European miracle nights shake Olympia

In November 1978, successful coach Ernst Happel leaves Club Brugge. This marks the start of turbulent eighties, characterized by a near-relegation, but also new league titles and a series of European miracle nights under coach Henk Houwaart. With Raoul Lambert retiring, a Club icon leaves, and Jan Ceulemans rises as a new Club icon. The eighties are a true rollercoaster of emotions. And Club ventures out into the world, playing football in Japan and Senegal.

The 1979-1980 season is also the last season for Club legend Raoul Lambert. On April 20, 1980, he scores his last official goal for Club Brugge at KSV Waregem. On the final matchday against Antwerp FC (5-1), Raoul Lambert plays his last match. Everyone, even Antwerp goalkeeper Theo Custers, tries to help Lotte score. Early in the second half, with a 4-1 score, an emotional Lotte receives a long, deafening applause as he is substituted. Raoul is still Club's top scorer with 270 goals. Symbolically, he passes the torch to Jan Ceulemans.

On August 24, 1980, the first edition of the Supercup takes place. League champion Club Brugge defeats KSK Beveren after a penalty shootout. Remarkably, goalkeeper Birger Jensen scores the decisive penalty!

Winning the Kirin Cup does not inspire Club in the league. With a host of new players, the season starts disastrously and the team will fight against relegation all year. Even two coaching changes cannot turn the tide. Only on the final matchday does Club escape relegation after a 5-0 home win against RWDM.

Former player Henk Houwaart succeeds Kessler. Kessler's tactically disciplined football is replaced by spectacular attacking football from Houwaart, a student of the Happel school. Already in his first season, a first European miracle night follows. In early October 1984, Club defeats the great Nottingham Forest 1-0 at Olympia in the first round of the UEFA Cup.

Between the playoff matches, Club plays the final of the Belgian Cup at Olympia. There, it defeats city rival Cercle 3-0. Jean-Pierre Papin scores twice, Willy Wellens scores the other goal.

The 1987-1988 season will always be remembered as the season of miracle nights. During the European campaign in the UEFA Cup, Club often loses the away matches hopelessly, only to turn things around in the return match at Olympia. Club wins at Olympia in the first and second rounds against Zenit Leningrad (5-0) and Red Star Belgrade (4-0). The iconic match is on December 9, 1987, against Borussia Dortmund. After losing 3-0 in the first leg, Club wins 5-0 on a frozen pitch in icy conditions after extra time. Leo Van Der Elst scores a hat-trick that night. After also beating Panathinaikos, Club loses in the semifinals after extra time against Espanyol.