ADO Den Haag

ADO Den Haag

Nickname(s)	Den Haag (The Hague) De Residentieclub (The Residence Club) De Ooievaars (The Storks)
Short name	ADO Den Haag
Founded	1 February 1905 (1905-02-01)
Ground	Cars Jeans Stadion
Capacity	15,000
Owner	United Vansen Limited
Chairman	Ben Knüppe
Head coach	Aleksandar Ranković
League	Eredivisie
2019–20	Eredivisie, 17th
Website	https://adodenhaag.nl/nl/
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Mural in the new ADO stadium

Alles Door Oefening Den Haag (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɑləs doːr ˈufənɪŋ dɛn ˈɦaːx]), commonly known by the abbreviated name ADO Den Haag ([ˈaːdoː dɛn ˈɦaːx]), is a Dutch association football club from the city of The Hague. The club was for a time known as FC Den Haag ([ɛfˈseː dɛn ˈɦaːx]), with ADO representing the amateur branch of the club. Despite being from one of the traditional three large Dutch cities, it has not been able to match Ajax, Feyenoord or PSV in terms of success in the Eredivisie or in European competition. There is nonetheless a big rivalry with Ajax and Feyenoord. The words Alles Door Oefening translate into Everything Through Practice in Dutch.

History

1905–1971: ADO

On 1 February 1905, the club Alles Door Oefening (ADO) was founded in café 'Het Hof van Berlijn' (now: De Paap) in The Hague. In the first years of its existence, the club endured some difficult times as many members refused to pay their fees and the sport of cricket was more popular in the city. ADO started out in the local Haagsche Voetbal Bond, but promoted to the national Nederlandsche Voetbal Bond in 1912. That year they promoted to the 3rd level (3e klasse NVB) and two years later they even earned the championship on that level.

After moving to the Zuiderpark stadium in 1925, ADO continued to grow to a club of some significance. In 1926, the club earned promotion to the highest national level, the Eerste Klasse. In the following years the red-green-white team struggled not to be relegated at first, but rose to the top of the league at the end of the 1930s. In 1939 the club just missed the class title after losing to DWS in Amsterdam. In 1940, the title seemed very close again, but another second-place finish was the highest achievable position after the club saw many players being drafted in the army with World War II closing in. This time another club from Amsterdam, Blauw-Wit, grabbed the title. In 1941, ADO finally won their class and moved on to the national champion's competition, losing that to Heracles.

In the 1941–42 season, all the stars were aligned, and although the war made everyday life harder and harder, the club seemed undefeatable. After winning their league, often by many goals difference, ADO moved on to the national champion's competition and fought for the title with Heerenveen, AGOVV, Eindhoven and Blauw-Wit. A 5–2 victory over AGOVV finally brought ADO their first national title. In 1943 ADO won another title, amongst others by beating legend Abe Lenstra's Heerenveen 8–2.

The Hague had to wait until the 1960s for more successes from their local club. After Ernst Happel joined ADO as a coach in 1962, the club worked their way to the top of the league again. They finished third in the final ranking in 1965. In 1963, 1964 and 1966, ADO played in the national cup final, the KNVB Cup, but lost. In 1968, they again reached the final, and this time beat Ajax to win it. In the 1970–71 season, ADO started the league with 17 games undefeated and were at the top of the national league, but ended their season as No. 3.

In 1967, ADO played a summer in North America's United Soccer Association, under the name San Francisco Golden Gate Gales. The club finished tied for second in the Western Division.

1971–1996: FC Den Haag

In 1971 the club merged with city rivals Holland Sport to form FC Den Haag.

The club again reached the Dutch Cup final in 1972 (this time losing 3–2 to Ajax) then went on to win the trophy for a second time in 1975, this team defeating Twente 1–0. Their greatest European success was a quarter-final game against West Ham United for the European Cup Winners Cup in 1976. A 4–2 win in The Hague followed by a 3–1 defeat in London meant elimination. In the 1980s, FC Den Haag was often associated with hooliganism and financial backfall. However, they reached their fourth Dutch Cup final in 1987, losing 4–2 (again to Ajax) following two extra-time winners from Marco van Basten.

On 3 April 1982, hooligans of the club burned down part of their own home ground, Zuiderpark. The fire was set after a 4–0 loss to HFC Haarlem. It damaged the ground's oldest stand dating back to 1928 and caused $500,000 in damages. The damaged part was rebuilt and opened in 1986.

After another merger the club was renamed ADO Den Haag in 1996.

1996–present: ADO Den Haag

After a long spell in the country's second tier of league football, ADO Den Haag played four seasons in the Eredivisie then were relegated again in the 2006–07 season. However, after finishing sixth in the 2007–08 season, they went on to win the play-offs, meaning promotion back to the Eredivisie for 2008–09. The club's new home was finished in 2007: the 15,000-capacity Kyocera Stadion, formerly known as the Den Haag Stadion. Their home colors are yellow and green. They began the 2008–09 season with two wins which put them on top of the Eredivisie for the first time in 32 years. In the 2009–10 season, the club's average home attendance was 11,745 spectators.

The team enjoyed success in the 2010–11 season. Defeating rivals Ajax twice was one of the highlights of the season. ADO Den Haag finished seventh in the league and won the play-offs (beating Roda JC and Groningen) which offered the last Dutch UEFA Europa League place. They won the first matches against Lithuanian side Tauras (3–2, 2–0) but lost the first away leg for the third qualifying round against Cypriot club Omonia 3–0 in Nicosia.

ADO supporters have strong links with Welsh club Swansea City. Flags of the respective clubs are often flown at the matches of the other club, and both clubs regularly hold pre-season friendly matches. Legia Warsaw (Poland), Club Brugge (Belgium) and Juventus (Italy) also share strong supporter links with ADO Den Haag.

However, rivalries with fellow Dutch teams are less friendly, and ADO achieved notoriety following an incident after defeating Ajax on 20 March 2011. Anti-semitic songs including "Hamas, Hamas, Jews to the Gas" were sung not only by ADO supporters but also by their midfielder Lex Immers, who was consequently suspended for five matches. As well, in 2004, a domestic match between ADO Den Haag and PSV was abandoned after 80 minutes due to racist chanting from the crowd.

The club was in serious financial trouble in 2008 and in June 2014, its majority shareholder agreed to sell the club to Chinese-based United Vansen International Sports Company, Ltd. for a reported $8.9 million. The current ownership group has "promised to invest millions of euros" into the club. UVS was founded in 2008 and was responsible for organising the Beijing Olympic closing ceremony and football curtain-raisers attracting prominent football clubs such as Juventus, Milan, Internazionale, Napoli, Lazio, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Hull City.

The 2019–20 season was declared void, with no promotion/relegation, which means ADO Den Haag remains in Eredivisie for the 2020–21 season despite their 17th-place finish.

Sponsors

Period	Kit manufacturer	Shirt sponsor
1987–1989	Cruyff	Hotelplan Vakanties
1992–1994	Lotto
1994–1999		VHS
1999–2000	Wilson	Client Solutions
2000–2001		Solidium
2001–2002	Fila
2002–2004		Hommerson Casino's
2004–2005	Hummel
2005–2008		DSW
2008–2011		Fit For Free
2011–2012	Erreà	Kyocera
2012–2017		Basic Fit
2018–2022		Cars Jeans

Honours

Eredivisie (up to 1955–56 the Netherlands Football League Championship)

• Champions: 1941–42, 1942–43

Eerste Divisie

• Champions: 1956–57, 1985–86, 2002–03

KNVB Cup

• Champions: 1967–68, 1974–75
• Runners-up: 1958–59, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1971–72, 1986–87

European record

UEFA Europa League

Season	Round	Opponents	Home leg	Away leg	Aggregate
2011–12	Q2	Tauras	2–0	3–2	5–2
	Q3	Omonia	1–0	0–3	1–3

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

Season	Round	Opponents	Home leg	Away leg	Aggregate
1968–69	1	Grazer AK	4–1	2–0	6–1
	2	1. FC Köln	0–1	0–3	0–4
1975–76	1	Vejle BK	2–0	2–0	4–0
	2	Lens	3–2	3–1	6–3
	QF	West Ham United	4–2	1–3	5–5

Domestic results

Main article: List of ADO Den Haag seasons

Below is a table with ADO Den Haag'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
2019–20 Eredivisie	17th	–	2019–20	first round
2018–19 Eredivisie	9th	–	2018–19	second round
2017–18 Eredivisie	7th	–	2017–18	first round
2016–17 Eredivisie	11th	–	2016–17	third round
2015–16 Eredivisie	11th	–	2015–16	second round
2014–15 Eredivisie	13th	–	2014–15	second round
2013–14 Eredivisie	9th	–	2013–14	third round
2012–13 Eredivisie	9th	–	2012–13	third round
2011–12 Eredivisie	15th	–	2011–12	third round
2010–11 Eredivisie	7th	Europa League (winning EL play-offs) (Q2)	2010–11	fourth round
2009–10 Eredivisie	15th	–	2009–10	second round
2008–09 Eredivisie	14th	–	2008–09	round of 16
2007–08 Eerste Divisie	6th	Eredivisie (winning promotion/releg. play-offs)	2007–08	third round
2006–07 Eredivisie	18th	Eerste Divisie (relegation)	2006–07	third round
2005–06 Eredivisie	15th	–	2005–06	third round
2004–05 Eredivisie	14th	–	2004–05	quarter final
2003–04 Eredivisie	15th	–	2003–04	second round
2002–03 Eerste Divisie	1st	Eredivisie (promotion)	2002–03	round of 16
2001–02 Eerste Divisie	4th	promotion/relegation play-off: no promotion	2001–02	second round
2000–01 Eerste Divisie	16th	–	2000–01	second round
1999–2000 Eerste Divisie	11th	–	1999–2000	third round
1998–99 Eerste Divisie	10th	–	1998–99	second round
1997–98 Eerste Divisie	5th	promotion/relegation play-off: no promotion	1997–98	second round
1996–97 Eerste Divisie	8th	promotion/relegation play-off: no promotion	1996–97	group stage
1995–96 Eerste Divisie	15th	–	1995–96	round of 16
1994–95 Eerste Divisie	4th	promotion/relegation play-off: no promotion	1994–95	round of 16
1993–94 Eerste Divisie	7th	promotion/relegation play-off: no promotion	1993–94	quarter final
1992–93 Eerste Divisie	8th	–	1992–93	third round
1991–92 Eredivisie	16th	Eerste Divisie (losing prom./relegation play-off)	1991–92	third round
1990–91 Eredivisie	14th	–	1990–91	round of 16
1989–90 Eredivisie	10th	–	1989–90	second round
1988–89 Eerste Divisie	2nd	Eredivisie (promotion)	1988–89	semi-final
1987–88 Eredivisie	17th	Eerste Divisie (relegation)	1987–88	round of 16
1986–87 Eredivisie	14th	Cup Winners' Cup	1986–87	final
1985–86 Eerste Divisie	1st	Eredivisie (promotion)	1985–86	semi-final
1984–85 Eerste Divisie	4th	promotion/relegation play-off: no promotion	1984–85	second round
1983–84 Eerste Divisie	7th	–	1983–84	round of 16
1982–83 Eerste Divisie	6th	–	1982–83	round of 16
1981–82 Eredivisie	17th	Eerste Divisie (relegation)	1981–82	second round
1980–81 Eredivisie	14th	–	1980–81	second round
1979–80 Eredivisie	10th	–	1979–80	quarter final
1978–79 Eredivisie	7th	–	1978–79	round of 16
1977–78 Eredivisie	12th	–	1977–78	second round
1976–77 Eredivisie	10th	–	1976–77	semi-final
1975–76 Eredivisie	6th	–	1975–76	round of 16
1974–75 Eredivisie	10th	Cup Winners' Cup	1974–75	winners
1973–74 Eredivisie	13th	–	1973–74	second round
1972–73 Eredivisie	5th	–	1972–73	quarter final
1971–72 Eredivisie	5th	Cup Winners' Cup	1971–72	final
1970–71 Eredivisie (as ADO... ...and Holland Sport)	3rd 15th	UEFA Cup –	1970–71	quarter final round of 16
1969–70 Eredivisie (as ADO... ...and Holland Sport)	6th 9th	–	1969–70	quarter final first round
1968–69 Eredivisie (as ADO... ...and Holland Sport)	6th 10th	–	1968–69	round of 16 first round
1967–68 Eredivisie (as ADO) 1967–68 Eerste Divisie (as Holland Sport)	4th 1st	Cup Winners' Cup Eredivisie (promotion)	1967–68	winners group stage
1966–67 Eredivisie (as ADO) 1966–67 Eerste Divisie (as Holland Sport)	4th 3rd	–	1966–67	round of 16 first round
1965–66 Eredivisie (as ADO) 1965–66 Eerste Divisie (as Holland Sport)	3rd 11th	–	1965–66	final group stage
1964–65 Eredivisie (as ADO) 1964–65 Eerste Divisie (as Holland Sport)	3rd 13th	–	1964–65	second round quarter final
1963–64 Eredivisie (as ADO) 1963–64 Eerste Divisie (as SHS)	10th 3rd	–	1963–64	final round of 16
1962–63 Eredivisie (as ADO) 1962–63 Eerste Divisie (as SHS)	10th 11th	–	1962–63	final
1961–62 Eredivisie (as ADO) 1961–62 Eerste Divisie (as SHS)	15th 7th (group B)	– – (after surviving promotion/relegation play-off)	1961–62	third round
1960–61 Eredivisie (as ADO) 1960–61 Eerste Divisie (as SHS)	11th 14th (group B)	–	1960–61	second round
1959–60 Eredivisie (as ADO) 1959–60 Eerste Divisie (as SHS)	12th 7th (group B)	–	not held	not held
1958–59 Eredivisie (as ADO... ...and SHS)	13th 18th	– Eerste Divisie (relegation)	1958–59	final
1957–58 Eredivisie (as ADO) 1957–58 Eerste Divisie (as SHS)	6th 1st (group B)	– Eredivisie (promotion)	1957–58	third round
1956–57 Eerste Divisie (as ADO... ...and SHS)	1st 10th	Eredivisie (promotion) –	1956–57	semi finals

Current squad

As of 4 August 2020

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	NED	Luuk Koopmans
2	DF	ROU	Andrei Rațiu (on loan from Villarreal)
4	DF	NED	Tom Beugelsdijk
7	FW	MAR	Bilal Ould-Chikh
8	DF	NED	Aaron Meijers (captain)
10	MF	NED	Lex Immers
11	MF	NED	John Goossens
15	DF	NED	Dehninio Muringen
17	MF	NED	Danny Bakker
18	GK	NED	Mike Havekotte
19	DF	NED	Shaquille Pinas
22	GK	NED	Robert Zwinkels

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
25	DF	GHA	Robin Polley
27	DF	NED	Milan van Ewijk
29	FW	NED	Michiel Kramer
30	MF	NED	Erik Falkenburg
—	DF	NED	Peet Bijen
—	DF	NED	Boy Kemper
—	MF	NED	Kees de Boer
—	MF	BEL	Samy Bourard
—	FW	BIH	Amar Ćatić
—	MF	TAI	Emilio Estevez

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	MF	NED	Lorenzo van Kleef (to FC Eindhoven until 30 June 2021)

Managers

• John Donaghy (1928–32)
• Wim Tap (1936–46)
• Franz Fuchs (1952–53)
• Dick Groves (1953)
• Franz Gutkas (1954–55)
• Rinus Loof (1955–62)
• Ernst Happel (1 July 1962 – 30 June 1969)
• Václav Ježek (1 July 1969 – 30 June 1972)
• Vujadin Boškov (1 July 1974 – 30 June 1976)
• Anton Malatinský (1 July 1976 – 30 June 1978)
• Piet de Visser (1 July 1978 – 30 June 1980)
• Hans Kraay (1 July 1980 – 30 June 1981)
• Cor van der Hart (1 July 1981 – 30 June 1983)
• Rob Baan (1 July 1983 – 30 June 1986)
• Pim van de Meent (1 July 1986 – 30 June 1988)
• Co Adriaanse (1 July 1988 – 12 February 1992)
• Nol de Ruiter (1 July 1992 – 30 June 1993)
• Lex Schoenmaker (1994–95)

• Theo Verlangen (1995–96)
• Mark Wotte (1 July 1996 – 31 December 1997)
• André Hoekstra (31 December 1997 – 30 June 1999)
• Rob Meppelink (1 July 1999 – 30 June 2000)
• Rinus Israel (1 July 2001 – 30 November 2003)
• Lex Schoenmaker (caretaker) (1 December 2003 – 30 June 2004)
• Frans Adelaar (1 July 2004 – 20 November 2006)
• Lex Schoenmaker (caretaker) (21 November 2006 – 30 June 2007)
• Wiljan Vloet (1 July 2007 – 30 June 2008)
• André Wetzel (1 July 2008 – 17 April 2009)
• Raymond Atteveld (17 April 2009 – 30 March 2010)
• Maurice Steijn (caretaker) (30 March 2010 – 30 June 2010)
• John van den Brom (1 July 2010 – 29 June 2011)
• Maurice Steijn (30 June 2011 – 5 February 2014)
• Henk Fräser (5 February 2014 – 30 June 2016)
• Željko Petrović (1 July 2016 – 7 February 2017)
• Alfons Groenendijk (8 February 2017 – 2 December 2019)
• Alan Pardew (24 December 2019 – 28 April 2020)
• Aleksandar Ranković (15 May 2020 – Present)

External links

• Official website of ADO Den Haag (in Dutch)
• Groen Geel Hart (in Dutch)
• ADOFans.nl (in Dutch)
• ADO formations at football-lineups.com (in English)
• northside fanside (in Dutch)
• Fanclub Den Haag (in Dutch)
• ADO for EXPATS | ADO Den Haag news, match reports, photo's and ticket info all in English for the Expat Community (in English)