Excelsior Rotterdam

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Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Short descriptionScript error: No such module "Infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Excelsior Rotterdam (Script error: No such module "IPA".), commonly known as Excelsior, is a Dutch professional football club based in Rotterdam. Founded on 23 July 1902, it competes in the Eredivisie, the highest tier of the Dutch football league system. The team plays its home matches at Stadion Woudestein, which has a capacity of approximately 4,500, making it one of the smallest stadiums used by professional clubs in the Netherlands.

Excelsior has spent much of its history fluctuating between the top two divisions, achieving multiple promotions and relegations. The club's most notable periods of sustained top-flight presence occurred in the early 2010s and again in the early 2020s. Known for its long-standing partnership with Feyenoord, from which it has frequently received loaned players, Excelsior has developed a reputation for nurturing young talent. The club's local rivalry with Sparta Rotterdam is a regular feature of Rotterdam football.

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History

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Early history

Excelsior was officially formed on 23 July 1902 as Rotterdamse Voetbal en Atletiek Vereniging Excelsior (Template:Langx). The initial founders of the club, a group of close friends located in the Kralingen district of Rotterdam, started playing football matches 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.[1] 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.[2]

First successes

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.[2]

Founding father of Dutch professional 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 in the Netherlands.

File:Elftal Excelsior (22 september 1963).png
Excelsior in the 1963–64 Season
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Pioneers

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 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.[2]

Millennium

In 2002, the year in which the club was officially 100 years old, Excelsior returned to the Eredivisie. They did this after spending more than 20 years in the second tier of Dutch football. They were relegated after one season. In the 2005/2006 season Excelsior became champions of the Eerste Divisie and were promoted back to the Eredivisie once again.

Between 1997 and 2005 Excelsior had a partnership with Rotterdam rivals Feyenoord. Excelsior became Feyenoord's satellite club. As such, Feyenoord gave Excelsior money and players (either on loan or free transfer).

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."[3]

Promotion–relegation cycle and consolidation (2010–2019)

Excelsior returned to the Eredivisie in 2010 after defeating city rivals Sparta Rotterdam in the promotion–relegation play-offs.[4] The decisive goal was scored by Guyon Fernandez deep into stoppage time, only minutes after Sparta had taken the lead. Coached by Alex Pastoor, the squad was largely composed of loanees from Feyenoord.[5]

The club made a strong start to the 2010–11 season, collecting ten points from its first five matches, including a 3–2 home victory over Feyenoord in the Rotterdam derby.[6] Later in the season, Excelsior recorded several notable results at home, defeating AZ and drawing against both Groningen and eventual champions Ajax. A 4–1 away victory over Vitesse on the final matchday left the club one goal short of automatic safety.[7] Finishing 16th, Excelsior retained its top-flight status via the relegation play-offs.[8]

The following season proved more difficult, and Excelsior finished bottom of the table in the 2011–12 Eredivisie with only four league wins, resulting in relegation to the Eerste Divisie.[9] A disappointing 2012–13 campaign followed, culminating in a 15th-place finish under Leon Vlemmings.[10][11]

Ahead of the 2013–14 season, Jon Dahl Tomasson was appointed head coach, but he departed in December 2013 to join Roda JC.[12] He was replaced by Marinus Dijkhuizen, under whom Excelsior enjoyed a strong second half of the season, highlighted by an 8–0 away victory over Telstar.[13] The club finished third and secured promotion to the Eredivisie through the play-offs, marking its eighth promotion to the top flight.[14]

In January 2014, chairman Albert de Jong revealed that Excelsior had narrowly avoided bankruptcy, citing a financial deficit of approximately €3 million, largely attributed to poor sporting results during the 2012–13 season.[15]

Excelsior remained in the Eredivisie for five consecutive seasons from 2014 to 2019. The club secured survival in both the 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons with 15th-place finishes, the latter under Alfons Groenendijk. Following Groenendijk's departure, Mitchell van der Gaag was appointed head coach.[16] After several seasons spent battling relegation, Excelsior were relegated at the end of the 2018–19 season.[17]

Recent promotions and renewed top-flight presence (2020–present)

Marinus Dijkhuizen returned as head coach in 2020.[18] In May 2022, Excelsior achieved promotion to the Eredivisie after a dramatic play-off final against ADO Den Haag. After drawing 1–1 at home and falling behind in the return leg, Excelsior scored three goals in the final 13 minutes to force extra time. Despite conceding again, the team equalised through captain Redouan El Yaakoubi before winning the penalty shoot-out, with goalkeeper Stijn van Gassel saving the decisive penalty.[19]

Excelsior spent two seasons in the Eredivisie before being relegated at the end of the 2023–24 season.[20] The club returned immediately, securing promotion on 2 May 2025 following a 5–0 victory over Jong PSV, marking another swift return to the top tier of Dutch football.[21]

Stadium

File:Rotterdam stadion woudestein.jpg
Excelsior's home venue Stadion Woudestein

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Excelsior's home venue is Stadion Woudestein, which has a capacity of 4,500 seats, one of the smallest stadiums hosting professional football in the Netherlands. The official name of the stadium is Van Donge & De Roo Stadion.

The club had two short spells at different locations. For the season 1907–1908 Excelsior played on the Afrikaanderplein. After returning to Woudestein, Excelsior moved to the Toepad terrain for seasons 1922–1939. 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.[2]

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.[22]

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.[23]

Supporters and rivalries

Paper recycling club

Excelsior is known as the Oud papier-club (paper recycling club), because former chairman Henk Zon often used to collect old paper in order to secure the financial position of the club.

Mascot

Since 2008 'Woutje Stein' is the official Excelsior mascot. He is named after the Woudestein-stadium.

Rivalries

Rotterdam is the city with the most professional teams in the Netherlands. Besides Excelsior there are Feyenoord and Sparta Rotterdam.

Rivalry against Sparta

Excelsior is from the Kralingen-neighbourhood and Sparta Rotterdam is from the Spangen-neighbourhood. Both clubs are not always playing in the Eredivisie, hence they play matches against each other in both the Eredivisie and the Eerste Divisie. The Feyenoord partnership Excelsior had in the past has resulted in more hatred from Sparta Rotterdam supporters.

One of the more spectacular matches between Excelsior and Sparta was the 2010 derby. Excelsior managed to gain promotion to the Eredivisie by winning against Sparta in the 94th minute of the match.[24]

Rivalry against Feyenoord

Ever since the clubs used to work together Excelsior players and supporters have grown a more serious rivalry against Feyenoord. The majority of Excelsior supporters never wanted a cooperation with Feyenoord in the first place. On 22 May 2009, Excelsior supporters hosted a funeral as they felt like their club's identity had died due to the partnership with Feyenoord.[25]

In 2017 Excelsior won against Feyenoord (3–0), resulting in the latter not winning the Eredivisie title on that day. This resulted in riots.[26]

Honours

League

Domestic results

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 bar:Position width:16 color:white align:center

 from:01/01/1990 till:01/01/1991  shift:(0,-4) text:19
 from:01/01/1991 till:01/01/1992  shift:(0,-4) text:15
 from:01/01/1992 till:01/01/1993  shift:(0,-4) text:14
 from:01/01/1993 till:01/01/1994  shift:(0,-4) text:12
 from:01/01/1994 till:01/01/1995  shift:(0,-4) text:3
 from:01/01/1995 till:01/01/1996  shift:(0,-4) text:16
 from:01/01/1996 till:01/01/1997  shift:(0,-4) text:17
 from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/1998  shift:(0,-4) text:16
 from:01/01/1998 till:01/01/1999  shift:(0,-4) text:6
 from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2000  shift:(0,-4) text:4
 from:01/01/2000 till:01/01/2001  shift:(0,-4) text:2
 from:01/01/2001 till:01/01/2002  shift:(0,-4) text:2
 from:01/01/2002 till:01/01/2003  shift:(0,-4) text:17
 from:01/01/2003 till:01/01/2004  shift:(0,-4) text:2
 from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2005  shift:(0,-4) text:12
 from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2006  shift:(0,-4) text:1
 from:01/01/2006 till:01/01/2007  shift:(0,-4) text:16
 from:01/01/2007 till:01/01/2008  shift:(0,-4) text:18
 from:01/01/2008 till:01/01/2009  shift:(0,-4) text:5
 from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2010  shift:(0,-4) text:3
 from:01/01/2010 till:01/01/2011  shift:(0,-4) text:16
 from:01/01/2011 till:01/01/2012  shift:(0,-4) text:18
 from:01/01/2012 till:01/01/2013  shift:(0,-4) text:15
 from:01/01/2013 till:01/01/2014  shift:(0,-4) text:3
 from:01/01/2014 till:01/01/2015  shift:(0,-4) text:15
 from:01/01/2015 till:01/01/2016  shift:(0,-4) text:15
 from:01/01/2016 till:01/01/2017  shift:(0,-4) text:12
 from:01/01/2017 till:01/01/2018  shift:(0,-4) text:11
 from:01/01/2018 till:01/01/2019  shift:(0,-4) text:16
 from:01/01/2019 till:01/01/2020  shift:(0,-4) text:7
 from:01/01/2020 till:01/01/2021  shift:(0,-4) text:9
 from:01/01/2021 till:01/01/2022  shift:(0,-4) text:6
 from:01/01/2022 till:01/01/2023  shift:(0,-4) text:15
 from:01/01/2023 till:01/01/2024  shift:(0,-4) text:16
 from:01/01/2024 till:01/01/2025  shift:(0,-4) text:2
 from:01/01/1990 till:01/01/2002 color:bl2  shift:(0,13)  text: "Eerste Divisie"
 from:01/01/2002 till:01/01/2003 color:bl1  shift:(0,13)  text:
 from:01/01/2003 till:01/01/2006 color:bl2  shift:(0,13)  text: "Eerste Divisie"
 from:01/01/2006 till:01/01/2008 color:bl1  shift:(0,13)  text: "Eredivisie"
 from:01/01/2008 till:01/01/2010 color:bl2  shift:(0,13)  text: "Eerste Divisie"
 from:01/01/2010 till:01/01/2012 color:bl1  shift:(0,13)  text: "Eredivisie"
 from:01/01/2012 till:01/01/2014 color:bl2  shift:(0,13)  text:
 from:01/01/2014 till:01/01/2019 color:bl1  shift:(0,13)  text: "Eredivisie
 from:01/01/2019 till:01/01/2022 color:bl2  shift:(0,13)  text: "Eerste Divisie"
 from:01/01/2022 till:01/01/2024 color:bl1  shift:(0,13)  text: "Eredivisie
 from:01/01/2024 till:01/01/2025 color:bl2  shift:(0,13)  text: "Eerste Divisie"

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File:Excelsior League Performance.png
Historical chart of league performance

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

Current squad

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<templatestyles src="Template:Football squad player/styles.css" /> Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Template:Fba/core Stijn van Gassel
2 DF Template:Fba/core Ilias Bronkhorst
3 DF Template:Fba/core Rick Meissen
4 DF Template:Fba/core Casper Widell
5 DF Template:Fba/core Stan Henderikx
6 MF Template:Fba/core Adam Carlén
7 FW Template:Fba/core Emil Hansson
8 MF Template:Fba/core Mathijs Tielemans
9 FW Template:Fba/core Szymon Włodarczyk (on loan from Sturm Graz)
10 MF Template:Fba/core Noah Naujoks
11 FW Template:Fba/core Gyan de Regt
12 DF Template:Fba/core Arthur Zagré
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 DF Template:Fba/core Lewis Schouten (on loan from AZ Alkmaar)
15 DF Template:Fba/core Simon Janssen
16 GK Template:Fba/core Calvin Raatsie
20 MF Template:Fba/core Lennard Hartjes
23 MF Template:Fba/core Irakli Yegoian
26 FW Template:Fba/core Miliano Jonathans (on loan from Utrecht)
28 FW Template:Fba/core Nesto Groen
29 FW Template:Fba/core Mike van Duinen
30 FW Template:Fba/core Derensili Sanches Fernandes
33 FW Template:Fba/core Jerolldino Bergraaf
40 GK Template:Fba/core Tijmen Holla
— DF Template:Fba/core Kasey Bos (on loan from Mainz 05)

Out on loan

<templatestyles src="Template:Football squad player/styles.css" /> Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF Template:Fba/core Nolan Martens (at De Graafschap until 30 June 2026)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF Template:Fba/core Zach Booth (at Real Salt Lake until 31 December 2026)

Player of the year

The Excelsior 'Player of the Year' award is voted for by the club's 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.[27][28]

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Managers

Current staff

Position Name
Head coach Template:Flagicon Ruben den Uil
Assistant head coach Template:Flagicon André Hoekstra
Assistant coach / technology strategist Template:Flagicon Takahisa Shiraishi
Team manager Template:Flagicon Dennis van der Neut
Goalkeeping coach Template:Flagicon Ronald Graafland
Fitness coach Template:Flagicon Mario Meijer
Physio Template:Flagicon Maurice de Groot
Physio Template:Flagicon Rinus Kerskes
Club doctor Template:Flagicon Robert Jan de Vos
Kit manager Template:Flagicon Rien van Wijk
Kit manager Template:Flagicon John van Tilburg
Chief scout Template:Flagicon Dave Coelers
Scout Template:Flagicon Bert Ebbens

Former managers

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Players

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National team players

The following players were called up to represent their national teams in international football and received caps during their tenure with Excelsior Rotterdam:

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  • Players in bold actively play for Excelsior Rotterdam and for their respective national teams. Years in brackets indicate careerspan with Excelsior.

National team players by Confederation

Member associations are listed in order of most to least amount of current and former Excelsior players represented Internationally

Total national team players by confederation
Confederation Total (Nation) Association
AFC 1 Template:Flagicon Japan (1)
CAF 5 Template:Flagicon Cape Verde (2), Template:Flagicon DR Congo (1), Template:Flagicon Ghana (1), Template:Flagicon Guinea (1)
CONCACAF 7 Template:Flagicon Aruba (2), Template:Flagicon Curaçao (2), Template:Flagicon Sint Maarten (2), Template:Flagicon Trinidad & Tobago (1)
CONMEBOL 0  
OFC 0  
UEFA 9 Template:Flagicon Netherlands (4), Template:Flagicon Iceland (3), Template:Flagicon Ireland (2)

Players in international tournaments

The following is a list of Excelsior Rotterdam players who have competed in international tournaments, including the Africa Cup of Nations. To this date no Excelsior players have participated in the FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship, CONCACAF Gold Cup, AFC Asian Cup, Copa América or the OFC Nations Cup while playing for Excelsior Rotterdam.

Cup Players
Equatorial GuineaScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Cape VerdeScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Toni Varela

References

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External links

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