A long search for stability
1950 - 1959
After the difficult sporting years of the 1940s, Club Brugge continues in the 1950s searching for sporting stability. Between 1951 and 1959, Club plays eight consecutive seasons in the Second Division. In their search for a miracle worker, the Club board turns in 1957 to Romanian Norberto Höfling. In Italy, he earned his coaching diploma and was coach of Vicenza for one year before coming to Belgium. He puts Club Brugge back on track in the following years. Höfling brings a professional approach from Italy that lays the foundation for future successes. He makes the team tactically stronger, pays attention to better organization of the defense, and is the first to implement a professional mentality. Höfling will remain head coach for six seasons. During the 1967-1968 season, Höfling returns for one more season as coach of FCB. That season, he also wins the Belgian Cup with Club. In the mid-1950s, the Club fans also get to know an absolute top talent: Fernand Goyvaerts.
Fernand Goyvaerts is the only Belgian to have played for both FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Strong tactical ability and thorough professionalism
Norberto Höfling opens the door to professionalism
After the Scot William Kennedy and Belgian Félix Schavy, FCB appoints Norberto Höfling as coach in 1957. The Romanian, only 33 years old, makes an impression. He is full of charisma and has impressive credentials: he played for MTK Budapest and was active for years in Italy with clubs such as SS Lazio. In Italy, he also earned his coaching diploma. He receives a contract for one season at a monthly salary of 20,000 Belgian francs, a high amount at the time.
Eating beef before the match is replaced by rice with chicken and sugar.
Höfling brings a renewed football vision based on strong tactical ability and thorough professionalism. Outdated habits immediately change. Nutrition becomes important. Eating beef before the match is replaced by rice with chicken and sugar. From now on, meals are eaten in groups, both at home matches and away. Höfling also influences what players eat at home. He orders sports meals to be delivered and personally checks if his advice is followed. Höfling also introduces the concept of isolation, at that time unseen at Club.
Thanks to good results, including promotion to First Division in 1959, he remains head coach at Club Brugge until 1963.
Fernand Goyvaerts
Enfant terrible with genius feet
In the mid-1950s, a new top talent arrives from Heist-aan-Zee: Fernand Goyvaerts. He makes his debut in the first team at just 16 years old. The young winger is one of the key figures in the team that brings Club back to First Division in 1959. Even there, the agile winger continues to impress. However, he has a difficult relationship with coach Norberto Höfling. In September 1961, there is a definitive break. Goyvaerts leaves for FC Barcelona in 1962. Later, he will also play for Real Madrid. Fernand Goyvaerts — who gets the nickname Fernando — is thus the only Club player to have played for both FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.
1959
Definitive return to First Division
Sunday, May 10, 1959, is a memorable day in the history of Club Brugge. In Bruges, every Club fan is glued to the radio. That afternoon, Club wins 0-2 at Club Ronse thanks to two goals from Roger Van Gansbeke. FCB is promoted for the first time since 1950-1951 back to First Division. There, it will remain active to this day.