First, focus on sporting success, not construction
FRIDAY, 2 JANUARY 2026, 06:30 - emjomi
INTERVIEWS With a new chairman come new priorities. Whereas his predecessor, Wouter Vandenhaute, spoke explicitly about plans for a new stadium, Michael Verschueren is putting the brakes on for now. In his first extensive interview as chairman of RSC Anderlecht, he makes it clear that infrastructure is not at the top of the agenda today. “We still have the best stadium in the country. Our focus is elsewhere: winning trophies again.”
The stadium issue has been dragging on for years at Anderlecht. In 2018, Marc Coucke, then chairman, put three possible options on the table: a thorough renovation of the former Vanden Stock Stadium, a completely new stadium at Neerpede, or a location elsewhere in Brussels. None of these scenarios were ultimately developed in detail.
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Continue reading In May 2025, that seemed to be changing. Wouter Vandenhaute announced that Anderlecht was once again actively looking for a new home. The site of the former Cora store in Anderlecht was mentioned as a possible location, but that project soon proved to be legally and practically unfeasible. The interview in which Vandenhaute explained those plans would turn out to be his last as chairman.
With Verschueren at the helm, those construction ambitions are once again fading into the background. “Lotto Park is a modern, high-quality stadium,” he says. “If you want to generate more revenue from ticketing in the long term and strengthen the bond with the supporters, then you do indeed need extra capacity. But whether that can be done here or elsewhere depends on feasibility. Today, that is not a priority.”
According to Verschueren, the priority clearly lies in the sporting arena. “The club needs to win trophies again as soon as possible. That's where all our energy is focused right now.”
The chairman also tempers expectations about a possible return of Romelu Lukaku. “As far as I know, he is still under contract in Naples and will probably sign another contract there or with another club afterwards. I don't see him returning to Anderlecht in the next two years.”
