Willem II (football club)

Willem II
	File:Willem II.png
Full name	Willem II Tilburg
Nickname(s)	Tricolores, Superkruiken"
Founded	12 August 1896; 127 years ago (as Tilburgia)
Ground	Koning Willem II Stadion,; Tilburg, North Brabant, The Netherlands.
Capacity	14,637
Chairman	Mark van Boekel
Manager	Jurgen Streppel
League	Eredivisie
2014–15	Eredivisie, 9th
Website	Club home page
Home colours	Away colours
	Current season

Willem II (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈʋɪləm də ˈtʋeːdə]), also known as Willem II Tilburg, is a football club based in Tilburg, North Brabant, The Netherlands. The team was founded on 12 August 1896 as Tilburgia. On 12 January 1898, the club was renamed Willem II, after Dutch king William II of the Netherlands (reign from 1840 until 1849), who, as Prince of Orange and commander of the Dutch army, had his military headquarters in Tilburg during the Belgian uprising of 1830.

Notable former players for the club include Dutch internationals Jan van Roessel, Joris Mathijsen, Jaap Stam and Marc Overmars plus the Finn Sami Hyypiä. The club's shirt consists of red-white-blue vertical stripes, inspired by the colours of the flag of the Netherlands. Willem II plays its home matches in the Koning Willem II Stadion, also named after the King. The stadium, opened on May 31, 1995, has a capacity of 14,700 spectators. The average attendance in 2004–05 was 12,500 people.

Despite never winning the Eredivisie, the club came second in 1998–99, qualifying for the Champions League as a result.

History

Willem II were the first champions of the Dutch league after professional football was introduced in 1954–55.

The club has won three national titles (1916, 1952 and 1955) and two national cups (1944 and 1963). In 1987, 1990 and 1999, Willem II were voted Dutch Club of the Year. In 1999, a second place in the league guaranteed the club a UEFA Champions League berth. In the first group stage (Group G), Willem II were eliminated. They scored 2 points in 6 matches. In 1963, Willem II lost to Manchester United (7–2 on aggregate) in the first round of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. In 1998–99, Willem II competed in the UEFA Cup. After beating Dinamo Tbilisi of Georgia 6–0 on aggregate in the first round, Willem II lost to Spanish side Real Betis in the second round, 4–1 on aggregate. After reaching the Dutch cup final in 2004 (4–0 loss against PSV Eindhoven), Willem II qualified again for the UEFA Cup, in which they lost to French side AS Monaco in the first round (5–1 on aggregate). The fans of Willem II have close relations with the fans of English championship club Bristol City. Some Willem II fans were seen in the 'Eastend' (Bristol City's most popular stand) for their game against Sheffield Wednesday on the 31st October 2009, there were songs sung about Willem II.^{[citation needed]} Fans of the club have been known to travel to Bristol, with Bristol City fans heading the other way to Tilburg.

After the 2010–11 season, Willem II was relegated from the Eredivisie for the first time in 24 years.

In the 2011–12 season under new manager Jurgen Streppel Willem II was promoted back to the Eredivisie, but they went right back down the next season after finishing bottom of the table.

The club became champions of the Eerste Divisie in the 2013–14 season and were promoted back to the Eredivisie.

In early 2015, Volkskrant journalists revealed that Willem II had its matches fixed by an "Asian gambling syndicate", who had paid Willem II players a total sum of €100,000 to lose matches against AFC Ajax and Feyenoord (in October and December 2009). According to the journalists, midfielder Ibrahim Kargbo was the Asians' main contact within the club; Kargbo denies having accepted their money.^[1] The Royal Dutch Football Association calls the affair "the most concrete case of match fixing in the Netherlands" and has taken legal action as well as asking UEFA and FIFA to reevaluate previous matches.^[2]

Honours

National Football League Championship
- Winners (3): 1915–16, 1951–52, 1954–55
Eredivisie
- Runner-up (1): 1998–99
Eerste Divisie
- Winners (3): 1956–57, 1964–65, 2013–14
- Runner-up (1): 1986–87
KNVB Cup
- Winners (2): 1943–44, 1962–63
- Runner-up (1): 2004–05

Domestic results

17#

1^

16

8

10

8

15#

10

1^

10

18#

4

14

6

14

15

14

18

14

9

11

7

3^

8

10

14

17#

8

4

2^

4

15

13

11

12

10

8

7

12

15

5

2

9

8

11

7

10

17

15

12

17

18#

5^

18#

1^

9

57

58

59

60

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

69

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71

72

73

74

75

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81

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89

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91

92

93

94

95

96

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98

99

00

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

15

Eredivisie*

Eerste divisie

* Official position, including playoff (if played). If playoffs has been played the position before playoffs between brackets.
# demotion
^ promotion

Below is a table with Willem II's domestic results since the introduction of the Eredivisie in 1956.

Domestic Results since 1956
Domestic league	League result	Qualification to	KNVB Cup season	Cup result
1956–57 Eredivisie	18th	Eerste Divisie (relegation)	1956–57	?^{[citation needed]}
1957–58 Eerste Divisie	1st (group A)	Eredivisie (promotion)	1957–58	?^{[citation needed]}
1958–59 Eredivisie	16th	–	1958–59	?^{[citation needed]}
1959–60 Eredivisie	8th	–	not held	not held
1960–61 Eredivisie	10th	–	1960–61	?^{[citation needed]}
1961–62 Eredivisie	8th	–	1961–62	?^{[citation needed]}
1962–63 Eredivisie	15th	Cup Winners' Cup Eerste Divisie (relegation)	1962–63	winners
1963–64 Eerste Divisie	10th	–	1963–64	second round^{[citation needed]}
1964–65 Eerste Divisie	1st	Eredivisie (promotion)	1964–65	first round^{[citation needed]}
1965–66 Eredivisie	10th	–	1965–66	group stage^{[citation needed]}
1966–67 Eredivisie	18th	Eerste Divisie (relegation)	1966–67	first round^{[citation needed]}
1967–68 Eerste Divisie	4th	–	1967–68	round of 16^{[citation needed]}
1968–69 Eerste Divisie	14th	–	1968–69	first round^{[citation needed]}
1969–70 Eerste Divisie	6th	–	1969–70	second round^{[citation needed]}
1970–71 Eerste Divisie	14th	–	1970–71	second round
1971–72 Eerste Divisie	15th	–	1971–72	first round
1972–73 Eerste Divisie	14th	–	1972–73	second round
1973–74 Eerste Divisie	18th	–	1973–74	round of 16
1974–75 Eerste Divisie	14th	–	1974–75	first round
1975–76 Eerste Divisie	9th	–	1975–76	first round
1976–77 Eerste Divisie	11th	–	1976–77	round of 16
1977–78 Eerste Divisie	7th	–	1977–78	first round
1978–79 Eerste Divisie	3rd	Eredivisie (winning promotion/releg. play-offs)	1978–79	second round
1979–80 Eredivisie	8th	–	1979–80	second round
1980–81 Eredivisie	10th	–	1980–81	quarter-final
1981–82 Eredivisie	14th	–	1981–82	second round
1982–83 Eredivisie	14th	–	1982–83	second round
1983–84 Eredivisie	17th	Eerste Divisie (relegation)	1983–84	first round
1984–85 Eerste Divisie	8th	–	1984–85	first round
1985–86 Eerste Divisie	5th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	1985–86	first round
1986–87 Eerste Divisie	2nd	Eredivisie (promotion)	1986–87	first round
1987–88 Eredivisie	4th	– (losing UC play-offs)	1987–88	quarter-final
1988–89 Eredivisie	15th	–	1988–89	semi-final
1989–90 Eredivisie	13th	–	1989–90	semi-final
1990–91 Eredivisie	11th	–	1990–91	quarter-final
1991–92 Eredivisie	12th	–	1991–92	third round
1992–93 Eredivisie	10th	–	1992–93	third round
1993–94 Eredivisie	8th	–	1993–94	round of 16
1994–95 Eredivisie	7th	–	1994–95	round of 16
1995–96 Eredivisie	12th	–	1995–96	second round
1996–97 Eredivisie	15th	–	1996–97	semi-final
1997–98 Eredivisie	5th	UEFA Cup	1997–98	round of 16
1998–99 Eredivisie	2nd	Champions League	1998–99	second round
1999–00 Eredivisie	9th	–	1999–00	quarter-final
2000–01 Eredivisie	8th	–	2000–01	second round
2001–02 Eredivisie	11th	Intertoto Cup (R2)	2001–02	second round
2002–03 Eredivisie	11th	Intertoto Cup (R2)	2002–03	third round
2003–04 Eredivisie	7th	–	2003–04	round of 16
2004–05 Eredivisie	10th	UEFA Cup	2004–05	final
2005–06 Eredivisie	17th	– (surviving promotion/relegation play-offs)	2005–06	round of 16
2006–07 Eredivisie	15th	–	2006–07	quarter-final
2007–08 Eredivisie	15th	–	2007–08	second round
2008–09 Eredivisie	12th	–	2008–09	third round
2009–10 Eredivisie	17th	– (surviving promotion/relegation play-offs)	2009–10	second round
2010–11 Eredivisie	18th	Eerste Divisie (relegation)	2010–11	third round
2011–12 Eerste Divisie	5th	Eredivisie (winning promotion/relegation play-offs)	2011–12	second round
2012–13 Eredivisie	18th	Eerste Divisie (relegation)	2012–13	second round
2013–14 Eerste Divisie	1st	Eredivisie	2013–14	second round
2014–15 Eredivisie	9th	–	2014–15	second round

Current squad

As of 1 September 2015

For recent transfers, see List of Dutch football transfers summer 2015

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Position	Player
1	GK	Kostas Lamprou
2	DF	Ruben Ligeon (on loan from Ajax)
3	DF	Freek Heerkens
4	DF	Jordens Peters (captain)
5	DF	Dico Koppers
6	MF	Funso Ojo
7	FW	Terell Ondaan
8	MF	Robbie Haemhouts
9	FW	Richairo Živković (on loan from Ajax)
10	MF	Erik Falkenburg
11	FW	Bruno Andrade
15	DF	Dries Wuytens
17	MF	Robert Braber
18	MF	Lucas Andersen (on loan from Ajax)

No.	Position	Player
19	FW	Lesly de Sa (on loan from Ajax)
20	DF	Frank van der Struijk
21	GK	David Meul
23	MF	Nick van der Velden
24	DF	Guus Joppen
25	DF	Nicky Kuiper
26	DF	Jeffrey Altheer
28	FW	Asumah Abubakar
29	MF	Stijn Wuytens
32	GK	Nigel Bertrams
37	FW	Adam Nemec
--	FW	Andy Kawaya (on loan from Anderlecht)
--	FW	Justin Mathieu

On loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.		Position	Player
30		MF	Jordy Vleugels (at FC Dordrecht until 30 June 2016)
31		GK	Mattijs Branderhorst (at MVV Maastricht until 30 June 2016)

Managers

Year	Manager
July 1980 – June 82	Bert Jacobs
1982	George Knobel
1982–84	Jan Brouwer
1984–85	Jan Notermans
July 1985 – June 90	Piet de Visser
1990–91	Adrie Koster
July 1991 – Oct 91	Piet de Visser
Oct 1991 – March 95	Jan Reker
March 1995 – June 96	Theo de Jong
July 1996 – June 97	Jimmy Calderwood
July 1997 – May 00	Co Adriaanse
May 2000 – June 00	Hans Verèl (interim)
July 2000 – June 2	Hans Westerhof

Year	Manager
July 2002 – Jan 04	Mark Wotte
Feb 2004 – June 4	André Wetzel
July 2004 – Nov 05	Robert Maaskant
Nov 2005 – June 6	Kees Zwamborn
July 2006 – Nov 07	Dennis van Wijk
Nov 2007 – Feb 09	Andries Jonker
Feb 2009 – Feb 10	Alfons Groenendijk
Feb 2010	Mark Schenning (interim)
Feb 2010 – April 10	Arno Pijpers
April 2010 – May 10	Theo de Jong (interim)
July 2010 – April 11	Gert Heerkes
April 2011 – June 11	John Feskens (interim)
July 2011–	Jurgen Streppel

References

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External links

Official website (Dutch)

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[1]

[2]

v t e Eredivisie
2015–16 clubs	ADO Den Haag Ajax AZ Cambuur Excelsior Feyenoord De Graafschap Groningen Heerenveen Heracles Almelo N.E.C. PEC Zwolle PSV Eindhoven Roda JC Twente Utrecht Vitesse Willem II
Stadiums	Abe Lenstra Stadion AFAS Stadion Amsterdam ArenA Cambuur Stadion Euroborg Galgenwaard GelreDome De Goffert De Grolsch Veste IJsseldeltastadion Koning Willem II Stadion De Kuip Kyocera Stadion Parkstad Limburg Stadion Philips Stadion Polman Stadion De Vijverberg Stadion Woudestein
Former clubs	Alkmaar '54 FC Amsterdam Blauw-Wit Amsterdam FC Den Bosch FC Dordrecht DOS DS '79 DWS FC Eindhoven USV Elinkwijk SC Enschede Fortuna '54 Fortuna Sittard Go Ahead Eagles GVAV HFC Haarlem Helmond Sport MVV Maastricht NAC TSV NOAD RBC Roosendaal RKC Waalwijk SHS Sittardia Sparta Rotterdam SVV Telstar SC Veendam FC Volendam De Volewijckers VVV-Venlo FC Wageningen XerxesDZB
Competition	Champions Players (foreign) Managers Derbies Eredivisie Live
Awards	Footballer of the Year Rinus Michels Award
Associated competitions	League system Eerste Divisie Tweede Divisie (defunct) Topklasse Hoofdklasse KNVB Cup Johan Cruijff Shield Beloften Eredivisie Eredivisie for women UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League
Seasons	1888–89 1889–90 1890–91 1891–92 1892–93 1893–94 1894–95 1895–96 1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–1900 1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16

Willem II (football club)

Contents

History

Honours

Domestic results

Current squad

On loan

Managers

See also

References

External links

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