Willem II Tilburg facts for kids
 |
|||
| Full name | Willem II Tilburg | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Tricolores Superkruiken (Super Pitchers) |
||
| Short name | Willem II | ||
| Founded | 12 August 1896 (as Tilburgia) | ||
| Ground | Koning Willem II Stadion | ||
| Capacity | 14,800 | ||
| Chairman | Meindert van Duijvenbode | ||
| Head coach | Kristof Aelbrecht | ||
| League | Eerste Divisie | ||
| 2022–23 | Eerste Divisie, 4th of 20 | ||
|
|
|||
Willem II Tilburg, often called Willem II, is a Dutch football club. It is based in Tilburg, Netherlands. The team plays in the Eerste Divisie, which is the second-highest football league in the Netherlands. They were relegated from the Eredivisie in the 2024–25 season.
The club started on August 12, 1896, and was first named Tilburgia. On January 12, 1898, the club changed its name to Willem II. This new name honored King William II of the Netherlands (1792–1849). He had his military base in Tilburg during the Belgian uprising in 1830. He also spent a lot of time in the city after becoming king and passed away there.
Some famous players who have played for Willem II include Joris Mathijsen, Jaap Stam, Frenkie de Jong, Marc Overmars, and Virgil Van Dijk. The team's uniform has red, white, and blue vertical stripes. These colors are inspired by the flag of the Netherlands. Willem II plays its home games at the Koning Willem II Stadion, which is also named after the King. The stadium opened on May 31, 1995, and can hold 14,700 fans.
The club has won the Eredivisie three times. They have also won the Eerste Divisie four times.
Contents
Club History
Willem II was founded on August 12, 1896, in Tilburg. The club first played at the Gemeentelijk Sportpark Tilburg. In 1995, they moved to their current home, the Koning Willem II Stadion.
Willem II became champions of the Eredivisie in 1916, 1952, and 1955. They also won the KNVB Cup twice, in 1944 and 1963. The team was also crowned champions of the Eerste Divisie in 1958, 1965, 2014, and 2024.
Willem II has also played in European competitions. Their first appearance was in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1963. They played against Manchester United and lost. In 1998–99, they played in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup again. They won against Dinamo Tbilisi but then lost to Real Betis from Spain.
In 1999, Willem II finished second in the Eredivisie. This allowed them to play in the UEFA Champions League for the first time. They earned two points in their group stage matches but were eliminated. In 2005, they reached the KNVB Cup final but lost to PSV Eindhoven. This led them to qualify for the UEFA Cup, where they lost to AS Monaco.
At the end of the 2010–11 season, Willem II was relegated from the Eredivisie. This was the first time in 24 years. In the 2011–12 season, under new coach Jurgen Streppel, they were promoted back to the Eredivisie. However, they were relegated again the very next season. The club then won the Eerste Divisie in the following season and returned to the Eredivisie.
In 2015, there were some issues regarding fair play. The Royal Dutch Football Association investigated the matter.
In 2019, Willem II reached the KNVB Cup final for the fourth time. They beat AZ Alkmaar in a penalty shoot-out in the semi-finals. However, they lost the final match to Ajax.
Willem II fans have a special connection with fans of the English club Bristol City. Supporters from both clubs often visit each other's cities for games. On August 3, 2024, the two teams played a friendly match in Bristol for the first time.
Club Rivalries
Willem II has a long-standing rivalry with their nearby club, NAC Breda. This rivalry started in the 1920s. Matches between these two teams are called the Brabant derby. The cities of Breda and Tilburg are only 20 kilometers apart. This close distance makes the rivalry very strong, as it feels like a competition between the two cities.
Current Players
Team Squad
|
|
Players on Loan
|
|
Notable Players
Many players from Willem II have also played for their national teams. Here are some of them:
|
- Players in bold currently play for Willem II and their national teams. Years show when they played for Willem II.
Players in Big Tournaments
Willem II players have also played in major international tournaments. These include the FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship, Africa Cup of Nations, and others.
| Cup | Players |
|---|---|
 1994 FIFA World Cup |
Earnie Stewart |
  UEFA Euro 2000 |
Geert De Vlieger |
  2002 FIFA World Cup |
Geert De Vlieger |
 UEFA Euro 2016 |
 Adam Němec |
 2019 Copa América |
 Renato Tapia |
Club Officials
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Peter Maes |
| Assistant coach | Peter van den Berg |
| Goalkeeper coach | Peter den Otter |
| Technical director | Tom Caluwe |
| General director | Martin van Geel |
Coaches of Willem II
|
|
Club Achievements
- National Football League Championship/Eredivisie
- Winners (3): 1915–16, 1951–52, 1954–55
- Runners-up (1): 1998–99
- Eerste Divisie
- Winners (4): 1956–57, 1964–65, 2013–14, 2023–24
- Runners-up (1): 1986–87
- KNVB Cup
- Winners (2): 1943–44, 1962–63
- Runners-up (2): 2004–05, 2018–19
See also
In Spanish: Willem II Tilburg para niños
