De Graafschap
VBV De Graafschap (Dutch pronunciation: [də ˈɣraːfsxɑp]) is a professional football club from Doetinchem, Netherlands, playing in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of Dutch football.
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| Full name | Vereniging Betaald Voetbal De Graafschap | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Superboeren (Super Farmers) | ||
| Founded | 1 February 1954 | ||
| Ground | De Vijverberg Doetinchem | ||
| Capacity | 12,600 | ||
| Chairman | Theo Hek | ||
| Head coach | Jan Vreman | ||
| League | Eerste Divisie | ||
| 2022–23 | Eerste Divisie, 10th of 20 | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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It was formed on 1 February 1954 and they play their home games at the De Vijverberg stadium. The stadium was opened on 12 August 2000 and stands on the site of the club's old pitch. The club name is Dutch for "The County". They are nicknamed Superboeren ("Super Farmers").
While not a large club by European club football standards, the club has remained a semi-permanent fixture in the Eredivisie (top league); although to date it has never won any silverware of importance. It also has a large stadium and a large fan base when compared to many other Dutch teams, particularly those in the Eerste Divisie. They had a fierce rivalry with Vitesse Arnhem, but over the years due to several circumstances Go Ahead Eagles has become a rival as well.
The club's colors are blue and white hooped shirts with white shorts and blue socks. The club's major sponsors are Pincvision and ATAG.
De Graafschap's home base, De Vijverberg has been voted as the most atmospheric stadium in the Eredivisie for the 2018–19 campaign.
History
De Graafschap had their longest streak in the Dutch top tier from 1995 until 2003. In the 1995–96 season De Graafschap finished in 8th place, an all-time high. After this season results went down and in 2003 the club was relegated after finishing in last place (18th).
Since 2003, De Graafschap was relegated four times and gained promotion five times. They were crowned champions of the Eerste Divisie in 2007 and 2010, and won the promotion playoffs in 2004 and 2015.[1] De Graafschap never finished last in the Eredivisie since 2003 but lost relegation playoffs after finishing in 17th place in 2005, 2009 and 2012.[2] In the 2015-16 Eredivisie season De Graafschap were once again relegated through playoffs after finishing 17th but not before drawing 1–1 against AFC Ajax on the final day of the season, denying Ajax the championship. In 2018, the club gained promotion again by winning the promotion playoffs, beating Almere City FC in the playoffs finals.[3] They were relegated in 2019, and the next season ended in further heartbreak on April 24, 2020 as they were denied a possible promotion back to the top flight due to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the Eredivisie to declare their season void with no promotion or relegation.[4]
Late in the 2020–21 season, De Graafschap were in control of their promotion hopes, only needing one win in their final two games to secure promotion. However, they were held to a 1-1 draw, followed by a goalless draw versus Helmond Sport, denying them an automatic promotion spot and forcing them to go through the promotion playoffs.[5][6] De Graafschap crashed out of the playoffs in the first round after a 3-2 home loss to Roda JC, thus meaning that they would remain in the Eerste Divisie.[7]
Honours
- Eerste Divisie
- Winner: 1991, 2007, 2010
- Tweede Divisie
- Winner: 1969
- Promoted to Eredivisie
- Promotion: 1973, 1981, 1995, 2004, 2015, 2018
- Promoted to Eerste Divisie
- Promotion: 1966
Results
Below is a table with De Graafschap'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 |
| 2022–23 Eerste Divisie | 10th | – | 2022–23 | Quarter Finals |
| 2021–22 Eerste Divisie | 9th | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 2021–22 | First Round |
| 2020–21 Eerste Divisie | 3rd | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 2020–21 | Second Round |
| 2019–20 Eerste Divisie | 2nd | Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic | 2019–20 | First Round |
| 2018–19 Eredivisie | 17th | Eerste Divisie (losing promo./releg. play-offs) | 2018–19 | Second Round |
| 2017–18 Eerste Divisie | 4th | Eredivisie (winning promo./releg. play-offs) | 2017–18 | First Round |
| 2016–17 Eerste Divisie | 12th | – | 2016–17 | First Round |
| 2015–16 Eredivisie | 17th | Eerste Divisie (losing promo./releg. play-offs) | 2015–16 | Second Round |
| 2014–15 Eerste Divisie | 6th | Eredivisie (winning promo./releg. play-offs) | 2014–15 | Second Round |
| 2013–14 Eerste Divisie | 7th | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 2013–14 | Round of 16 |
| 2012–13 Eerste Divisie | 8th | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 2012–13 | Third Round |
| 2011–12 Eredivisie | 17th | Eerste Divisie (losing promo./releg. play-offs) | 2011–12 | Quarter Finals |
| 2010–11 Eredivisie | 14th | – | 2010–11 | Third Round |
| 2009–10 Eerste Divisie | 1st | Eredivisie (promotion) | 2009–10 | Second Round |
| 2008–09 Eredivisie | 17th | Eerste Divisie (losing promo./releg. play-offs) | 2008–09 | Quarter Finals |
| 2007–08 Eredivisie | 16th | – (surviving promotion/relegation play-offs) | 2007–08 | Third Round |
| 2006–07 Eerste Divisie | 1st | Eredivisie (promotion) | 2006–07 | Round of 16 |
| 2005–06 Eerste Divisie | 5th | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 2005–06 | Disqualified |
| 2004–05 Eredivisie | 17th | Eerste Divisie (losing promo./releg. play-offs) | 2004–05 | Second Round |
| 2003–04 Eerste Divisie | 6th | Eredivisie (winning promotion/releg. play-offs) | 2003–04 | Second Round |
| 2002–03 Eredivisie | 18th | Eerste Divisie (relegation) | 2002–03 | Round of 16 |
| 2001–02 Eredivisie | 14th | – | 2001–02 | Third Round |
| 2000–01 Eredivisie | 15th | – | 2000–01 | Second Round |
| 1999–2000 Eredivisie | 14th | – | 1999–2000 | Second Round |
| 1998–99 Eredivisie | 13th | – | 1998–99 | Second Round |
| 1997–98 Eredivisie | 11th | – | 1997–98 | Second Round |
| 1996–97 Eredivisie | 8th | – | 1996–97 | Round of 16 |
| 1995–96 Eredivisie | 14th | – | 1995–96 | Round of 16 |
| 1994–95 Eerste Divisie | 2nd | Eredivisie (winning promotion/releg. play-offs) | 1994–95 | Second Round |
| 1993–94 Eerste Divisie | 6th | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 1993–94 | Round of 16 |
| 1992–93 Eerste Divisie | 5th | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 1992–93 | Third Round |
| 1991–92 Eredivisie | 17th | Eerste Divisie (relegation) | 1991–92 | Second Round |
| 1990–91 Eerste Divisie | 1st | Eredivisie (promotion) | 1990–91 | Round of 16 |
| 1989–90 Eerste Divisie | 7th | – | 1989–90 | First Round |
| 1988–89 Eerste Divisie | 9th | – | 1988–89 | First Round |
| 1987–88 Eerste Divisie | 4th | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 1987–88 | Second Round |
| 1986–87 Eerste Divisie | 10th | – | 1986–87 | Round of 16 |
| 1985–86 Eerste Divisie | 9th | – | 1985–86 | First Round |
| 1984–85 Eerste Divisie | 3rd | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 1984–85 | Second Round |
| 1983–84 Eerste Divisie | 6th | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 1983–84 | Round of 16 |
| 1982–83 Eerste Divisie | 14th | – | 1982–83 | Round of 16 |
| 1981–82 Eredivisie | 18th | Eerste Divisie (relegation) | 1981–82 | Second Round |
| 1980–81 Eerste Divisie | 7th | Eredivisie (winning promotion/releg. play-offs) | 1980–81 | First Round |
| 1979–80 Eerste Divisie | 6th | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 1979–80 | Second Round |
| 1978–79 Eerste Divisie | 8th | – | 1978–79 | Round of 16 |
| 1977–78 Eerste Divisie | 14th | – | 1977–78 | First Round |
| 1976–77 Eredivisie | 18th | Eerste Divisie (relegation) | 1976–77 | Round of 16 |
| 1975–76 Eredivisie | 12th | – | 1975–76 | Quarter Finals |
| 1974–75 Eredivisie | 13th | – | 1974–75 | Second Round |
| 1973–74 Eredivisie | 14th | – | 1973–74 | Second Round |
| 1972–73 Eerste Divisie | 4th | Eredivisie (winning promotion/releg. play-offs) | 1972–73 | First Round |
| 1971–72 Eerste Divisie | 11th | – | 1971–72 | Did Not Participate |
| 1970–71 Eerste Divisie | 16th | – | 1970–71 | First Round |
| 1969–70 Eerste Divisie | 9th | – | 1969–70 | Round of 16 |
| 1968–69 Tweede Divisie | 1st | Eerste Divisie (promotion) | 1968–69 | First Round |
| 1967–68 Tweede Divisie | 6th | – | 1967–68 | Group Stages |
| 1966–67 Eerste Divisie | 18th | Tweede Divisie (relegation) | 1966–67 | Did not Participate |
| 1965–66 Tweede Divisie | 2nd (group A) | Eerste Divisie (promotion) | 1965–66 | Round of 16 |
| 1964–65 Tweede Divisie | 11th (group A) | – | 1964–65 | First Round |
| 1963–64 Tweede Divisie | 5th (group B) | – | 1963–64 | First Round |
| 1962–63 Tweede Divisie | 15th (group A) | – | 1962–63 | Third Round |
| 1961–62 Tweede Divisie | 10th | – | 1961–62 | First Round |
| 1960–61 Tweede Divisie | 11th | – | 1960–61 | Group Stages |
| 1959–60 Eerste Divisie | 17th (group B) | Tweede Divisie (relegation) | not held | not held |
| 1958–59 Eerste Divisie | 14th (group A) | – | 1958–59 | Did Not Participate |
| 1957–58 Eerste Divisie | 4th (group A) | – | 1957–58 | Second Round |
| 1956–57 Eerste Divisie | 10th (group A) | – | 1956–57 | Second Round |
Players
Current squad
- As of 8 September 2023[8]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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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 De Graafschap.
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Jason Čulina
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Will Johnson
Yannick Salem
Zico Tumba
Hans Aabech- Lasse Schöne
Hazem Emam
Jussi Kujala- Niklas Tarvajärvi
- Ville Väisänen
Ali Ibrahim Pelé
Loïc Loval
Arnar Viðarsson
Jhon van Beukering
Ben Sahar- Gil Vermouth
Ģirts Karlsons
Dulee Johnson
Xhelil Abdulla
Bakary Diakité
Oussama Assaidi
Youssef El Jebli- Ernie Brandts
- John van den Brom
- Jean-Paul van Gastel
- Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
- Luuk de Jong
- Jurrie Koolhof
- Kees Krijgh
- Martijn Meerdink
- Peter van Vossen
- Dick Schoenaker
- Sonny Silooy
- Erik ten Hag
- Hans Kraay Jr.
Wasiu Taiwo
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Stephan Keller
Coaching staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Jan Vreman |
| Assistant coaches | Mees Siers |
| Mathijs de Waard | |
| Goalkeeping coach | Jordy Rondeel |
Former coaches
- Leendert IJssennagger (1954–55)
- Heinz Huber (1955)
- Jan Poulus (1955–59)
- Wim Engel (1959)
Eric Jones (1960–62)- Evert Teunissen (1962–67)
- Ad Zonderland (1967–71)
- Bert van Lingen (1971)
- Piet de Visser (1971–74)
- Evert Teunissen (1974–76)
- Ben Polak (interim) (1976)
- Hans Dorjee (1976–77)
- Henk Ellens (1977–78)
- Pim van de Meent (1978–80)
- Huib Ruijgrok (1980–83)
Sandor Popovics (1983–85)- Henk van Brussel (1985–87)
- Pim Verbeek (1987–89)
- Ben Zweers (1989)
- Simon Kistemaker (1989–93)
- Jan Versleijen (1993–94)
- Frans Körver (1994–95)
- Hans van Doorneveld (1995)
Fritz Korbach (1995–98)- Frans Thijssen (1999)
- Rob McDonald (1999–00)
- Jurrie Koolhof (interim) (2000)
- Gerard Marsman (2000–01)
- Jurrie Koolhof (2001–02)
- Peter Bosz (2002–03)
- Frans Adelaar (2003–04)
- Gert Kruys (2004–05)
- Andries Ulderink (interim) (2005)
- Jan de Jonge (2005–08)
- Henk van Stee (2008–09)
Darije Kalezić (2009–11)- Andries Ulderink (2011–12)
- Richard Roelofsen (interim) (2012)
- Pieter Huistra (2012–13)
- Jan Vreman (interim) (2013–14)
Jimmy Calderwood (2014)- Jan Vreman (2014–16)
- Henk de Jong (2017–2019)
- Mike Snoei (2019–2021)
- Reinier Robbemond (2021–2022)
- Jan Vreman (interim) (2022)
- Adrie Poldervaart (2022–2023)
- Richard Roelofsen (interim) (2023)
- Jan Vreman (2023–)
See also
References
- De Graafschap terug in eredivisie – Telegraaf (in Dutch)
- De Graafschap gedegradeerd – NOS (in Dutch)
- De Graafschap knokt zich voorbij Almere City en keert terug in Eredivisie – Voetbalprimeur (in Dutch)
- "Afwikkeling voetbalseizoen 2019/'20 een feit | Eredivisie". Archived from the original on 24 April 2020.
- "De Graafschap grijpt naast directe promotie door gelijkspel tegen Helmond Sport". De Graafschap (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- "Anti-climax voor De Graafschap na bizar slotstuk tegen Helmond Sport: Superboeren grijpen naast directe promotie in waterballet, Roda JC eerste tegenstander in play-offs". de Gelderlander (in Dutch). 12 May 2021. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- "De Graafschap vs Roda JC Kerkrade - Eredivisie Qualification - Quarter-Final stats, H2H, lineups". FotMob. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- "Eerste Elftal - De Graafschap".
External links
- Official website (in Dutch)
- Fansite Superboeren (in Dutch)