Fortuna Sittard
Fortuna Sittard (Dutch pronunciation: [fɔrˈtynaː ˈsɪtɑrt]; Limburgish: Fortuna Zitterd [fɔʀˈtyːnaː ˈzɪtəʀt]) is a football club in Sittard, Netherlands. The club currently plays its football in the 12,500 capacity Fortuna Sittard Stadion and features in the Eredivisie. The club was established through a merger of former clubs Fortuna 54 and Sittardia, which merged as the Fortuna Sittardia Combinatie on 1 July 1968.
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| Full name | Fortuna Sittard | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Fortuna, Fortunezen | ||
| Founded | 1 July 1968 | ||
| Ground | Fortuna Sittard Stadion | ||
| Capacity | 12,500 | ||
| Owner | Özgür Işıtan Gün | ||
| Chairman | Özgür Işıtan Gün | ||
| Head coach | Julio Velázquez | ||
| League | Eredivisie | ||
| 2021–22 | Eredivisie, 15th of 18 | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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History
The club experienced mixed fortunes throughout its history although they were a regular fixture in the Eredivisie in the 1990s, with players such as Kevin Hofland, Mark van Bommel and Fernando Ricksen emerging from its youth system. These players later joined PSV Eindhoven and Rangers, and featured for the Netherlands national team. The team also signed Wilfred Bouma and Patrick Paauwe from the youth setup of PSV. Both players developed under manager Bert van Marwijk, before breaking into the Dutch national side and moving towards bigger clubs.
Fortuna 54 won the KNVB Cup in the 1956–57 season, and finished the Eredivisie season in second place behind champions Ajax. Sittardia were less successful and battled against relegation for many seasons. Fortuna 54 won the KNVB Cup again in 1964 before the merging of the two clubs in 1968 due to financial difficulties.
At the end of the 1999–2000 season, manager Bert van Marwijk left to join Feyenoord and the team was relegated to the First Division in the 2001–02 season.[1]
Financial difficulties (2002–16)
Financial irregularities were discovered and the team faced bankruptcy over several seasons. In the winter of 2003, two of the club's fans won the Dutch lottery and donated all of the prize money to the club.[2] The club cleared most of their debts by selling off their new stadium, the Wagner & Partners stadium.[3]
On 19 May 2009, the KNVB announced it would withdraw the club's license to play for the 2010–11 season. After going to civil court, this decision was revoked.[4] Despite ongoing financial difficulties, the club gradually began to recover financially in the following years, leading to sporting success. In the 2011–12 season, Fortuna Sittard narrowly missed out on qualifying for the playoffs for promotion to Eredivisie, conceding an equaliser in the final seconds of the season at their home match against the Go Ahead Eagles, resulting in the Eagles taking the final playoff spot instead. Although they qualified for the playoffs in the 2012–13 and 2013–14 seasons, offering them their first chance to return to Eredivisie since their relegation in 2002, they were unsuccessful in both first-round matches against De Graafschap.[5][6]
Takeover and Eredivisie (2016–present)
The club again faced financial troubles in 2016, leading to its takeover by a Turkish investor named Işıtan Gün, who had previously served as the chief operating officer of Galatasaray.[7] The 2016–17 season was a tough start for the club, but they managed to avoid relegation after changing coaches and recruiting new players, including some from Galatasaray.[8]
In December 2016, Sunday Oliseh was appointed as the new coach of Fortuna Sittard. During his time as coach, he set two new records for the club, with eight consecutive home victories and the biggest away victory in the club's history against Telstar with a score of 6–0. In January 2018, the team won a periodetitel after a 2–1 victory over Jong Ajax. However, on 14 February 2018, Oliseh was suspended due to "repeated and culpable actions towards multiple individuals within the organisation over an extended period." A statement on the club's website announced his release.[9]
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.[10]
Fortuna Sittard finished in 16th place during the 2019–20 season. However, due to the season being declared void in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, they remained in the Eredivisie for the 2020–21 season.[11]
Honours
International
Totals
| Competition | Participations | Games | Won | Draw | Lost | Goals scored | Goals conceded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | 1 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 7 |
| UEFA Intertoto Cup | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Total | 2 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 13 |
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 |
| 2021–22 Eredivisie | 15th | – | 2021–22 | second round |
| 2020–21 Eredivisie | 11th | – | 2020–21 | round of 16 |
| 2019–20 Eredivisie | 16th | No relegation due to COVID-19 | 2019–20 | round of 16 |
| 2018–19 Eredivisie | 15th | – | 2018–19 | quarter-final |
| 2017–18 Eerste Divisie | 2nd | Eredivisie (promotion) | 2017–18 | round of 16 |
| 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 |
| 1968–69 Eredivisie | 18th | Eerste Divisie (relegation) | 1968–69 | first round |
| 1967–68 Eredivisie (as Fortuna '54... ...and Sittardia) |
17th 18th |
Merger into Fortuna SC | 1967–68 | group stage round of 16 |
| 1966–67 Eredivisie (as Fortuna '54... ...and Sittardia) |
14th 7th |
– | 1966–67 | first round |
| 1965–66 Eredivisie (as Fortuna '54) 1965–66 Eerste Divisie (as Sittardia) |
9th 1st |
– Eredivisie (promotion) |
1965–66 | group stage |
| 1964–65 Eredivisie (as Fortuna '54... ...and Sittardia) |
6th 15th |
– Eerste Divisie (relegation) |
1964–65 | first round round of 16 |
| 1963–64 Eredivisie (as Fortuna '54) 1963–64 Eerste Divisie (as Sittardia) |
7th 1st |
Cup Winners' Cup Eredivisie (promotion) |
1963–64 | winner first round |
| 1962–63 Eredivisie (as Fortuna '54) 1962–63 Eerste Divisie (as Sittardia) |
12th | – | 1962–63 | round of 16 third round |
| 1961–62 Eredivisie (as Fortuna '54) 1961–62 Eerste Divisie (as Sittardia) |
12th 3rd |
– | 1961–62 | ? |
| 1960–61 Eredivisie (as Fortuna '54) 1960–61 Eerste Divisie (as Sittardia) |
15th 5th (group B) |
– | 1960–61 | ? |
| 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 | ? |
| 1957–58 Eredivisie (as Fortuna '54) 1957–58 Eerste Divisie (as Sittardia) |
4th 4th (group B) |
– | 1957–58 | ? |
| 1956–57 Eredivisie (as Fortuna '54) 1956–57 Eerste Divisie (as Sittardia) |
2nd 6th (group B) |
– | 1956–57 | winner ? |
Players
Current squad
- As of 17 January 2023
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
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
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Cape Verde
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Curaçao
- England
- Finland
- Greece
- Moldova
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Slovakia
- Spain
- Sweden
Club staff
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Manager |  Julio Velázquez |
| Assistant Managers |  Rob Alflen Dominik Vergoossen Patrick Creemers |
| Striker's Coach | Frank Demouge |
| Physiotherapist | Jeroen Dieteren Martijn Smeets |
| Team Manager | Danny van der Weerden |
| Club doctor | Robert van Gool |
| Materialman | Ronald Ronken |
| Video Analyst | Tjerk van Eggelen |
Coaches
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Women's football
On January 25, 2022 Fortuna announced they were beginning a women's football department.[12] The club will start in the Dutch women's Eredivisie in season 2022/23.
Current squad
- As of 30 September 2022
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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See also
References
- Fortuna Sittard: geen toekomst, maar een fraaie historie - Voetbal International (in Dutch)
- "Help Fortuna! wint half miljoen bij staatsloterij". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 6 January 2003. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- Vossers, Anna (7 December 2013). "'Geldproblemen Fortuna Sittard voorbij door verkoop stadion'". Elsevier Weekblad (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- "KNVB gaat licentie Fortuna Sittard intrekken". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 19 May 2009. Archived from the original on 22 May 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- "Go Ahead en De Graafschap overtuigend door". NU (in Dutch). 11 May 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- "De Graafschap door in play-offs". NOS (in Dutch). 2 May 2014. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- "Özel Durum Açıklaması (Genel)". KAP (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- "Fortuna Sittard haalt speler 'met vinkje op Twitter' van Galatasaray". Sportnieuws (in Dutch). 4 January 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- "Fortuna Sittard stelt Sunday Oliseh op non-actief". Fortuna Sittard (in Dutch). 14 February 2018. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018.
- Bergen, Dennis van (28 April 2018). "Fortuna Sittard na zestien jaar terug in de eredivisie". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 29 April 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- "Afwikkeling voetbalseizoen 2019/'20 een feit | Eredivisie". Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- "Fortuna Sittard start met vrouwenvoetbal: "Die gaan we benaderen"". Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
External links
