football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
club in Sittard, Netherlands. The club currently plays its football in the 12,500 capacity
Fortuna Sittard Stadion
The Fortuna Sittard Stadion () is a 12,500-capacity multi-use stadium on the Milaanstraat, Sittard, Netherlands. Currently used mostly for football matches, it is the home stadium of Fortuna Sittard. Built on the site of an industrial estate in ...
and features in the
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie (; ''"Honour Division"'' or ''"Premier Division"'') is the highest level of professional football in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956, two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is c ...
. The club was established through a merger of former clubs Fortuna 54 and Sittardia, which merged as the Fortuna Sittardia Combinatie on 1 July 1968.
History
The club experienced mixed fortunes throughout its history although they were a regular fixture in the
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie (; ''"Honour Division"'' or ''"Premier Division"'') is the highest level of professional football in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956, two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is c ...
in the 1990s, with players such as
Kevin Hofland
Kevin Hofland (born 7 June 1979) is a Dutch professional football manager and former player, and was last the head coach of Eerste Divisie club Willem II.
A centre back during his career, Hofland played 15 active seasons in which he amassed Er ...
,
Mark van Bommel
Mark Peter Gertruda Andreas van Bommel (born 22 April 1977) is a Dutch football coach and former player who played as a midfielder. He is currently the manager of Belgian side Royal Antwerp. His FIFA World Cup profile describes him as "a tackli ...
and
Fernando Ricksen
Fernando Jacob Hubertina Henrika Ricksen (27 July 1976 – 18 September 2019) was a Dutch professional footballer who played as a right back and central midfielder. After winning Eerste Divisie titles with Fortuna Sittard and AZ, he joined Ran ...
emerging from its youth system. These players later joined
PSV Eindhoven
Philips Sport Vereniging (; en, Philips Sports Association ), abbreviated as PSV and internationally known as PSV Eindhoven (), is a Dutch sports club from Eindhoven, Netherlands. It is best known for its professional football department, w ...
Wilfred Bouma
Wilfred Bouma (; born 15 June 1978) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played most notably for PSV Eindhoven, Aston Villa and the Netherlands national team.
Club career
Early career
Born in Helmond, North Brabant, Bouma started his ...
and
Patrick Paauwe
Patrick Paauwe (born 27 December 1975) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a defender.
Club career
Paauwe played as a defender in the past but for Feyenoord Rotterdam as a defensive midfielder role. Other teams he served ...
from the youth setup of PSV. Both players developed under manager
Bert van Marwijk
Lambertus van Marwijk (; born 19 May 1952) is a Dutch football manager who was recently the head coach of the United Arab Emirates national team. As a player, he played for the Go Ahead Eagles, AZ, MVV and Fortuna Sittard amongst other club ...
, before breaking into the Dutch national side and moving towards bigger clubs.
Fortuna 54 won the
KNVB Cup
The KNVB Beker (; en, KNVB Cup), branded as the TOTO KNVB Beker for sponsorship reasons, is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) since 1898. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Ou ...
in the 1956–57 season, and finished the
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie (; ''"Honour Division"'' or ''"Premier Division"'') is the highest level of professional football in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956, two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is c ...
season in second place behind champions
Ajax
Ajax may refer to:
Greek mythology and tragedy
* Ajax the Great, a Greek mythological hero, son of King Telamon and Periboea
* Ajax the Lesser, a Greek mythological hero, son of Oileus, the king of Locris
* ''Ajax'' (play), by the ancient Gree ...
. Sittardia were less successful and battled against relegation for many seasons. Fortuna 54 won the KNVB Cup again in 1964 before the merging of the two clubs in 1968 due to financial difficulties.
At the end of the 1999–2000 season, manager Bert van Marwijk left to join
Feyenoord
Feyenoord Rotterdam () is a Dutch professional football club (association football), football club in Rotterdam, which plays in the Eredivisie, the top tier in Dutch football. Founded as Wilhelmina in 1908, the club changed to various names bef ...
and the team was relegated to the First Division in the 2001–02 season. Financial irregularities were discovered and the team faced bankruptcy over several seasons. In the winter of 2003, two of the club's fans won the Dutch lottery and donated all of the prize money to the club. The club cleared most of their debts by selling off their new stadium, the Wagner & Partners stadium.
On 19 May 2009, the
KNVB
The Royal Dutch Football Association (, ; KNVB ) is the governing body of football in the Netherlands. It organises the main Dutch football leagues (Eredivisie and Eerste Divisie), the amateur leagues, the KNVB Cup, and the Dutch Netherlands nati ...
announced it would withdraw the club's license to play for the 2010–11 season. After going to
civil court
Civil law may refer to:
* Civil law (common law), the part of law that concerns private citizens and legal persons
* Civil law (legal system), or continental law, a legal system originating in continental Europe and based on Roman law
** Private la ...
, this decision was revoked. Even though financial troubles kept plaguing the club, recent years have seen a slow but steady return to financial health, with sporting successes following suit. In the 2011–2012 season they missed qualification for the playoffs for promotion to the Eredivisie by a hair's breadth, conceding an equalizer in the dying seconds of the season in the home match against the Go Ahead Eagles, seeing them take the final playoff spot instead. In 2012–13 and 2013–14 they were successful in qualifying, having a first chance at returning to the Eredivisie since their relegation in 2002, but they lost both first round matches against
De Graafschap
VBV De Graafschap () is a professional football club from Doetinchem, Netherlands, playing in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of Dutch football.
It was formed on 1 February 1954 and they play their home games at the De Vijverberg stadium. ...
.
In 2018, after 16 years in the
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie (, en, First Division) is the second-highest tier of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie and with the third-level Tweede Divisie via promotion/relegation systems. It is also known as the ...
, Fortuna won promotion to the Eredivisie again after beating Jong PSV 1–0 to stay clear from
NEC
is a Japanese multinational information technology and electronics corporation, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. The company was known as the Nippon Electric Company, Limited, before rebranding in 1983 as NEC. It provides IT and network soluti ...
and finishing runner-up to champions
Jong Ajax
Jong Ajax () (''English: Young Ajax''), also referred to as Ajax II or Ajax 2 is a Dutch association football team, the reserve team of Ajax. It is based in Amsterdam and competes in the Dutch Eerste Divisie.
History
Jong Ajax (''formerly more ...
, who are not allowed to promote.
The 2019–20 season ended with Fortuna in 16th place. But with the season being declared void, they will participate in Eredivisie in 2020–21.
Honours
*
KNVB Cup
The KNVB Beker (; en, KNVB Cup), branded as the TOTO KNVB Beker for sponsorship reasons, is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) since 1898. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Ou ...
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie (, en, First Division) is the second-highest tier of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie and with the third-level Tweede Divisie via promotion/relegation systems. It is also known as the ...
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie (; ''"Honour Division"'' or ''"Premier Division"'') is the highest level of professional football in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956, two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is c ...
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie (, en, First Division) is the second-highest tier of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie and with the third-level Tweede Divisie via promotion/relegation systems. It is also known as the ...
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie (; ''"Honour Division"'' or ''"Premier Division"'') is the highest level of professional football in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956, two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is c ...
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie (, en, First Division) is the second-highest tier of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie and with the third-level Tweede Divisie via promotion/relegation systems. It is also known as the ...
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie (; ''"Honour Division"'' or ''"Premier Division"'') is the highest level of professional football in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956, two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is c ...
"
Below is a table with Fortuna Sittard's domestic results since the introduction of professional football in 1956.
Jordan Botaka
Jordan Rolly Botaka (born 24 June 1993) is a Congolese professional footballer. He represents DR Congo at international level.
He formerly played for Club Brugge, Belenenses (on loan), Excelsior, Sint-Truiden, Gent, Charleroi and Fortuna Sit ...
Todd Cantwell
Todd Owen Cantwell (born 27 February 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Rangers.
Cantwell began his career at Norwich City, joining the club at under-10 level in 2008 and making his first-team debu ...
Andreas Samaris
Andreas Samaris ( el, Ανδρέας Σάμαρης; born 13 June 1989) is a Greek professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Portuguese Primeira Liga club Rio Ave.
After winning Superleague Greece with Olympiakos in 2014, he sign ...
;Moldova
*
Vitalie Damașcan
Vitalie Damașcan (born 24 January 1999) is a Moldovan professional footballer who plays as a forward for Liga I club FC Voluntari, on loan from Sepsi OSK, and the Moldova national team.
Club career
Damașcan made his professional debut with ...
Mark van Bommel
Mark Peter Gertruda Andreas van Bommel (born 22 April 1977) is a Dutch football coach and former player who played as a midfielder. He is currently the manager of Belgian side Royal Antwerp. His FIFA World Cup profile describes him as "a tackli ...
*
Fernando Ricksen
Fernando Jacob Hubertina Henrika Ricksen (27 July 1976 – 18 September 2019) was a Dutch professional footballer who played as a right back and central midfielder. After winning Eerste Divisie titles with Fortuna Sittard and AZ, he joined Ran ...
*
Perr Schuurs
Perr Schuurs (born 26 November 1999) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Serie A club Torino.
Club career
Schuurs made his senior league debut for Sittard on 14 October 2016 in an Eerste Divisie 2–0 home win agai ...
Friedrich Donenfeld
Friedrich Donenfeld (17 January 1912 – 20 March 1976) was an Austrian professional football player and manager.
He played for Thalia Wien, Hakoah Vienna, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Olympique de Marseille and Red Star F.C.
He coached the Colombia ...
(vice champion, cup winner)
* 1957–58:
Bram Appel
Abraham Leonardus Appel (30 November 1921 – 31 October 1997) was a Dutch footballer who played as a striker and later a manager.
Playing career
Club
Born in Rotterdam but raised in The Hague,Harry Verhardt
* 1959–61: Friedrich Donenfeld
* 1961–63: Jung Schlangen
* 1963–65: Wim Latten (cup winner 1964)
* 1965–66: Max Schirschin
* 1966–67:
Karl-Heinz Marotzke
Karl-Heinz Marotzke (born 29 March 1934) is a German former football coach.
He managed 1963–1964 SF Hamborn 07 leading the club to 14th place in the second division Regionalliga. From 1964 to 1966 he led VfL Osnabrück to 10th and 7th places ...
* 1967–68: Bram Appel
;As Sittardia
* Frans Debruyn
*
Vladimir Beara
Vladimir Beara (; 26 August 1928 – 11 August 2014) was a Yugoslav football goalkeeper and manager. He played the vast majority of his professional club career for Hajduk Split and Red Star Belgrade in the Yugoslav Federal League and for the Yu ...
Cor Brom
Cor Brom (27 August 1932 – 29 October 2008) was a Dutch football player and manager.
Playing career
During his playing career, Brom played with Zwarte Schapen, VSV, Limburgia and Telstar.
Managerial career
After retiring as a player, Brom ma ...
(1972–76)
*
Cor van der Hart
Cor van der Hart (25 January 1928 – 12 December 2006) was a Dutch footballer. He is known as one of the best defenders of the Netherlands national team in history, who was physically strong, who read the game very well and who had a qualit ...
Bert Jacobs
Bert Jacobs (March 5, 1941 – November 14, 1999) was a Dutch football manager, who played for HFC Haarlem. Jacobs was a football trainer at a young age, worked for Roda JC, FC Utrecht, Fortuna Sittard, Vitesse Arnhem, RKC Waalwijk and Sportin ...
Han Berger
Johan Antonius "Han" Berger (born 17 June 1950) is a Dutch association football coach and former player.
Managerial career FC Utrecht
Berger is the youngest head coach ever in the history of professional football in the Netherlands. After suffer ...
(1989–91)
*
Georg Keßler
Georg Kessler (born 23 September 1932) is a German former football manager.
Honours
Sparta Rotterdam
*KNVB Cup runner-up: 1970–71
Anderlecht
*Belgian First Division: 1971–72
*Belgian Cup: 1971–72
Hertha BSC
*DFB-Pokal runner-up: 197 ...
(1991–92)
*
Chris Dekker
Chris Dekker (born 6 December 1945 in Westzaan, North Holland) is a retired football defender and midfielder from the Netherlands.
Playing career Club
He played in AZ'67's first ever squad after the merger between his club FC Zaanstreek and Al ...
(1992–94)
*
Pim Verbeek
Peter Tim Dirk "Pim" Verbeek (12 March 1956 – 28 November 2019) was a Dutch football manager who last coached the Oman national football team.
Playing career
As a player, Verbeek was a defender or a midfielder and spent his entire career at S ...
(1994–97)
*
Bert van Marwijk
Lambertus van Marwijk (; born 19 May 1952) is a Dutch football manager who was recently the head coach of the United Arab Emirates national team. As a player, he played for the Go Ahead Eagles, AZ, MVV and Fortuna Sittard amongst other club ...
(1997-00)
*
Henk Duut
Henk Duut (born 14 January 1964 in Rotterdam) is a retired Dutch footballer who played as a defender. Currently, he works as a coach at the Guangzhou Evergrande youth academy.
Playing career Club
Duut started his football career at amateur side ...
(2000–01)
*
Frans Thijssen
Frans Thijssen (born 23 January 1952) is a Dutch former footballer. He started his professional career in 1970 with NEC Nijmegen. In 1973, he moved to FC Twente, where the midfielder played for nearly six seasons.
Thijssen won fourteen caps fo ...
(2000–01)
*
Hans Verèl
Hans Verèl (21 April 1953 – 9 November 2019) was a football defender and midfielder from the Netherlands, who played for Sparta Rotterdam, SVV and FC Den Bosch.
Playing career
Verèl made his debut for Sparta on 20 May 1973 against Den B ...
(2001)
*
Hans de Koning
Hans de Koning (; born 5 April 1960) is a Dutch professional football manager and former player. De Koning played as a goalkeeper.
Playing career
De Koning played for AZ'67 for ten years, before moving to Twente, where he became known as "''Hansj ...
(2001–04)
*
Chris Dekker
Chris Dekker (born 6 December 1945 in Westzaan, North Holland) is a retired football defender and midfielder from the Netherlands.
Playing career Club
He played in AZ'67's first ever squad after the merger between his club FC Zaanstreek and Al ...
Henk Wisman
Henk Wisman (born 19 May 1957) is a Dutch football manager. He who was the coach of the Armenia national football team for about a year.
Club career
Wisman was born in Amsterdam. He began his career at AFC Ajax, having played in their youth sy ...
(2007)
*
Roger Reijners
Roger Reijners (born 10 February 1964) is a Dutch football coach and former player. He is currently assistant manager of MVV Maastricht.
Playing career
Reijners turned professional with Fortuna Sittard and played in the 1–0 KNVB Cup Final defea ...
Peter van Vossen
Peter Jacobus van Vossen (; born 21 April 1968) is a Dutch former professional football player and manager.
Club career
Van Vossen was born in Zierikzee. As a footballer, he played for Beveren, Anderlecht, Ajax, Istanbulspor, Rangers, Feyenoor ...
Sunday Oliseh
Sunday Ogochukwu Oliseh (born 14 September 1974) is a Nigerian football manager and former player. In his active playing career he played as a defensive midfielder. Physical yet technically gifted, he played for top European clubs including Aja ...
Sjors Ultee
Sjors Ultee (born 23 May 1987) is a Dutch football manager, who is the current manager of the Eredivisie club SC Cambuur.
Managerial career
Ultee was briefly an amateur footballer, but at a young age was planning on becoming a sports doctor or ...
(2019–20)
*
Kevin Hofland
Kevin Hofland (born 7 June 1979) is a Dutch professional football manager and former player, and was last the head coach of Eerste Divisie club Willem II.
A centre back during his career, Hofland played 15 active seasons in which he amassed Er ...
(2020)
*
Sjors Ultee
Sjors Ultee (born 23 May 1987) is a Dutch football manager, who is the current manager of the Eredivisie club SC Cambuur.
Managerial career
Ultee was briefly an amateur footballer, but at a young age was planning on becoming a sports doctor or ...
(2020–present)
Women's football
On January 25, 2022 Fortuna announced they were beginning a women's football department. The club will start in the Dutch
women's Eredivisie
The Vrouwen Eredivisie () (Dutch for ''Honor Division'', ''Eredivisie Vrouwen'' before 2020), also known as the Azerion Eredivisie Vrouwen due to a 3 year sponsor contract starting from the 2022–2023 season, is the highest women's football le ...