View source for Jef Mermans

{{short description|Belgian footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Jef Mermans
| image = Jef Mermans.jpg
| fullname = Josephus Antoon Louisa Mermans
| birth_date = {{birth date|1922|2|16|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Merksem]], [[Belgium]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1996|1|20|1922|2|16|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Essen, Belgium|Wildert]], [[Belgium]]
| height = 
| position = [[Striker (football)|Striker]]
| currentclub = 
| youthyears1 = 1932&ndash;1937
| youthclubs1 = [[K. Tubantia Borgerhout V.K.|Tubantia FAC]]
| youthyears2 = 
| youthclubs2 = 
| years1 = 1937&ndash;1942
| clubs1 = [[K. Tubantia Borgerhout V.K.|Tubantia FAC]]
| caps1 = 93
| goals1 = 65
| years2 = 1942&ndash;1957
| clubs2 = [[R.S.C. Anderlecht|Anderlecht]]
| caps2 = 382
| goals2 = 339
| years3 = 1957&ndash;1960
| clubs3 = [[Merksem SC]]
| caps3 = 81
| goals3 = 41
| totalcaps = 556
| totalgoals = 445
| nationalyears1 = 1945&ndash;1956
| nationalteam1 = [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]]
| nationalcaps1 = 56
| nationalgoals1 = 28
| manageryears1 = 
| managerclubs1 = 
| caption = Mermans with Belgium in 1953
}}
'''Josephus Antoon Louisa "Jef" Mermans''' (16 February 1922 in [[Merksem]] – 20 January 1996 in [[Essen, Belgium|Wildert]]), nicknamed "The Bomber", was a [[Association football|football]] [[Striker (association football)|striker]] from [[Belgium]], who played much of his career at [[R.S.C. Anderlecht|Anderlecht]], with whom he won seven [[Belgian Pro League|Belgian Championship]] titles and finished [[Belgian First Division top scorers|top scorer]] of this competition three times. He played 405 games and scored 369 goals for Anderlecht, making him the club's all time topscorer.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 December 2022 |title=Jef Mermans: bombardier van Anderlecht over de Bevrijding |url=https://boeken.doorbraak.be/boekennieuws/jef-mermans-bombardier-van-anderlecht-over-de-bevrijding/ |website=boeken.doorbraak.be |language=nl |access-date=23 March 2023 |archive-date=25 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425111326/https://boeken.doorbraak.be/boekennieuws/jef-mermans-bombardier-van-anderlecht-over-de-bevrijding/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=31 August 2019 |title=Wie was Jef Mermans? |url=https://berchem-sport.com/2019/08/31/wie-was-jef-mermans/ |website=berchem-sport.com |language=nl}}</ref>

Mermans played 56 matches with the [[Belgium national football team]], 2 of which were in the [[1954 FIFA World Cup]]. He is also the 6th top scorer ever for the Belgium national team with 27 goals.
[[File:Belgie tegen Nederland 7-2. Toss, Bestanddeelnr 904-2930.jpg|thumb|260px|Mermans on the left, as captain of the Belgium team in November 1950]]

==Early career==
In the early 1930s, the young Mermans, along with a couple of friends, could not afford to become members of FC Antwerp. Eventually, the boys tried their luck at [[K. Tubantia Borgerhout V.K.|Tubantia F.A.C.]], a small club in the [[Antwerp]] suburb, and forced themselves into the youth team.

Five years later, Mermans entered the first team. His progress caught the attention of the federal coach and Jef was selected for a Belgium B squad match against [[Luxembourg national football team|Luxembourg]] in January 1939. At this point, he received a proposal to play in the [[K. Beerschot V.A.C.|Beerschot]] team twice in two years, but Tubantia Borgerhout refused.

A member of the Anderlecht staff arrived at [[Borgerhout]] in 1942 with a [[Blank cheque|blank check]] that was filled in with the record sum of 125,000 [[Franc|Belgian francs]] in a quarter of an hour.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 January 2024 |title=NIEUW TRANSFERRECORD IN HET JAAR 1948 |url=https://www.rbfa.be/nl/nieuw-transferrecord-het-jaar-1948 |website=rbfa.be |language=nl}}</ref>

==Anderlecht career==
On his arrival at [[R.S.C. Anderlecht|Anderlecht]], 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 [[Albert De Cleyn|Bert De Cleyn]] as top scorer). He was top European goalscorer of the season 1949-1950 netting 37 goals.<ref>{{cite web |url =https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/beforegboot.html|title =European topscorers by season|access-date=5 May 2020}}</ref>
At the peak of his career, Anderlecht received offers from [[A.S. Roma]], [[Torino F.C.|Torino Calcio]], [[Atalanta B.C.|Atalanta Bergamo]], [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]], [[S.S. Lazio]] and [[Atlético Madrid]] but refused them all.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 January 2024 |title=Mermans, Jef |url=https://www.anderlecht-online.be/nl/stars/20 |website=anderlecht-online.be |language=nl}}</ref>
[[File:Jef_Mermans,_Nederland-België,_3_april_1955.png|thumb|260px|Jef Mermans, 3 April 1955]]

==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 [[Belgian Third Division|3rd]] to [[Belgian Second Division|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.

== Career statistics ==

=== Club ===
Source:<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 January 2024 |title=Club Appearances of Jef Mermans |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/18378/Jef_Mermans.html |website=national-football-teams.com |language=}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
! rowspan="2" |Club
! rowspan="2" |Season
! colspan="3" |League
|-
!Division
!Apps
!Goals
|-
| rowspan="6" |[[K. Tubantia Borgerhout V.K.|Tubantia Borgerhout]]
|1937–38
| rowspan="5" |[[Belgian Second Division]]
|18
|8
|-
|1938–39
|22
|9
|-
|1939–40
|17
|14
|-
|1940–41
|19
|14
|-
|1941–42
|17
|20
|-
! colspan="2" |Total
!93
!65
|-
| rowspan="16" |[[R.S.C. Anderlecht|Anderlecht]]
|[[1941–42 Belgian First Division|1941–42]]
| rowspan="15"|[[Belgian First Division]]
|1
|1
|-
|[[1942–43 Belgian First Division|1942–43]]
|30
|23
|-
|[[1943–44 Belgian First Division|1943–44]]
|30
|33
|-
|[[1945–46 Belgian First Division|1945–46]]
|27
|32
|-
|[[1946–47 Belgian First Division|1946–47]]
|34
|38
|-
|[[1947–48 Belgian First Division|1947–48]]
|26
|23
|-
|[[1948–49 Belgian First Division|1948–49]]
|27
|17
|-
|[[1949–50 Belgian First Division|1949–50]]
|28
|37
|-
|[[1950–51 Belgian First Division|1950–51]]
|21
|17
|-
|[[1951–52 Belgian First Division|1951–52]]
|26
|19
|-
|[[1952–53 Belgian First Division|1952–53]]
|27
|24
|-
|[[1953–54 Belgian First Division|1953–54]]
|30
|21
|-
|[[1954–55 Belgian First Division|1954–55]]
|29
|23
|-
|[[1955–56 Belgian First Division|1955–56]]
|24
|19
|-
|[[1956–57 Belgian First Division|1956–57]]
|22
|12
|-
! colspan="2" |Total
!382
!339
|-
| rowspan="4" |Olse Merksem
|1958–59
| rowspan="3" |[[Belgian Third Division]]
|26
|11
|-
|1959–60
|26
|20
|-
|1960–61
|29
|10
|-
! colspan="2" |Total
!81
!41
|-
! colspan="3" |Career total
!556
!445
|}
''Note:'' The goals that Mermans scored in the games of the uncompleted [[1944–45 in Belgian football|1944-45]] season are not taken into account.

=== International ===
[[File:Belgie tegen Nederland 7-2. Vijfde Belgische doelpunt, Bestanddeelnr 904-2923.jpg|thumb|260px|Mermans scoring for Belgium in a 7–2 win over the Netherlands (Antwerp, 1950)]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Appearances and goals by national team and year'''<ref name="eurosport3223">{{cite web |date=11 January 2024 |title=Jef MERMANS - Footballer stats by year |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=13798 |publisher=eu-football.info |language= }}</ref>'''
!National team
!Year
!Apps
!Goals
|-
| rowspan="12" |[[Belgium national football team|Belgium]]
|1945
|1
|0
|-
|1946
|2
|0
|-
|1947
|3
|1
|-
|1948
|6
|3
|-
|1949
|7
|4
|-
|1950
|7
|12
|-
|1951
|6
|1
|-
|1952
|5
|2
|-
|1953
|5
|1
|-
|1954
|8
|3
|-
|1955
|4
|0
|-
|1956
|3
|1
|-
! colspan="2" |Total
!56
!28
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Jef Mermans
!scope="col"|{{Abbr|No.|Number}}
!scope=col|[[Cap (sport)|Cap]]
!Date
!Venue
!Opponent
!Score
!Result
!Competition
|-
|1.
|5
|21 September 1947
|[[King Baudouin Stadium|Heysel Stadium]], Brussels
|{{fb|ENG}}
|1–3
|{{lost|2–5}}
|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
|2.
|8
|18 April 1948
|[[De Kuip]], Rotterdam
|{{fb|NED}}
|1–1
|{{draw|2–2}}
|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
|3.
|10
|6 June 1948
|[[King Baudouin Stadium|Heysel Stadium]], Brussels
|{{fb|FRA}}
|3–2
|{{won|4–2}}
|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
|4.
|11
|17 October 1948
|[[Stade Yves-du-Manoir]], Colombes
|{{fb|FRA}}
|1–2
|{{draw|3–3}}
|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
|5.
|rowspan="2"|14
|rowspan="2"|13 March 1949
|rowspan="2"|[[Olympic Stadium (Amsterdam)|Olympic Stadium]], Amsterdam
|rowspan="2"|{{fb|NED}}
|2–0
|rowspan="2"{{draw|3–3}}
|rowspan="2"|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
|6.
| 3–3
|-
|7.
|15
|24 April 1949
|[[Dalymount Park]], Dublin
|{{fb|IRL}}
|2–0
|{{won|2–0}}
|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
|8.
|17
|2 October 1949
|[[King Baudouin Stadium|Heysel Stadium]], Brussels
|{{fb|SWI}}
|3–0
|{{won|3–0}}
|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
|9.
|21
|16 April 1950
|[[Bosuilstadion]], Antwerp
|{{fb|NED}}
|1–0
|{{won|2–0}}
|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
|10.
|rowspan="3"|22
|rowspan="3"|10 May 1950
|rowspan="3"|[[King Baudouin Stadium|Heysel Stadium]], Brussels
|rowspan="3"|{{fb|IRL}}
|1–0
|rowspan="3"{{won|5–1}}
|rowspan="3"|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
|11.
|3–0
|-
|12.
|5–1
|-
|13.
|23
|18 May 1950
|[[King Baudouin Stadium|Heysel Stadium]], Brussels
|{{fb|ENG}}
|1–0
|{{lost|1–4}}
|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
|14.
|rowspan="3"|24
|rowspan="3"|4 June 1950
|rowspan="3"|[[King Baudouin Stadium|Heysel Stadium]], Brussels
|rowspan="3"|{{fb|FRA}}
|1–0
|rowspan="3"{{won|4–1}}
|rowspan="3"|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
|15.
|3–1
|-
|16.
|4–1
|-
|17.
|rowspan="2"|25
|rowspan="2"|1 November 1950
|rowspan="2"|[[Stade Yves-du-Manoir]], Colombes
|rowspan="2"|{{fb|FRA}}
|2–0
|rowspan="2"{{draw|3–3}}
|rowspan="2"|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
|18.
|3–2
|-
|19.
|rowspan="2"|26
|rowspan="2"|12 November 1950
|rowspan="2"|[[Bosuilstadion]], Antwerp
|rowspan="2"|{{fb|NED}}
|2–0
|rowspan="2"{{won|7–2}}
|rowspan="2"|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
|20.
|5–1
|-
|21.
|27
|15 April 1951
|[[Olympic Stadium (Amsterdam)|Olympic Stadium]], Amsterdam
|{{fb|NED}}
|2–1
|{{lost|4–5}}
|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
|22.
|34
|22 May 1952
|[[King Baudouin Stadium|Heysel Stadium]], Brussels
|{{fb|FRA}}
|1–2
|{{lost|1–2}}
|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
|23.
|35
|19 October 1952
|[[Bosuilstadion]], Antwerp
|{{fb|NED}}
|2–1
|{{won|2–1}}
|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
|24.
|41
|22 November 1953
|[[Hardturm]], Zurich
|{{fb|SWI}}
|1–0
|{{draw|2–2}}
|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
|25.
|43
|4 April 1954
|[[Bosuilstadion]], Antwerp
|{{fb|NED}}
|1–0
|{{won|4–0}}
|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
|26.
|44
|4 April 1954
|[[Stadion Maksimir]], Zagreb
|{{fb|YUG}}
|2–0
|{{won|2–0}}
|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
|27.
|45
|30 May 1954
|[[King Baudouin Stadium|Heysel Stadium]], Brussels
|{{fb|FRA}}
|1–0
|{{draw|3–3}}
|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
|28.
|54
|11 March 1956
|[[King Baudouin Stadium|Heysel Stadium]], Brussels
|{{fb|FRA}}
|1–1
|{{lost|1–3}}
|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|}

== Honours ==
'''RSC Anderlecht'''

* [[Belgian First Division]]: [[1946–47 Belgian First Division|1946–47]], [[1948–49 Belgian First Division|1948–49]], [[1949–50 Belgian First Division|1949–50]], [[1950–51 Belgian First Division|1950–51]], [[1953–54 Belgian First Division|1953–54]], [[1954–55 Belgian First Division|1954–55]], [[1955–56 Belgian First Division|1955–56]]; runners-up: [[1943–44 Belgian First Division|1943–44]], [[1947–48 Belgian First Division|1947–48]], [[1952–53 Belgian First Division|1952–53]], [[1956–57 Belgian First Division|1956–57]]'''<ref name="eurosport322">{{Cite web |title=Palmares |url=https://www.rsca.be/nl/club/palmares |website=Officiele website Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht}}</ref>'''
'''Olse Merksem'''
* [[Belgian Third Division]]: 1958–59<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 October 2022 |title=De Piraten Gazet - Geschiedenis |url=http://www.citypirates.be/geschiedenis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109202319/http://www.citypirates.be/geschiedenis |archive-date=9 November 2018 |language=nl}}</ref>
'''Individual'''
* [[Belgian First Division A top scorers|Belgian First Division top scorer]]: 1946–47 (39 goals), 1947–48 (23 goals), 1949–50 (37 goals)'''<ref name="eurosport3232">{{Cite web|url=https://www.voetbal.com/topscoorders/bel-eerste-klasse-a/|title=Eerste klasse A - Topsc. per seizoen|website=voetbal.com}}</ref>'''
* [[European Golden Shoe|European topscorer]]: 1949-1950 (37 goals)
* World League topscorer: 1949–50<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 January 2024 |title=World League Topscorers 1889-2005 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/worldtops.html |website=rsssf.org |language=}}</ref>
* [[Belgian Golden Shoe|Belgian Silver Shoe]]: 1954<ref name="Yashin Award2">{{cite web |title=Winnaars Gouden Schoen |url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20120111_213}}</ref>
* Belgian Bronze Shoe: 1955
* Golden Medal of Sports Merit: 1955<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 January 2024 |title=Jef MERMANS |url=http://www.labdarugo.be/Mermans.htm |website=labdarugo.be |language=nl}}</ref>
* [[:nl:Gouden Schoen van de Eeuw|Belgian Golden Shoe of the 20th Century]] (1995): 9th place<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.football-the-story.com/blog/soulier-d-or-belge|title=Soulier d'or belge|website=www.football-the-story.com}}</ref>
* A stadium, ''Jef Mermansstadion'' in Merksem.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 December 2022 |title=City Pirates |url=https://www.citypirates.be/locaties/ |website=www.citypirates.be |language=nl}}</ref>

== Books ==
* ''Mijn voetbal en ik'' by Jef Mermans in 1952, Uitgeverij STADION 126 p. (Dutch)
* ''Joseph Mermans - L Anderlechtois aux ... 50 capes!'' by Marcel Grosjean in 1954, 36 p. (French)
* ''Eeuwige 25: Anderlecht: van Jef Mermans tot Vincent Kompany'' by Raf Willems in 2019, Willems Uitgevers, 107 p. (Dutch, French) {{ISBN|9789492419651}}
* ''Jef Mermans. Bombardier: de voetballer die Anderlecht naar de top loodste'' by Stefan van Loock in 2022, Willems Uitgevers, 276 p. (Dutch) {{ISBN|9789493242586}}

== See also ==
* [[List of footballers with 500 or more goals|List of men's footballers with 500 or more goals]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
*{{NFT player|pid=18378}}

{{Belgium Squad 1954 World Cup}}
{{Belgian First Division top scorers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mermans, Jef}}
[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:1996 deaths]]
[[Category:Belgian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Belgium men's international footballers]]
[[Category:1954 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:R.S.C. Anderlecht players]]
[[Category:Belgian Pro League players]]
[[Category:People from Merksem]]
[[Category:Footballers from Antwerp]]
[[Category:20th-century Belgian sportsmen]]