KV Mechelen produced a late winner against Anderlecht this weekend to spark some wild scenes. The sides victory ensured they finished in the top six and qualified for the Champions Play Offs for the first time in the clubs history. They now have a great chance of earning a European ticket and returning to continental football, having won the Cup Winners Cup and the European Super Cup in 1988.
What has been so remarkable about this achievement is that it has come admist a rebuild. Under Fred Vanderbiest, the side has seen stalwarts of the previous through years move on, with younger players coming in. Vanderbiest has been able to revamp the squad and bring new energy with younger players, with one of those, Myron van Brederode, grabbing the crucial goal against Anderlecht at the weekend.
Myron van Brederode struck late to help KV Mechelen beat Anderlecht and ensure the side earned a top six finish and a shot at European football!
โ Get Belgian & Dutch Football News (@GBeNeFN) March 16, 2026
KV Mechelen have history in Europe, having won the European Cup Winners Cup in 1988 and the European Super Cup that same year ๐ https://t.co/rBFxDGcJN5
The likes of Nikola Storm and Rob Schoofs have moved in, being replaced by the likes of van Brederode, Fredrik Hammar and Mathis Servais. Hammar has been a fantastic signing and arguably the sides most important outfield player. In goal, Nacho Miras joined from second tier Deinze last January. Initially, the Spaniard played second fiddle to Ortwin De Wolf, but an injury to the latter gave Miras his chance and has become the undisputed number one.
Even losing striker Lion Lauberbach in January hasnโt stopped KV Mechelen. The side grabbed Bouke Boersma from the Dutch third tier and the 20-year-old has shown he can match the Belgian leagues physicality with two assists already.
KV Mechelen will certainly start as underdogs in the play-offs. The side are someway off of the top three, even with points being halved. Instead, it is likely they will be battling with the likes of Anderlecht, Gent or Genk for one of the other European tickets. Those three, who are well known outside of Belgian football, are all still in with a chance of missing out on the top six. Only two of the three will join KV Mechelen. For the loser, they will need to win play-off two and then win the European play-off against the side that finishes fourth or fifth in the Champions play-offs, with that position depending on the outcome of the cup final between Anderlecht and Union St Gilloise.
GBeNeFNย |ย Ben Jackson
