Fortuna Sittard

Fortuna Sittard
Full name	Fortuna Sittard
Nickname(s)	Fortuna, Fortunezen
Founded	1 July 1968; 55 years ago
Ground	Fortuna Sittard Stadion,; Sittard
Capacity	12,500
Chairman	Özgür Işıtan Gün
Manager	René Eijer
League	Eredivisie
2017–18	Eerste Divisie, 2nd (promoted)
Home colours	Away colours
	Current season

Fortuna Sittard is a football club in Sittard, the Netherlands. The club currently plays its football in the 12,500 capacity Fortuna Sittard Stadion and features in the Dutch Eredivisie. The club was established through a merger of former clubs Fortuna 54 and Sittardia who merged as the Fortuna Sittardia Combinatie on 1 July 1968.

History

The club experienced mixed fortunes throughout its history although they were a regular fixture in the Eredivisie in the 1990s, with many talented players such as Kevin Hofland, Mark van Bommel and Fernando Ricksen emerging from its youth system. These players later joined PSV Eindhoven and Rangers thereafter featured for the Dutch team. The team's management also had an eye for talent, as they snapped up Wilfred Bouma and Patrick Paauwe from the youth setup of PSV. Both players developed well under manager Bert van Marwijk, before breaking into the Dutch national side and moving towards bigger clubs.

'Fortuna 54' was a relatively successful club which once won the KNVB Cup in the 1956/1957 season where they finished the Eredivisie season 2nd place behind champions Ajax whereas the 'Sittardia' battled against relegation for many seasons. Another KNVB Cup triumph was also celebrated by 'Fortuna 54' in 1964 before the merging of the two clubs in 1968 due to financial difficulties.

At the end of the 1999–2000 season, successful manager Bert van Marwijk left to join Feyenoord and the team seemed to collapse. Due to poor management, the team signed a number of over-paid and under-performing "stars". Fortuna relegated to the First Division in the 2001–2002 season, where things were getting from bad to worse very quickly.^[1] Financial irregularities had been discovered and the team has been facing bankruptcy for the past 4 seasons. A little highlight came in the winter of 2003, when two of the club's fans won the Dutch lottery and donated all of the prize money to the club.

Things started to look up for Fortuna, when they were able to clear most of their debts by selling of the new stadium, the Wagner & Partners stadium. Unfortunately, the team hasn't been performing on the pitch and finished dead-last in the Dutch First Division for three consecutive seasons.

On 19 May 2009 the KNVB announced it would withdraw the license to play of Fortuna Sittard for the 2010–2011 season. After going to civil court, this decision was revoked and the club did not lose its license.^[2] Even though financial troubles kept plaguing the club, recent years have seen a slow but steady return to financial health, with sportive successes following suit. In the 2011–2012 season they missed qualification for the playoffs for promotion to the Eredivisie by a hair's breadth, conceding an equalizer in the dying seconds of the season in the home match against the Go Ahead Eagles, seeing them take the final playoff spot instead. In 2012–2013 and 2013–2014 they were successful in qualifying, having a first chance at returning to the Eredivisie since their relegation in 2002, but they lost both first round matches against De Graafschap.

In 2018, after 16 years in the Eerste Divisie, Fortuna won promotion to the Eredivisie again after beating Jong PSV 1-0 to stay clear from NEC and finishing runner-up to champions Jong Ajax, who are not allowed to promote.^[3]

Honours

KNVB Cup
- Winner: 1957, 1964
- Runners-up: 1984, 1999
Eerste Divisie
- Winner: 1959, 1964, 1966, 1995
Promoted to Eredivisie
- Promotion: 1982, 2018

Results

Below is a table with Fortuna Sittard's domestic results since the introduction of professional football in 1956.

Domestic Results since 1956
Domestic league	League result	Qualification to	KNVB Cup season	Cup result
2016–17 Eerste Divisie	17th	–	2016–17	first round
2015–16 Eerste Divisie	16th	–	2015–16	second round
2014–15 Eerste Divisie	19th	–	2014–15	third round
2013–14 Eerste Divisie	8th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	2013–14	second round
2012–13 Eerste Divisie	7th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	2012–13	second round
2011–12 Eerste Divisie	11th	–	2011–12	second round
2010–11 Eerste Divisie	16th	–	2010–11	third round
2009–10 Eerste Divisie	17th	–	2009–10	second round
2008–09 Eerste Divisie	15th	–	2008–09	third round
2007–08 Eerste Divisie	16th	–	2007–08	third round
2006–07 Eerste Divisie	15th	–	2006–07	second round
2005–06 Eerste Divisie	20th	–	2005–06	second round
2004–05 Eerste Divisie	19th	–	2004–05	second round
2003–04 Eerste Divisie	19th	–	2003–04	second round
2002–03 Eerste Divisie	15th	–	2002–03	group stage
2001–02 Eredivisie	18th	Eerste Divisie (relegation)	2001–02	round of 16
2000–01 Eredivisie	16th	– (surviving prom./releg. play-offs)	2000–01	round of 16
1999–2000 Eredivisie	12th	–	1999–2000	third round
1998–99 Eredivisie	10th	–	1998–99	final
1997–98 Eredivisie	7th	Intertoto Cup (R3)	1997–98	quarter-final
1996–97 Eredivisie	11th	–	1996–97	second round
1995–96 Eredivisie	13th	–	1995–96	round of 16
1994–95 Eerste Divisie	1st	Eredivisie (promotion)	1994–95	group stage
1993–94 Eerste Divisie	10th	–	1993–94	third round
1992–93 Eredivisie	16th	Eerste Divisie (losing prom./releg. play-off)	1992–93	round of 16
1991–92 Eredivisie	14th	–	1991–92	second round
1990–91 Eredivisie	12th	–	1990–91	second round
1989–90 Eredivisie	7th	–	1989–90	quarter-final
1988–89 Eredivisie	8th	–	1988–89	round of 16
1987–88 Eredivisie	8th	–	1987–88	round of 16
1986–87 Eredivisie	9th	–	1986–87	quarter-final
1985–86 Eredivisie	8th	–	1985–86	quarter-final
1984–85 Eredivisie	7th	–	1984–85	round of 16
1983–84 Eredivisie	12th	Cup Winners' Cup	1983–84	final
1982–83 Eredivisie	8th	–	1982–83	second round
1981–82 Eerste Divisie	2nd	Eredivisie (promotion)	1981–82	first round
1980–81 Eerste Divisie	4th	–	1980–81	second round
1979–80 Eerste Divisie	7th	–	1979–80	second round
1978–79 Eerste Divisie	4th	promotion competition: no promotion	1978–79	quarter-final
1977–78 Eerste Divisie	5th	–	1977–78	second round
1976–77 Eerste Divisie	7th	–	1976–77	second round
1975–76 Eerste Divisie	7th	promotion competition: no promotion	1975–76	first round
1974–75 Eerste Divisie	9th	–	1974–75	second round
1973–74 Eerste Divisie	5th	promotion competition: no promotion	1973–74	second round
1972–73 Eerste Divisie	9th	–	1972–73	first round
1971–72 Eerste Divisie	13th	–	1971–72	quarter-final
1970–71 Eerste Divisie	10th	–	1970–71	semi-final
1969–70 Eerste Divisie	14th	–	1969–70	first round ^{[citation needed]}
1968–69 Eredivisie	18th	Eerste Divisie (relegation)	1968–69	first round ^{[citation needed]}
1967–68 Eredivisie (as Fortuna '54... ...and Sittardia)	17th 18th	Merger into Fortuna SC	1967–68	group stage ^{[citation needed]} round of 16 ^{[citation needed]}
1966–67 Eredivisie (as Fortuna '54... ...and Sittardia)	14th 7th	–	1966–67	first round ^{[citation needed]}
1965–66 Eredivisie (as Fortuna '54) 1965–66 Eerste Divisie (as Sittardia)	9th 1st	– Eredivisie (promotion)	1965–66	group stage ^{[citation needed]}
1964–65 Eredivisie (as Fortuna '54... ...and Sittardia)	6th 15th	– Eerste Divisie (relegation)	1964–65	first round ^{[citation needed]} round of 16 ^{[citation needed]}
1963–64 Eredivisie (as Fortuna '54) 1963–64 Eerste Divisie (as Sittardia)	7th 1st	Cup Winners' Cup Eredivisie (promotion)	1963–64	winner first round ^{[citation needed]}
1962–63 Eredivisie (as Fortuna '54) 1962–63 Eerste Divisie (as Sittardia)	12th	–	1962–63	round of 16 ^{[citation needed]} third round ^{[citation needed]}
1961–62 Eredivisie (as Fortuna '54) 1961–62 Eerste Divisie (as Sittardia)	12th 3rd	–	1961–62	? ^{[citation needed]}
1960–61 Eredivisie (as Fortuna '54) 1960–61 Eerste Divisie (as Sittardia)	15th 5th (group B)	–	1960–61	? ^{[citation needed]}
1959–60 Eredivisie (as Fortuna '54... ...and Sittardia)	14th 18th	– Eerste Divisie (relegation)	not held	not held
1958–59 Eredivisie (as Fortuna '54) 1958–59 Eerste Divisie (as Sittardia)	3rd 1st (group B)	– Eredivisie (promotion)	1958–59	? ^{[citation needed]}
1957–58 Eredivisie (as Fortuna '54) 1957–58 Eerste Divisie (as Sittardia)	4th 4th (group B)	–	1957–58	? ^{[citation needed]}
1956–57 Eredivisie (as Fortuna '54) 1956–57 Eerste Divisie (as Sittardia)	2nd 6th (group B)	–	1956–57	winner ? ^{[citation needed]}

Current squad

As of 31 August 2018

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	TUR	Aykut Özer
2	DF	NED	Clint Essers
3	DF	NED	Wessel Dammers (Vice-captain)
4	DF	NED	Kai Heerings
5	DF	SVK	Branislav Niňaj
6	MF	NED	Jorrit Smeets
7	FW	POR	André Vidigal
8	MF	BEL	Ahmed El Messaoudi (on loan from KV Mechelen)
9	FW	USA	Andrija Novakovich (on loan from Reading)
10	MF	NED	Mark Diemers (Captain)
11	FW	FRA	Djibril Dianessy
13	DF	BEL	Marco Ospitalieri
14	FW	POR	Lisandro Semedo
16	MF	VEN	José Bandez


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
17	DF	BEL	Alessandro Ciranni
19	FW	NED	Finn Stokkers
20	MF	SEN	Amadou Ciss
21	FW	HUN	Áron Dobos
22	MF	SUR	Gavin Vlijter
23	DF	POR	Mica
24	MF	NED	Bo Breukers
25	MF	NED	Lars Hutten
27	GK	NED	Rowen Koot
30	DF	VEN	Rubén Ramírez
32	MF	AUS	George Mells
34	MF	ESP	José Rodríguez (on loan from Mainz)
77	GK	MDA	Alexei Koșelev
97	MF	GRE	Lazaros Lamprou (on loan from PAOK FC)

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	Luc Tinnemans (at RKVV EVV until 30 June 2019)
—	MF	SRB	Lazar Kojić (at OFK Bačka until 30 June 2019)
—	MF	MTQ	Mickaël Malsa (at Albacete until 30 June 2019)

Managers

As Fortuna '54

1956–57: Friedrich Donenfeld (vice champion, cup winner)
1957–58: Bram Appel
1958–59: Harry Verhardt
1959–61: Friedrich Donenfeld
1961–63: Jung Schlangen
1963–65: Wim Latten (cup winner 1964)
1965–66: Max Schirschin
1966–67: Karl-Heinz Marotzke
1967–68: Bram Appel

As Sittardia

As Fortuna Sittard

Frans Debruyn (1968–69)
Henk Reuvers (1969–70)
Evert Teunissen (1970–72)
Cor Brom (1972–76)
Cor van der Hart (1976–77)
Joop Castenmiller (1977–80)
Frans Körver (1980–84)
Bert Jacobs (1984–87)
Hans van Doorneveld (1987–89)
Han Berger (1989–91)
Georg Keßler (1991–92)
Chris Dekker (1992–94)
Pim Verbeek (1994–97)
Bert van Marwijk (1997-00)
Henk Duut (2000–01)

Frans Thijssen (2000–01)
Hans Verèl (2001)
Hans de Koning (2001–04)
Chris Dekker (2004–06)
Frans Körver (2006–07)
Henk Wisman (2007)
Roger Reijners (2007–10)
Wim Dusseldorp (2010–11)
Tini Ruys (2011–12)
Willy Boessen (2012–14)
Peter van Vossen (2014–15)
Ben van Dael (2015–16)
Sunday Oliseh (2017–18)
Claudio Braga (a.i.) (2018)
René Eijer (2018–present)

References

^ Fortuna Sittard: geen toekomst, maar een fraaie historie - Voetbal International Template:Nl
^ Template:Nl icon KNVB gaat licentie Fortuna Sittard intrekken, Voetbal International (19 May 2009)
^ Fortuna Sittard na zestien jaar terug in de eredivisie - AD Template:Nl

External links

[1] Fortuna Sittard: geen toekomst, maar een fraaie historie - Voetbal International Template:Nl

[2] Template:Nl icon KNVB gaat licentie Fortuna Sittard intrekken, Voetbal International (19 May 2009)

[3] Fortuna Sittard na zestien jaar terug in de eredivisie - AD Template:Nl

[1]

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[3]

v t e Eredivisie
2023–24 clubs	Ajax Almere City AZ Excelsior Feyenoord Fortuna Sittard Go Ahead Eagles Heerenveen Heracles Almelo NEC PEC Zwolle PSV RKC Waalwijk Sparta Rotterdam Twente Utrecht Vitesse Volendam
Stadiums	Abe Lenstra Stadion De Adelaarshorst AFAS Stadion Erve Asito Fortuna Sittard Stadion Galgenwaard GelreDome De Goffert De Grolsch Veste Johan Cruyff Arena Het Kasteel Kras Stadion De Kuip MAC³PARK Stadion Mandemakers Stadion Philips Stadion Woudestein Yanmar Stadion
Former clubs	ADO Den Haag Alkmaar '54 FC Amsterdam Blauw-Wit Cambuur De Graafschap De Volewijckers Den Bosch Dordrecht DOS DS '79 DWS FC Eindhoven Elinkwijk Emmen SC Enschede Fortuna '54 Groningen Haarlem Helmond Sport MVV NAC Breda NOAD RBC Roda JC SVV Telstar Veendam VVV-Venlo Wageningen Willem II XerxesDZB
Competition	Champions Players (foreign) Managers Top scorers Hat-tricks Derbies Eredivisie Live
Awards	Footballer of the Year Rinus Michels Award Eredivisie Player of the Month
Associated competitions	League system Eerste Divisie KNVB Cup Johan Cruyff Shield Eredivisie for women UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League UEFA Conference League
Netherlands Football League seasons	1888–89 1889–90 1890–91 1891–92 1892–93 1893–94 1894–95 1895–96 1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–1900 1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56
Eredivisie seasons	1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
Eredivisie Eerste Divisie Tweede Divisie Derde Divisie Vierde Divisie Eerste Klasse Tweede Klasse Derde Klasse Vierde Klasse Vijfde Klasse