-time top scorer ranking in the Belgian First Division include Joseph Mermans (3 times top scorer, 339 goals overall in 382 games with RSC Anderlecht), Bernard Voorhoof (Belgium national football team top scorer, 281 goals in 473 matches with Lierse SK), Rik Coppens (3 times top scorer), Erwin Vandenbergh and Paul Van Himst (Belgium top scorer with Bernard Voorhoof, 3 times top scorer).

The first foreign player to claim the title was Dutchman Jan Mulder in 1966-67 with RSC Anderlecht. Since then, 24 foreign players have finished top scorer. Only two foreign players claimed the trophy more than once: Josip Weber (twice as a Croat and once as a Belgian) and Austrian Alfred Riedl.

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