“That whole week was the most beautiful moment of my career”: Tom De Sutter looks back 10 years later on memorable Brugse Hoogdagen

Ten years ago Tom De Sutter was one of the key figures in the cup final between Club Brugge and Anderlecht. At Sporza, the attacker recalls the cup win and the European triumph that preceded it.

A retrospective with Tom de Sutter on the cup final between Club Brugge and Anderlecht from 10 years ago actually starts a few days before the final. Three days earlier, Blauw-Zwart had qualified in Istanbul for the quarterfinals of the Europa League, after a 1-3 victory on the field of Besiktas.

“For 70,000 Turkish supporters,” De Sutter smiles. “If people ask me what the best moment was in my career, then that’s not one time, but that whole week. It really stands out for me.”

Immediately after the European glory evening in Turkey, Club returned to Belgium to prepare the cup final. “We immediately drove from the airport to the hotel, where we stayed for 3 days until the final,” De Sutter recalls.

At that time the attacker was in the form of his life: he scored in both the out of the out and back and the back match against Besiktas and also did that in the cup final against Purple & White.

“I was really in a flow then. So to speak, I just had to look at the ball and he flew in. As a rush you have periods with peaks and troughs. You can now see that, for example, at Anderlecht with Dolberg.”

Was there less busy after the European victory in Istanbul? “It was a big boost for the team, but we didn’t win that European cup. Yet that victory against Besiktas did take some pressure to the cup final.”

At that time it was already 8 years ago that Club Brugge had grabbed another prize. “It was the title or winning that year, there was no other option. But if it was so long ago, it is also very difficult to overcome that first step.”

That drought was broken in the cup final. “For Club that has been the start of a very nice period. And at Anderlecht, the way down perhaps at that time.”

It was ushered by that fantastic bang of Refaelov in the extra time. “Suddenly it was very quiet on one side of the stadium. One of the biggest discharges I experienced. That was unlikely,” concludes De Sutter, who does not choose a party for Sunday.

“I will be happy for both teams. I hope they both do well and that we will hopefully get a nice and exciting final.”