On January 4, 2024, Standard appointed Ivan Leko to take over the team. A year later, the mist has still not lifted from Sclessin.
By being fired on December 31, Carl Hoefkens had a rather gloomy end to the year, in the wake of Standard’s last few encouraging performances under his command. The management wanted at all costs to provide clarity with a view to the winter internship, they appointed Ivan Leko (free for two months and the end of his adventure at Hajduk Split) barely five days later.
The promise of profound change: in Sint-Truiden, Club de Bruges and at Antwerp, the Croatian coach did not really have the reputation of making compromises. It was therefore a good dose of strength that arrived to take charge of a core which was sorely lacking it.
After this internship in Spain, notably rich in a 3-3 split against Borussia Dortmund, Leko had his first official match on the Rouches bench, during a 0-1 defeat against Kortrijk (on a ball of Zinho Vanheusden taking advantage of Felipe Avenatti whom Sclessin would prefer to forget).
Instability at all levels
Of the eleven players lined up that day against the Kerels, two were still there against Mechelen. Of the 19 players listed on the match sheet, 8 are still at the club (including only four who appear as potential starters in the eyes of Leko, a figure which includes the two goalkeepers).
A year later, the figures are not very encouraging: of the 42 matches played under Leko, Standard only won 10 (9 at home), for 14 draws and 18 defeats. 1.05 points collected per game, less than Carl Hoefkenswhich topped out at 1.18. At the start of the latter, Standard was ninth, nine points from the top 6, two points from the Playdowns. Paradoxically, the Liégeois have two more units this season but are tenth, practically equidistant from the two extremes.
Leko’s mixed results are obviously explained by the uncertainty that reigns behind the scenes, impacting the transfer window but also the daily functioning of the club. The Croatian probably had to swallow snakes like never before in his career. He recently declared that those who knew him should no longer recognize his team, referring to the very defensive game practiced to limit damage.
In 42 matches, the Standard scored…42 times. Not sure that 2025 will be more focused on the offensive. Should the team show more despite the circumstances? This is the question that has agitated Sclessin for months…and which should continue to do so, just like others, even more important.
