S.B.V. Excelsior

This article is about the Dutch football club. For the Surinamese football club, see S.V. Excelsior.
Excelsior
Full name Stichting Betaald Voetbal Excelsior
Nickname(s) The Kralingers
Roodzwarten (red-blacks)
The Wonder
Old-paper Club
Founded 23 July 1902 (1902-07-23)
Ground Stadion Woudestein
Rotterdam
Ground Capacity 4,500[1]
Chairman Albert de Jong
Manager Mitchell van der Gaag
League Eredivisie
2015–16 Eredivisie, 15th

S.B.V. Excelsior is a professional football club based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. It was founded on 23 July 1902 and was formerly known as "Rotterdamse Voetbal en Atletiek Vereniging Excelsior" (Rotterdam Football and Athletics Union Excelsior). The club was relegated from the top Dutch league, Eredivisie in 2007–08, and promoted back to the Eredivisie at the end of the 2009–10 season. After their relegation in 2012, the team returned to the Eredivisie two years later.

Excelsior is a satellite club of Feyenoord. As such, Feyenoord gave Excelsior money and players (either on loan or free transfer). In 2005, the link between the two clubs was severed. It was reinstated in 2009, resulting in the loan of several Feyenoord players to Excelsior for the 2009–10 season. Excelsior's home stadium is the Stadion Woudestein, which has a capacity of about 4,500, one of the smallest stadiums hosting professional football in the Netherlands.

The main rival of Excelsior is Sparta, another professional football team from Rotterdam.

History

Early history

Excelsior were officially formed on 23 July 1902 as Rotterdamse Voetbal en Atletiek Vereniging Excelsior (English: Rotterdam Football and Athletics Club Excelsior). However, the initial founders of the club, a group of close friends located in the Kralingen district of Rotterdam, were already playing their football matches together on the fields of the eighteenth century buitenplaats Woudesteyn. After the actual establishment of the club, the municipality officially gave permission to use the land.[2] As football was still an elite sport at the beginning of the 20th century, Excelsior became one of the first working class clubs in the Netherlands.[3]

In the season 1945–46, Excelsior gained their first success by promoting to the Eerste Klasse, the highest tier of Dutch football before professional football was introduced in 1954. The deciding match against VUC was played in De Kuip and attracted 52.000 spectators. Excelsior relegated in the next season, but managed to promote for the second time in the season 1951–52. After the introduction of professional football, Excelsior won the Eerste Divisie championship three times (1974, 1979 and 2006) and promoted to the Eredivisie various times, usually to relegate not long afterwards.

Excelsior once reached the KNVB Cup final in the season 1929–30, but lost the match to fellow Rotterdam club Feyenoord (0–1). Excelsior's biggest pre-war achievement was the win of the Zilveren Bal trophy. Excelsior beat Feyenoord (5–0) in the finals of the highly rated pre-season tournament.[3]

Pioneering

Besides Excelsior, there are two more professional clubs from Rotterdam; Feyenoord and Sparta. Being the smallest professional club in Rotterdam, Excelsior always had to be creative to survive. This creativity made Excelsior play a pioneering role within Dutch football. In the mid-fifties, Excelsior were the leading club behind the introduction of professional football in the Netherlands. When the KNVB continued to refuse payments in football, Excelsior chairman Henk Zon and board member Aad Libregts managed to persuade association president Hans Hopster, in cooperation with the directors of Feyenoord, Sparta and ADO Den Haag. In August 1954 the KNVB accepted the proposal and professional football was introduced.

Excelsior in the 1963/64 Season

In 1958 Excelsior became the first Dutch club with covered stands. Later, in 1974, Excelsior also were the first Dutch club with shirt advertising. Against the then existing rules, the club put an 'A' on the shirt. The character was supposed to stand for 'Team A', but in reality it stood for Akai, the company of main investor Rob Albers. The KNVB decided to ban the 'A' from the shirt and it would take until 1982 for shirt advertising to be introduced. Akai would adorn the shirts of Excelsior until the season 1999–00.[3]

Feyenoord partnership

In 1979, Excelsior chairman Jaap Bontenbal and Feyenoord manager Peter Stephan were at the start of the close relationship between the two Rotterdam clubs Excelsior and Feyenoord. The finger tight relationship that existed between the two clubs since then was contractually sealed in 1996 with an official partnership. Excelsior became Feyenoord's feeder club and provided experience and training for young talented Feyenoord players.[3]

On 20 December 2008, Feyenoord announced not to renew the partnership contract with Excelsior due to financial and flexibility reasons.[4] However, only five months later, Feyenoord and Excelsior agreed on an even more extensive partnership. As part of the new agreement, the clubs started a joint regional youth academy called Feyenoord Academy and merged the club's reserve teams. Also, Excelsior continued to be Feyenoord's feeder club. Excelsior's managing director Simon Kelder was pleased with the new extensive partnership: "I already regretted the earlier withdrawal of cooperation from Feyenoord, but now we get something better in return. It doesn't only reduces the costs, but I am also convinced both clubs will benefit on sportive grounds."[5]

A majority of the Excelsior fans have always been against a partnership with Feyenoord. Michel van der Neut, chairman of Excelsior's supporters club, claimed: "Excelsior sold her soul with the extended partnership. Excelsior simply stops existing this way."[6]

Recent history

In 2010 Excelsior returned to the highest tier of Dutch football, after defeating crosstown rival Sparta Rotterdam in the final of the Eredivisie promotion/relegation play-offs. The team was mostly composed by Feyenoord loanees and was coached by former Feyenoord youth coach Alex Pastoor. In the 2010–11 season Excelsior made a flying start in the Eredivisie, gaining ten points in its first five matches, including a home victory in the Rotterdam derby against Feyenoord (3–2). In the remainder of the season, Excelsior upset some of the larger league teams at home, winning against AZ and getting draws against Groningen and eventual league champions Ajax. In the final match of the regular season, Excelsior got a 4–1 win away at Vitesse Arnhem, a result that left them one goal short of staying up. Finishing 16th, Excelsior had to face FC Den Bosch and Helmond Sport in the relegation / promotion play-offs. A 4–2 home win against Helmond sport ensured another season of Eredivisie football for Excelsior.

Excelsior finished bottom of the table in the Eredivisie at the end of the 2011–12 season, managing only four wins in 34 matches. The club was again relegated to the Eerste Divisie.

Eredivisie Eredivisie Eerste Divisie Eredivisie Eerste Divisie Eerste Divisie

Stadium

Excelsior's home venue Stadion Woudestein.
Main article: Stadion Woudestein

Excelsior's home venue is Stadion Woudestein, which has a capacity of 3,531 seats, one of the smallest stadiums hosting professional football in the Netherlands.

The club had two short spells at different locations. For the season 1907–08 Excelsior played on the Afrikaanderplein. After returning to Woudestein, Excelsior moved to the Toepad terrain for seasons 1922–39. When the Dutch government decided to build marine barracks on the Toepad area right before the start of the second world war, Excelsior moved back to the familiar Woudestein.[3]

In the early nineties Excelsior went through a difficult period. The club barely survived a financial crisis, but a newly appointed board under the chairmanship of Martin de Jager had one important goal; a new Excelsior stadium. Various plans were made, one of them being a joint stadium for Excelsior and Sparta, but eventually none of the plans were implemented. Due to financial pressure, Excelsior decided to take the plunge and started renovating Woudestein themselves. The club built two new stands themselves and with the help of the municipality the main stand got renovated as well, including business seats and office space. On 31 July 2000, the new stadium was opened with a friendly match against Feyenoord.[7]

When Excelsior promoted to the Eredivisie after the season 2009–10, the club decided to replace the grass surface with artificial turf. Main reason for the change was the lack of financial resources to install under-soil heating, which is mandatory for clubs participating on the highest level of Dutch football.[8]

Honours

League

Winners (3): 1973–74, 1978–79, 2005–06
Promotion (4): 1969–70, 1981–82, 2001–02, 2009–10, 2013–14
Promotion (1): 1968–69

Cup

Runners-up (1): 1929–30

Domestic results

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

Current squad

As of 11 August 2016

For recent transfers, see List of Dutch football transfers summer 2016

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

No. Position Player
1 Poland GK Filip Kurto
2 Netherlands DF Khalid Karami
3 Netherlands DF Leeroy Owusu (on loan from Ajax)
4 Netherlands DF Henrico Drost
5 Netherlands DF Bas Kuipers
6 Netherlands MF Anouar Hadouir
7 Netherlands FW Nigel Hasselbaink
8 Netherlands MF Ryan Koolwijk (captain)
9 Netherlands FW Terell Ondaan
10 Netherlands MF Luigi Bruins
11 Netherlands FW Stanley Elbers
12 Cape Verde MF Jeffry Fortes
13 Netherlands GK Alessandro Damen
14 Netherlands FW Cedric Badjeck
No. Position Player
15 Netherlands DF Jurgen Mattheij
16 Netherlands GK Mike Havekotte
17 Angola FW Fredy Ribeiro
18 Netherlands MF Kevin Vermeulen
19 Netherlands FW Carlo de Reuver
20 Netherlands MF Elso Brito
21 Serbia MF Danilo Pantić (on loan from Chelsea)
22 Belgium GK Tom Muyters
23 Netherlands DF Milan Massop
24 Netherlands MF Hicham Faik
29 Netherlands FW Mike van Duinen
34 Netherlands MF Dogucan Haspolat
44 Brazil DF Arghus (on loan from Braga)

Player of the year

The Excelsior 'Player of the Year' award is voted for by the clubs supporters, in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season. The annual election is organized by the supporters club Pro Excelsior since 1996.[9][10]

Season Winner
1995–96Netherlands Marinus Dijkhuizen
1996–97Netherlands John Schuurhuizen
1997–98Netherlands Ferry de Haan
1998–99Netherlands Michael van der Kruis
1999–00Republic of Ireland David Connolly
2000–01Czech Republic Jarda Simr
2001–02Netherlands Michel Breuer
2002–03Netherlands Steve Olfers
2003–04Netherlands Danny Buijs
2004–05Australia Brett Holman
2005–06Netherlands Luigi Bruins

Season Winner
2006–07Netherlands René van Dieren
2007–08Netherlands Kees Luijckx
2008–09Netherlands Jeffrey Altheer
2009–10Netherlands Ryan Koolwijk
2010–11Netherlands Daan Bovenberg
2011–12Netherlands Roland Alberg
2012–13Netherlands Jordy Deckers
2013–14Netherlands Lars Veldwijk
2014–15Netherlands Sander Fischer
2015–16Netherlands Rick Kruys

Managers

Current staff

Position Name
Manager Netherlands Mitchell van der Gaag
Assistant manager Netherlands André Hoekstra
Team manager Netherlands Steven Barents
Goalkeeping coach Netherlands Ronald Graafland
Fitness coach Netherlands Mario Meijer
Physio Netherlands Adrie Poldervaart
Physio Netherlands Rinus Kerskes
Club doctor Netherlands John van Ochten
Kit manager Netherlands Aad Putters
Assistant kit manager Netherlands John van Tilburg

Former managers

Season(s) Manager
1954–56Netherlands Rinus Smits
1956–62Netherlands Bob Janse
1962–68Netherlands Rinus Smits
1968–70Netherlands Bob Janse
1970 Republic of Ireland Jaap Kouters
1970–71Czech Republic Bob Janse
1971–73Netherlands Joop Castenmiller
1973–75Netherlands Ben Peeters
1975–76Netherlands Thijs Libregts
Netherlands Bob Janse
1976–80Australia Thijs Libregts
1980–82Netherlands Hans Dorjee
1982–86Netherlands Rob Jacobs
1986–88Netherlands Henk Wullems
1988–90Netherlands Joop van Daele
1990 Netherlands Martin van der Kooy

Season(s) Manager
1990–92Hungary Sándor Popovics
1992–94Netherlands Cor Pot
1994–95Netherlands Rob Baan
1995–96Netherlands Hans van der Pluijm
1996-03Netherlands Adrie Koster
2003–04Netherlands Henk van Stee
2004–05Netherlands John Metgod
2005–06Netherlands Mario Been
2006–09Netherlands Ton Lokhoff
2009–11Netherlands Alex Pastoor
2011–12Netherlands John Lammers
2012–13Netherlands Leon Vlemmings
2013 Denmark Jon Dahl Tomasson
2013–15Netherlands Marinus Dijkhuizen
2015–16 Netherlands Alfons Groenendijk
2016– Netherlands Mitchell van der Gaag

Notable former players

The players below had senior international cap(s) for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed represented their countries while playing for Excelsior.

References

  1. http://www.ad.nl/eredivisie/stadion-woudestein-krijgt-een-nieuw-gezicht~a1b73c4f/
  2. "De geschiedenis van Stadion Woudestein" [The history of Stadion Woudestein]. Supportersclub Pro Excelsior (in Dutch). Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Excelsior Historie" [Excelsior History]. SBVExcelsior.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  4. "Samenwerking met Excelsior stopt" [Collaboration with Excelsior stops]. Feyenoord.nl (in Dutch). 20 December 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  5. "Nieuwe verregaande samenwerking Feyenoord en Excelsior" [New extensive cooperation Feyenoord and Excelsior]. Feyenoord.nl (in Dutch). 21 May 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  6. "Supportersvereniging roept op tot actie" [Supportersclub calls for action]. ERFC.nl (in Dutch). 21 May 2009. Archived from the original on 25 May 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  7. "Excelsior Stadion" [Excelsior Stadium]. SBVExcelsior.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  8. "Excelsior op kunstgras in eredivisie" [Excelsior on artificial turf in Eredivisie]. SBVExcelsior.nl (in Dutch). 4 June 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  9. "Jeffrey Altheer beste speler 2008/2009" [Jeffrey Altheer best player 2008/2009]. ERFC.nl (in Dutch). 8 September 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  10. "Supportersclub". Pro Excelsior (in Dutch). Retrieved 5 July 2010.
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