Fortuna Sittard
Encyclopedia
Fortuna Sittard is a football
club in Sittard
, Netherlands
. The club currently plays its football in the 12,500 capacity Trendwork Arena and features in the Dutch
Eerste Divisie
. The club was a merger of former clubs 'Fortuna 54' and 'Sittardia' to merge as the Fortuna Sittard Combinatie on July 1, 1968. 'Fortuna 54' was a relatively successful club which once won the KNVB Cup
in the 1956/1957 season where they finished the Eredivisie
season 2nd place behind champions Ajax Amsterdam
whereas the 'Sittardia' battled against relegation for many seasons. Another KNVB Cup triumph was also celebrated by 'Fortuna 54' in 1964 before the merging of the two clubs in 1968 due to financial difficulties. On May 19, 2009 the KNVB
announced it will withdraw the license to play of Fortuna Sittard for the 2010–2011 season. After going to civil court, this decision was revoked and the club did not lose its license.
in the 1990s, with many talented players such as Kevin Hofland
, Mark van Bommel
and Fernando Ricksen
emerging from its youth system. These players later joined PSV Eindhoven and Rangers
thereafter featured for the Dutch
team. The team's management also had an eye for talent, as they snapped up Wilfred Bouma
and Patrick Paauwe
from the youth setup of PSV. Both players developed well under manager Bert van Marwijk
, before breaking into the Dutch national side and moving towards bigger clubs.
At the end of the 1999–2000 season, successful manager Bert van Marwijk left to join Feyenoord and the team seemed to collapse. Due to poor management, the team signed a number of over-paid and under-performing "stars". Fortuna relegated to the First Division in the 2001–2002 season, where things were getting from bad to worse very quickly. Financial irregularities had been discovered and the team has been facing bankruptcy for the past 4 seasons. A little highlight came in the winter of 2003, when two of the clubs fans won the Dutch lottery and donated all of the prize money to the club.
Things have been looking up recently for Fortuna, as they were able to clear most of their debts by selling of the new stadium, the Wagner & Partners stadium. Unfortunately, the team hasn't been performing on the pitch and finished dead-last in the Dutch First Division for three consecutive seasons.
In the 2005–2006 season, the club managed to set a new record in Dutch professional football, going a staggering 28 league games without a win. The club also set a new record by finishing last for the third time in a row.
For recent transfers, see List of Dutch football transfers summer 2011
Peter Benen Willy Boessen Mark van Bommel
Wilfred Bouma
Jo Bux Willy Dullens Henk Duut
Harry Ehlen Mario Eleveld Hans Engbersen Heinz Fischer
Cor van der Hart
Ronald Hamming
Ruud Hesp
Kevin Hofland
Nico Jalink
Anton Janssen
Ruud Kool Wim Koevermans
Urvin Lee Sigi Lens
René Maessen Erik Meijer
Frans de Munck
Jan Notermans Patrick Paauwe
Huub Pfennings Fernando Ricksen
Robert Roest Tiny Ruys Remco van der Schaaf
Regillio Simons Huub Smeets Richard Sneekes
Huub Stevens
Wilbert Suvrijn
Frans Thijssen Joop Titaley Fuat Usta
Piet Vogels Robert van der Weert Faas Wilkes
Arno van Zwam
Danny Hoesen
Canada Randy Samuel
England John Clayton
John Linford
Mark Farrington Michael Jeffrey
Mark Burke
Andy Wright
Ghana Matthew Amoah
New Zealand Kris Bright
Fred de Jong
Northern Ireland Phil Gray
Norway Kenneth Nysæther
Romania Dorel Zegrean
Scotland Colin Cramb
Andy MacLeod
Yugoslavia Aleksandar Petaković
(1992–94) Pim Verbeek (1994–97) Bert van Marwijk
(1997-00) Henk Duut
(2000–01) Frans Thijssen (2000–01) Hans Verèl
(2001) Hans de Koning
(2001–04) Chris Dekker
(2004–06)
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club in Sittard
Sittard
Sittard is a city in the Dutch province of Limburg, which is the southernmost province of the Netherlands.On the east Sittard borders on Germany . It has some 48,400 inhabitants . Sittard is part of the municipality of Sittard-Geleen...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The club currently plays its football in the 12,500 capacity Trendwork Arena and features in the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
Eerste Divisie
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
. The club was a merger of former clubs 'Fortuna 54' and 'Sittardia' to merge as the Fortuna Sittard Combinatie on July 1, 1968. 'Fortuna 54' was a relatively successful club which once won the KNVB Cup
KNVB Cup
The KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup...
in the 1956/1957 season where they finished the Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
season 2nd place behind champions Ajax Amsterdam
Ajax Amsterdam
Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax , also referred to as AFC Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam or simply Ajax , is a professional football club from Amsterdam, Netherlands...
whereas the 'Sittardia' battled against relegation for many seasons. Another KNVB Cup triumph was also celebrated by 'Fortuna 54' in 1964 before the merging of the two clubs in 1968 due to financial difficulties. On May 19, 2009 the KNVB
Royal Dutch Football Association
The Royal Dutch Football Association is the governing body of football in the Netherlands. It organises the main Dutch football leagues , the amateur leagues, the KNVB Cup, and the Dutch national football team. It is based in the municipality of Zeist.The KNVB came into being on 8 December 1889...
announced it will withdraw the license to play of Fortuna Sittard for the 2010–2011 season. After going to civil court, this decision was revoked and the club did not lose its license.
History
The club experienced mixed fortunes throughout its history although they were a regular fixture in the EredivisieEredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
in the 1990s, with many talented players such as Kevin Hofland
Kevin Hofland
Kevin Hofland is a Dutch footballer who has played as a centre back in Cyprus for AEK Larnaca.-Early life:Hofland is born in Heerlen, but grew up in Brunssum, Limburg, Netherlands.-Fortuna Sittard:...
, Mark van Bommel
Mark van Bommel
Mark Peter Gertruda Andreas van Bommel is a Dutch footballer who currently plays for Milan and captains the Netherlands national team as a midfielder....
and Fernando Ricksen
Fernando Ricksen
Fernando Ricksen is a Dutch football defender/midfielder. He played on the right side of defence, midfield or as a central holding player...
emerging from its youth system. These players later joined PSV Eindhoven and Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
thereafter featured for the Dutch
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
team. The team's management also had an eye for talent, as they snapped up Wilfred Bouma
Wilfred Bouma
Wilfred Bouma is a Dutch footballer who plays for PSV Eindhoven. Bouma is a technically refined left back/centre back who is known for his hard working nature, defensive positioning and tackling ability.-Early career:...
and Patrick Paauwe
Patrick Paauwe
Patrick Paauwe is a former professional football player from the Netherlands.-Career:He played for Feyenoord Rotterdam in a defensive midfield role, although he has been used mainly as defender in the past. Other teams he served are PSV Eindhoven, De Graafschap, Fortuna Sittard, Valenciennes FC...
from the youth setup of PSV. Both players developed well under manager Bert van Marwijk
Bert van Marwijk
Bert van Marwijk OON is the coach of the Netherlands national football team. He also played for Go Ahead Eagles, AZ, MVV, Fortuna Sittard, and other clubs, as well as for the Dutch national team. In 1982, he began his transition into coaching, retiring as a player in 1988 and becoming a full time...
, before breaking into the Dutch national side and moving towards bigger clubs.
At the end of the 1999–2000 season, successful manager Bert van Marwijk left to join Feyenoord and the team seemed to collapse. Due to poor management, the team signed a number of over-paid and under-performing "stars". Fortuna relegated to the First Division in the 2001–2002 season, where things were getting from bad to worse very quickly. Financial irregularities had been discovered and the team has been facing bankruptcy for the past 4 seasons. A little highlight came in the winter of 2003, when two of the clubs fans won the Dutch lottery and donated all of the prize money to the club.
Things have been looking up recently for Fortuna, as they were able to clear most of their debts by selling of the new stadium, the Wagner & Partners stadium. Unfortunately, the team hasn't been performing on the pitch and finished dead-last in the Dutch First Division for three consecutive seasons.
In the 2005–2006 season, the club managed to set a new record in Dutch professional football, going a staggering 28 league games without a win. The club also set a new record by finishing last for the third time in a row.
Honours
- KNVB CupKNVB CupThe KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup...
- Winner: 1957,
- Runners-up: 1984, 1999
- Eerste DivisieEerste DivisieThe Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
- Winner: 1959, 1964, 1966, 1995
- Promoted to EredivisieEredivisieThe Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
- Promotion: 1982
Current squad
As of 1 August 2011For recent transfers, see List of Dutch football transfers summer 2011
Notable players
Netherlands Henk Angenent Bram AppelBram Appel
Abraham Leonardus Appel was a Dutch football player.Appel played for ADO Den Haag in the Dutch league in the 1930s. He was forced to work in a factory in Berlin, Germany in 1942...
Peter Benen Willy Boessen Mark van Bommel
Mark van Bommel
Mark Peter Gertruda Andreas van Bommel is a Dutch footballer who currently plays for Milan and captains the Netherlands national team as a midfielder....
Wilfred Bouma
Wilfred Bouma
Wilfred Bouma is a Dutch footballer who plays for PSV Eindhoven. Bouma is a technically refined left back/centre back who is known for his hard working nature, defensive positioning and tackling ability.-Early career:...
Jo Bux Willy Dullens Henk Duut
Henk Duut
Henk Duut is a retired Dutch footballer who was active as a defender. Currently he is active as an assistant coach for Australia...
Harry Ehlen Mario Eleveld Hans Engbersen Heinz Fischer
Heinz Fischer
Heinz Fischer GColIH is the President of Austria. He took office on 8 July 2004 and was re-elected for a second and last term on 25 April 2010. Before he took office, Fischer was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Austria...
Cor van der Hart
Cor van der Hart
Cor van der Hart was a Dutch footballer. He is known as one of the best defenders of the Dutch national team in history, who was physically strong, who read the game very well and who had a quality kicking technique....
Ronald Hamming
Ronald Hamming
Ronald Hamming is a football striker from the Netherlands, who is playing for BV Veendam since the summer of 2003 in the Dutch second league, Eerste Divisie. He previously played for FC Groningen and Fortuna Sittard , for which he scored 99 goals in nine seasons.-References:...
Ruud Hesp
Ruud Hesp
Rudolfus 'Ruud' Hubertus Hesp is a retired Dutch footballer, who played as a goalkeeper. After his active career, he started working as a keeper trainer. Currently he works at FC Groningen and for the Dutch national team.-Club career:Hesp started his career in the 1985–86 season at HFC Haarlem...
Kevin Hofland
Kevin Hofland
Kevin Hofland is a Dutch footballer who has played as a centre back in Cyprus for AEK Larnaca.-Early life:Hofland is born in Heerlen, but grew up in Brunssum, Limburg, Netherlands.-Fortuna Sittard:...
Nico Jalink
Nico Jalink
Nicholaas Jalink is a former Dutch footballer.In a career spanning some eighteen years, he played 480 professional league games, scoring seventy goals. He spent almost a year in England with Port Vale, though the majority of his career was spent in his native Holland...
Anton Janssen
Anton Janssen
Anton Janssen is a retired Dutch footballer who played for PSV Eindhoven and was part of their European Cup victory in 1988. Janssen also played for NEC Nijmegen, Fortuna Sittard, and K.V. Kortrijk. Currently, Jannsen is doing an internship at NEC Nijmegen to receive his Professional Soccer Coach...
Ruud Kool Wim Koevermans
Wim Koevermans
Wilhelmus Jacobus Koevermans is a former football central defender from The Netherlands, who earned one cap for the Netherlands national football team...
Urvin Lee Sigi Lens
Sigi Lens
Sigi Lens is a retired Dutch-Suriname footballer and currently is a football player's agent. During his career he served AZ and Fortuna Sittard. He was one of the footballers that survived the Surinam Airways Flight PY764 air crash in Paramaribo on June 7, 1989...
René Maessen Erik Meijer
Erik Meijer (footballer)
Erik Meijer is a retired Dutch footballer. Standing at 189 cm, he was known as a header specialist...
Frans de Munck
Frans de Munck
Frans de Munck was a Dutch footballer and football manager. He died, aged 88, in Arnhem on 24 December 2010.-External links:*...
Jan Notermans Patrick Paauwe
Patrick Paauwe
Patrick Paauwe is a former professional football player from the Netherlands.-Career:He played for Feyenoord Rotterdam in a defensive midfield role, although he has been used mainly as defender in the past. Other teams he served are PSV Eindhoven, De Graafschap, Fortuna Sittard, Valenciennes FC...
Huub Pfennings Fernando Ricksen
Fernando Ricksen
Fernando Ricksen is a Dutch football defender/midfielder. He played on the right side of defence, midfield or as a central holding player...
Robert Roest Tiny Ruys Remco van der Schaaf
Remco van der Schaaf
Remco Jelmer van der Schaaf is a Dutch professional football player who currently plays as a midfielder for the Danish club Randers FC.-Early and personal life:Van der Schaaf was born in Ten Boer, Groningen.-Club career:...
Regillio Simons Huub Smeets Richard Sneekes
Richard Sneekes
Richard Sneekes is a Dutch former footballer, who played as a midfielder. He is currently the First Team Coach at Hereford United F.C.-Ajax and Fortuna Sittard:...
Huub Stevens
Huub Stevens
Hubertus "Huub" Jozef Margaretha Stevens is a Dutch football manager and former defender.- Playing career :...
Wilbert Suvrijn
Wilbert Suvrijn
Wilbert Suvrijn is a retired Dutch footballer. Mainly a central defender, he could also operate as a defensive midfielder.-Club career:...
Frans Thijssen Joop Titaley Fuat Usta
Fuat Usta
Fuat Usta is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.-Career:Born in Samsun, Turkey, Usta grew up in the Netherlands and made his professional debut in 1990 with Fortuna Sittard...
Piet Vogels Robert van der Weert Faas Wilkes
Faas Wilkes
Servaas "Faas" Wilkes was a Dutch football forward, who earned a total of 38 caps for the Dutch national team, in which he scored 35 goals...
Arno van Zwam
Arno van Zwam
Arno van Zwam is a Dutch former football goalkeeper who played for several clubs, most notably Fortuna Sittard....
Danny Hoesen
Danny Hoesen
Danny Hoesen is a Dutch footballer, currently playing for Fortuna Sittard.-Career:Hoesen started playing football in Fortuna Sittard youth academy. He was considered as a promising talent for Fortuna....
Canada Randy Samuel
Randy Samuel
Randolph FitzGerald "Randy" Samuel is a Canadian former soccer player turned manager, who is currently head coach at Lobbans FC.As a player he picked up a record 82 caps for the Canadian national team.-Early life:...
England John Clayton
John Clayton (footballer)
John Clayton is a retired Scottish professional football striker. He was forced to retire from football in 1994 due to injury...
John Linford
John Linford
John Russell Linford is a retired English footballer who played in England for Gorleston, Ipswich Town, Colchester United, Southend United and Birmingham City, in the Netherlands for Fortuna Sittard, NAC Breda, FC Utrecht, Go Ahead Eagles, FC Dordrecht and ADO Den Haag, and in Switzerland for FC...
Mark Farrington Michael Jeffrey
Michael Jeffrey
Michael Jeffery may refer to:*Michael Jeffery , 24th Governor-General of Australia* Michael Jeffery , music business manager of guitarist Jimi Hendrix and The Animals-See also:...
Mark Burke
Mark Burke
Mark Allen Burke is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at West Virginia.-External links:*...
Andy Wright
Ghana Matthew Amoah
Matthew Amoah
Mathew Amoah is a Ghanaian international striker, who plays for Turkish Süper Lig club Mersin İdmanyurdu SK. He formerly played for Vitesse, starting as a youngster in 1998 until 2005.-Vitesse and Fortuna:...
New Zealand Kris Bright
Kris Bright
Kris Bright is a New Zealand association football player who plays for Balzan Youths in Malta as a striker. Bright has represented New Zealand at U15, U16, U-17, U-20, and All Whites level.-Career:...
Fred de Jong
Fred de Jong
Fred de Jong was a New Zealand football striker who represented his country.-Club career:He player senior football with Mt. Wellington before moving to Australia, helping Marconi Stallions to consecutive National Soccer League titles in 1988 and 1989. De Jong then took advantage of his heritage,...
Northern Ireland Phil Gray
Phil Gray
Philip "Phil" Gray is an Northern Irish former professional footballer. A striker, Gray won 26 caps for his country and played for ten professional clubs, his transfer fees totalling £1,475,000...
Norway Kenneth Nysæther
Kenneth Nysæther
Kenneth Nysæther is a Norwegian footballer who played as both a defender and striker.-Career:Active in both Norway and the Netherlands between 1989 and 2001, Nysæther made over 200 career appearances on high levels, scoring over 50 goals...
Romania Dorel Zegrean
Dorel Zegrean
Dorel Zegrean is a former Romanian footballer who played as a Defender, whose teams included Gloria Bistriţa, Fortuna Sittard, Naţional Bucureşti, and Dynamo Berlin.-External links:**...
Scotland Colin Cramb
Colin Cramb
Colin Cramb is a former Scottish professional footballer who was active between 1991 and 2009 and played in England and the Netherlands as well as his native Scotland. He notably played for Hamilton Academical, Doncaster Rovers, Bristol City and Stirling Albion...
Andy MacLeod
Andy MacLeod
Andy MacLeod is a retired Scottish professional footballer. Since retirement he manages 2 leisure centres in Scotland.-References:**...
Yugoslavia Aleksandar Petaković
Aleksandar Petakovic
Aleksandar Petaković was a Serbian football player and manager.-External links:* at Reprezentacija.rs* at Playerhistory....
Managers
Chris DekkerChris Dekker
Chris Dekker is a former football defender and midfielder from the Netherlands, who played for AZ Alkmaar, NEC Nijmegen, DWS and FC Amsterdam, before moving to Belgium to play for R. Charleroi S.C....
(1992–94) Pim Verbeek (1994–97) Bert van Marwijk
Bert van Marwijk
Bert van Marwijk OON is the coach of the Netherlands national football team. He also played for Go Ahead Eagles, AZ, MVV, Fortuna Sittard, and other clubs, as well as for the Dutch national team. In 1982, he began his transition into coaching, retiring as a player in 1988 and becoming a full time...
(1997-00) Henk Duut
Henk Duut
Henk Duut is a retired Dutch footballer who was active as a defender. Currently he is active as an assistant coach for Australia...
(2000–01) Frans Thijssen (2000–01) Hans Verèl
Hans Verèl
Hans Verèl is a former football defender and midfielder from the Netherlands, who played for Sparta Rotterdam, SVV and FC Den Bosch...
(2001) Hans de Koning
Hans de Koning
Hans de Koning is a former football goalkeeper from the Netherlands, who is the current head coach of Helmond Sport in the Dutch Eerste Divisie.-Playing career:...
(2001–04) Chris Dekker
Chris Dekker
Chris Dekker is a former football defender and midfielder from the Netherlands, who played for AZ Alkmaar, NEC Nijmegen, DWS and FC Amsterdam, before moving to Belgium to play for R. Charleroi S.C....
(2004–06)
- Frans Körver (2006–07) Henk WismanHenk WismanHenk Wisman is a Dutch football manager, who was the coach of the Armenia national football team for around a year.Wisman began his career at AFC Ajax, having played in their youth system...
(2007) - Rogier Reijners (2007–2010)
- Wim Dusseldorp (2010–)