Sparta Rotterdam
Full name | Sparta Rotterdam | ||
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Nickname(s) | De Kasteelheren (The Castle Lords) De Rood-Witte Gladiatoren (The Red-White Gladiators) | ||
Founded | 1 April 1888 | ||
Ground | Het Kasteel (The Castle) Rotterdam | ||
Capacity | 11,926 | ||
Chairman | Leo Ruijs | ||
Head coach | Maurice Steijn | ||
League | Eredivisie | ||
2020–21 | Eredivisie, 8th | ||
Website | https://www.sparta-rotterdam.nl/ | ||
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Sparta Rotterdam (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈspɑrtaː ˌrɔtərˈdɑm]) is a Dutch professional football club based in Rotterdam. Established on 1 April 1888, Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands.
Sparta currently compete in the Eredivisie, the top flight of Dutch professional football, which they have won 6 times, having earned promotion from the Eerste Divisie in 2018–19. The club is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior (est. 1902) and Feyenoord (est. 1908).
History
On 1 April 1888, several students from Rotterdam founded a cricket club called Rotterdamsche Cricket & Football Club Sparta. In July 1888, a football branch of the club was established. In 1890, Sparta played its first real football match, and in 1892 Sparta disbanded the cricket branch. Sparta was promoted to the highest league of Dutch football on 23 April 1893. In 1897, Sparta withdrew from the competition after continuous dubious arbitration of Sparta matches. The club continued to exist, however, and in 1899 the board of Sparta visited a match of Sunderland. Impressed with the red-and-white jersey of the English club, the board decided that Sunderland's colours (red-white striped jersey, black shorts) would henceforth be the colours of Sparta.
In 1905, Sparta initiated and organised the first home match of the Netherlands national team, against Belgium. The match, won 4–0 by the Netherlands, was a rematch of a game two weeks prior, when the Netherlands beat Belgium 4–1 in Antwerp, Belgium.
The first match at Sparta's new stadium, Het Kasteel (The Castle), in the Spangen area of west Rotterdam, was played on 14 October 1916. The stadium was renovated in 1999 and is still Sparta's stadium.
Until the 2002–03 season, Sparta had always played at the highest level, but after they appointed the former international player Frank Rijkaard as a manager they were relegated from the top-level Eredivisie in 2002. That made Rijkaard resign from his position.[1] Sparta returned to the Eredivisie for the 2005–06 season. They were relegated again in 2010. On 20 August 2010, they equalled Ajax's and Heracles Almelo's Dutch league record win when they defeated Almere City 12–1[2] with Johan Voskamp scoring an Eerste Divisie record 8 goals on his debut.[3]
After six years in the Eerste Divisie, Sparta again won promotion to the Eredivisie in April 2016 after a 3–1 win over Jong Ajax won them an unassailable lead over second placed VVV-Venlo.[4] However, they were relegated for the third time in their history in May 2018 after they were beaten 1–3 on aggregate by FC Emmen in the promotion/relegation play-offs. The result proved to be a historical one since Emmen won their first ever promotion to the Eredivisie.[5]
Sparta has won six national titles (1909, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1915 and 1959) and three national cups (1958, 1962 and 1966).
Meuse/Scheldt Cup
The best footballers of Rotterdam and Antwerp contested a yearly match between 1909 and 1959 for the Meuse- and Scheldt Cup (Maas- en Schelde Beker). It was agreed to play the game at stadium Het Kasteel in Rotterdam and at the Bosuilstadion in Antwerp. The cup was provided in 1909 by Kees van Hasselt from Rotterdam and P. Havenith from Antwerp.
Youth program
The Sparta Jeugdopleiding (English: Sparta Youth Academy) is a four-star certified youth academy and amongst the strongest in the nation, having won the national academy of the year award on several occasions.[6] Several International footballers have progressed through the ranks of the academy, including Danny Blind, Danny Koevermans, David Mendes da Silva, Ed de Goey, Winston Bogarde, Memphis Depay, Henk Fräser, Jan van Beveren, Georginio Wijnaldum, Anwar El Ghazi, Jetro Willems, John de Wolf, Kevin Strootman, Rick van Drongelen and Nick Viergever, Marten de Roon amongst others.[7]
Honours
National
- KNVB Cup: 3
- 1957–58, 1961–62, 1965–66
- Eerste Klasse (Tier 6): 10
- 1909, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1915, 1916, 1925, 1929, 1953, 1956
Others
- Rotterdam Easter Tournament
Runners-up (2): 1934, 1948[8]
Domestic results
Below is a table with Sparta Rotterdam's domestic results since the introduction of the Eredivisie in 1956.
Domestic Results since 1956 | ||||
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Domestic league | League result | Qualification to | KNVB Cup season | Cup result |
2020–21 Eredivisie | 8th | European competition play-offs: no European competition | 2020–21 | first round |
2019–20 Eredivisie | 11th | 2019–20 | second round | |
2018–19 Eerste Divisie | 2nd | Eredivisie (winning promotion/releg. play-offs) | 2018–19 | first round |
2017–18 Eredivisie | 17th | Eerste Divisie (losing promo./releg. play-offs) | 2017–18 | first round |
2016–17 Eredivisie | 15th | 2016–17 | quarter-final | |
2015–16 Eerste Divisie | 1st | Eredivisie | 2015–16 | third round |
2014–15 Eerste Divisie | 8th | - | 2014–15 | third round |
2013–14 Eerste Divisie | 16th | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 2013–14 | second round |
2012–13 Eerste Divisie | 3rd | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 2012–13 | third round |
2011–12 Eerste Divisie | 2nd | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 2011–12 | round of 16 |
2010–11 Eerste Divisie | 9th | - | 2010–11 | third round |
2009–10 Eredivisie | 16th | Eerste Divisie (losing promo./releg. play-offs) | 2009–10 | quarter-final |
2008–09 Eredivisie | 13th | - | 2008–09 | round of 16 |
2007–08 Eredivisie | 13th | - | 2007–08 | third round |
2006–07 Eredivisie | 13th | - (after losing IC-play-offs) | 2006–07 | round of 16 |
2005–06 Eredivisie | 14th | - | 2005–06 | second round |
2004–05 Eerste Divisie | 2nd | Eredivisie (winning promotion/releg. play-offs) | 2004–05 | second round |
2003–04 Eerste Divisie | 3rd | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 2003–04 | semi-final |
2002–03 Eerste Divisie | 8th | - | 2002–03 | third round |
2001–02 Eredivisie | 17th | Eerste Divisie (losing promo./releg. play-offs) | 2001–02 | second round |
2000–01 Eredivisie | 17th | - (surviving promotion/relegation play-offs) | 2000–01 | third round |
1999–2000 Eredivisie | 13th | - | 1999-2000 | second round |
1998–99 Eredivisie | 17th | - (surviving promotion/relegation play-offs) | 1998-99 | second round |
1997–98 Eredivisie | 13th | - | 1997-98 | second round |
1996–97 Eredivisie | 13th | - | 1996-97 | second round |
1995–96 Eredivisie | 6th | - | 1995-96 | final |
1994–95 Eredivisie | 14th | - | 1994-95 | round of 16 |
1993–94 Eredivisie | 9th | - | 1993-94 | third round |
1992–93 Eredivisie | 13th | - | 1992-93 | round of 16 |
1991–92 Eredivisie | 8th | - | 1991-92 | semi-final |
1990–91 Eredivisie | 13th | - | 1990-91 | round of 16 |
1989–90 Eredivisie | 12th | - | 1989-90 | first round |
1988–89 Eredivisie | 12th | - | 1988-89 | round of 16 |
1987–88 Eredivisie | 12th | - | 1987-88 | first round |
1986–87 Eredivisie | 8th | - | 1986-87 | round of 16 |
1985–86 Eredivisie | 7th | - | 1985-86 | first round |
1984–85 Eredivisie | 4th | UEFA Cup | 1984-85 | quarter-final |
1983–84 Eredivisie | 5th | - | 1983-84 | round of 16 |
1982–83 Eredivisie | 4th | UEFA Cup | 1982-83 | second round |
1981–82 Eredivisie | 8th | - | 1981-82 | semi-final |
1980–81 Eredivisie | 7th | - | 1980-81 | second round |
1979–80 Eredivisie | 13th | - | 1979-80 | semi-final |
1978–79 Eredivisie | 6th | - | 1978-79 | quarter-final |
1977–78 Eredivisie | 5th | - | 1977-78 | semi-final |
1976–77 Eredivisie | 7th | - | 1976-77 | second round |
1975–76 Eredivisie | 10th | - | 1975-76 | second round |
1974–75 Eredivisie | 6th | - | 1974-75 | quarter-final |
1973–74 Eredivisie | 8th | - | 1973-74 | round of 16 |
1972–73 Eredivisie | 4th | - | 1972-73 | semi-final |
1971–72 Eredivisie | 4th | - | 1971-72 | quarter-final |
1970–71 Eredivisie | 6th | Cup Winners' Cup | 1970-71 | final |
1969–70 Eredivisie | 5th | Inter-Cities Fairs Cup | 1969-70 | second round |
1968–69 Eredivisie | 8th | - | 1968-69 | semi-final [citation needed] |
1967–68 Eredivisie | 5th | - | 1967-68 | quarter-final [citation needed] |
1966–67 Eredivisie | 3rd | - | 1966-67 | round of 16 [citation needed] |
1965–66 Eredivisie | 7th | Cup Winners' Cup | 1965-66 | winners |
1964–65 Eredivisie | 5th | - | 1964-65 | first round [citation needed] |
1963–64 Eredivisie | 14th | - | 1963-64 | round of 16 [citation needed] |
1962–63 Eredivisie | 3rd | - | 1962-63 | third round [citation needed] |
1961–62 Eredivisie | 9th | Cup Winners' Cup | 1961-62 | winners |
1960–61 Eredivisie | 4th | - | 1960-61 | ? [citation needed] |
1959–60 Eredivisie | 7th | - | not held | not held |
1958–59 Eredivisie | 1st | European Cup | 1958-59 | ? [citation needed] |
1957–58 Eredivisie | 9th | - | 1957-58 | winners |
1956–57 Eredivisie | 8th | - | 1956-57 | ? [citation needed] |
Sparta in Europe
- Q = Qualifying Round
- 1R = First round
- 2R = Second round
- 3R = Third round
- 1/4 = Quarter-final
Season | Competition | Round | Club | Score |
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1959–60 | European Cup | 1R | IFK Göteborg | 3–1, 1–3, 3–1 |
1/4 | Rangers | 2–3, 1–0, 2–3 | ||
1962–63 | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | Q | Lausanne-Sport | 0–3, 4–2 |
1966–67 | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | 1R | Floriana | 1–1, 6–0 |
2R | Servette | 0–2, 1–0 | ||
1970–71 | Inter-Cities Fairs Cup | 1R | ÍA Akranes | 6–0, 9–0 |
2R | Coleraine | 2–0, 2–1 | ||
3R | Bayern Munich | 1–2, 1–3 | ||
1971–72 | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | 1R | Levski-Spartak | 1–1, 2–0 |
2R | Red Star Belgrade | 1–1, 1–2 | ||
1983–84 | UEFA Cup | 1R | Coleraine | 4–0, 1–1 |
2R | Carl Zeiss Jena | 3–2, 1–1 | ||
3R | Spartak Moscow | 1–1, 0–2 | ||
1985–86 | UEFA Cup | 1R | Hamburger SV | 2–0, 0–2 (4–3 n.p.) |
2R | Borussia Mönchengladbach | 1–1, 1–5 |
Current squad
- As of 1 February 2022[9]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Reserve squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Players out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Former players
Former coaches
- Edgar Chadwick (1915)
- Peter Donaghy (1929–30)
- Doug Livingstone (1949)
- Walter Crook (1950)
- Denis Neville (1955–63)
- Bill Thompson (1963–66)
- Wiel Coerver (1966–69)
- Georg Keßler (1970–71)
- Elek Schwartz (1971–72)
- Jimmy Adamson (1976)
- Cor Brom (1976–78)
- Mircea Petescu (1978–80)
- Joop Brand (1980)
- Barry Hughes (1980–83)
- Bert Jacobs (1983–84)
- Theo Vonk (1984–86)
- Barry Hughes (1986–88)
- Rob Baan (1988–90)
- Rob Jacobs (1991–93)
- Han Berger (1993–95)
- Henk van Stee (1995)
- Henk ten Cate (1995–97)
- Hans van der Zee (1997–98)
- Jan Everse (1998–99)
- Dolf Roks (1999–01)
- Willem van Hanegem (2001)
- Frank Rijkaard (2001–02)
- Fritz Korbach (2003)
- Chris Dekker (2003)
- Mike Snoei (2003–05)
- Adri van Tiggelen (interim) (2005)
- Wiljan Vloet (2005–07)
- Gert Aandewiel (2007)
- Adri van Tiggelen (interim) (2007)
- Foeke Booy (2007–09)
- Frans Adelaar (2009–10)
- Aad de Mos (2010)
- Jan Everse (2010–11)
- Jos van Eck (2011)
- Michel Vonk (2011–13)
- Henk ten Cate (interim) (2013)
- Gert Kruys (2014)
- Alex Pastoor (2015–2017)
- Dolf Roks (interim) (2017)
- Dick Advocaat (2018)
- Henk Fraser (2018–2022)
- Maurice Steijn (2022–present)
See also
References
- ^ "Rijkaard quits at Sparta". Uefa.com. 31 May 2002. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
- ^ Sparta evenaart record Ajax en Heracles - De Telegraaf (in Dutch)
- ^ Acht treffers bij debuut - De Telegraaf (in Dutch)
- ^ Sparta Rotterdam terug in de eredivisie - NOS (in Dutch)
- ^ Emmen schrijft geschiedenis met promotie, Sparta degradeert uit eredivisie - AD (in Dutch)
- ^ "Jeugdopleiding Sparta beoordeeld met 4 sterren". Rijnmond TV. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
- ^ Hamilton, Chloe (22 October 1995). "Exponenten uit de jeugdopleiding van Sparta Rotterdam". Sparta Jeugdopleiding. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ "Easter Tournaments Sparta (Rotterdam) 1934 and 1948".
- ^ "A-selectie | Sparta Rotterdam".