VBV De Graafschap () is a professional football club from Doetinchem, Netherlands, playing in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of

Dutch football Football is the most popular sport in the Netherlands. Football was introduced to the Netherlands by Pim Mulier in the 19th century when in 1879, at the age of 14, he founded Haarlemsche Football Club. Over the next 30 years, football gained ...

. It was formed on 1 February 1954 and they play their home games at the De Vijverberg stadium. The stadium was opened on 12 August 2000 and stands on the site of the club's old pitch. The club name is Dutch for "The County". They are nicknamed ''Superboeren'' ("Super Farmers"). While not a large club by European club football standards, the club has remained a semi-permanent fixture in the Eredivisie (top league); although to date it has never won any silverware of importance. It also has a large stadium and a large fan base when compared to many other Dutch teams, particularly those in the Eerste Divisie. They had a fierce rivalry with

Vitesse Arnhem Vitesse may refer to: * Vitesse Models, a diecast model car company * Vitesse (band), Dutch rock band * Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, a car * Rover 216 Vitesse, a car * Rover 3500 Vitesse, a car * Rover 800 Vitesse, a car * Triumph Vit ...

, but during the years due several circumstances Go Ahead Eagles began to be a rival as well. The club's colors are blue and white hooped shirts with white shorts and blue socks. The club's major sponsors are Pincvision and . De Graafschap's home base, De Vijverberg has been voted as the most atmospheric stadium in the Eredivisie for the 2018–19 campaign.

History

De Graafschap had their longest streak in the Dutch top tier from 1995 until 2003. In the 1995–96 season De Graafschap finished in 8th place, an all-time high. After this season results went down and in 2003 the club was relegated after finishing in last place (18th). Since 2003, De Graafschap was relegated four times and gained promotion five times. They were crowned champions of the Eerste Divisie in 2007 and 2010, and won the promotion playoffs in 2004 and 2015. De Graafschap never finished last in the Eredivisie since 2003 but lost relegation playoffs after finishing in 17th place in 2005, 2009 and 2012. In the 2015-16 Eredivisie season De Graafschap were once again relegated through playoffs after finishing 17th but not before drawing 1–1 against

AFC Ajax Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax (), also known as AFC Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam, or simply Ajax, is a Dutch professional football club based in Amsterdam, that plays in the , the top tier in Dutch football. Historically, Ajax (named after the l ...

on the final day of the season, denying Ajax the championship. In 2018, the club gained promotion again by winning the promotion playoffs, beating

Almere City FC Almere City Football Club is a Dutch professional football club based in Almere, Flevoland. Founded in 2001, plays in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of Dutch football, and hosts home matches at the Yanmar Stadion. The club builds on forme ...

in the playoffs finals. They were relegated in 2019, and the next season ended in further heartbreak on April 24, 2020 as they were denied a possible promotion back to the top flight due to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the Eredivisie to declare their season void with no promotion or relegation. Late in the 2020–21 season, De Graafschap were in control of their promotion hopes, only needing one win in their final two games to secure promotion. However, they were held to a 1-1 draw, followed by a goalless draw versus

Helmond Sport Helmond Sport is a professional association football club based in the city of Helmond, North Brabant, Netherlands, that competes in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of the Dutch football league system. The club was founded on 27 June 1967, a ...

, denying them an automatic promotion spot and forcing them to go through the promotion playoffs. De Graafschap crashed out of the playoffs in the first round after a 3-2 home loss to Roda JC, thus meaning that they would remain in the Eerste Divisie.

Honours

* Eerste Divisie ** Winner: 1991, 2007, 2010 * Tweede Divisie ** Winner: 1969 * Promoted to Eredivisie ** Promotion: 1973, 1981, 1995, 2004, 2015, 2018 * Promoted to Eerste Divisie ** Promotion: 1966

Results

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

Players

Current squad

Out on loan

Notable former players

The players below had senior international cap(s) for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed represented their countries while playing for De Graafschap. *

Jason Čulina Jason Culina (born 5 August 1980) is a former Australian soccer player and coach. Club career Culina began his career with Sydney United under his father, Branko Culina, before moving to Ajax, where he struggled in the reserves. Only after ...

* Mamadou Zongo * Will Johnson * Yannick Salem *

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Hans Aabech Hans Vilhelm Aabech (1 November 1948 – 8 January 2018) was a Danish football player. He played for a number of clubs, including Hvidovre IF, Kjøbenhavns Boldklub and Lyngby Boldklub in Denmark, Club Brugge and K.V. Oostende in Belgium, and Dut ...

Lasse Schöne Lasse Schöne (; born 27 May 1986) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or winger for Eredivisie club NEC and the Denmark national team. He is known for his set piece abilities. Schöne spent his entire professional ...

* Hazem Emam *

Jussi Kujala Jussi Kujala (born 4 April 1983 in Tampere) is a Finnish former footballer. Having started his career as an attacking midfielder, he has since dropped deeper down the field. He was the captain of the Finnish U21 national team in the 2006 UEFA Eu ...

* Niklas Tarvajärvi * Ville Väisänen *

Ali Ibrahim Pelé Ali Ibrahim (born 1 September 1969), known as Ali Ibrahim Pelé, is a former Ghanaian footballer. He played mainly as a striker, but also appeared as a midfielder. Club career Ibrahim started his football career at hometown club Great Olympics ...

Loïc Loval Loïc Loval Landré (born 28 September 1981) is a former professional footballer who played as a striker. He spent most of his career in the Netherlands for De Graafschap, Go Ahead Eagles and FC Utrecht. Born in mainland France, he was an intern ...

Arnar Viðarsson Arnar Þór Viðarsson (transliterated as Arnar Thor Vidarsson; born 15 March 1978) is an Icelandic football coach and a former player, his playing position was midfielder. He last played for Belgian Pro League side Cercle Brugge, where he was ...

* Jhon van Beukering *

Ben Sahar Ben Sahar ( he, בן שׂהר, changed the Hebrew spelling of his surname from ; born 10 August 1989) is an Israeli professional footballer who plays as a striker for Maccabi Haifa and the Israel national team. At 16, Sahar was the equivalent ...

Gil Vermouth Gil Vermouth ( he, גיל "גילי" ורמוט; born August 5, 1985) is an Israeli former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder or winger. Club career Vermouth is Jewish, and was born in Kiryat Yam, Israel. Vermouth s ...

Ģirts Karlsons Ģirts Karlsons (born 7 June 1981) is a Latvian football forward, who most recently played for the Latvian Higher League club FK Liepāja. Club career As a youth player Karlsons played for his local club FK Liepājas Metalurgs, being taken to ...

Dulee Johnson Dulee Johnson (born 7 November 1984) is a Liberian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder and striker. He is best remembered for his time with AIK with which he won the 2009 Allsvenskan and 2009 Svenska Cupen. A full inter ...

* Xhelil Abdulla * Bakary Diakité *

Oussama Assaidi Oussama Assaidi ( Riffian-Berber: ⵓⵙⴰⵎⴰ ⴰⵙⴰⵄⵉⴷⵉ; born 15 August 1988) is a retired Moroccan footballer who played as a winger. Assaidi began his career in the Netherlands with AZ. After failing to earn a contract with ...

* Youssef El Jebli *

Ernie Brandts Ernstus "Ernie" Wilhelmus Johannes Brandts (born 3 February 1956) is a Dutch football manager and former player. Playing career Club Born in Didam, he played for local club De Sprinkhanen before joining De Graafschap at 17. After three seasons h ...

John van den Brom Joseph Anthonius ''John ''van den Brom (born 4 October 1966) is a Dutch former professional footballer and the current manager of Ekstraklasa side Lech Poznań. As a player, he played for Vitesse, Ajax, De Graafschap and Istanbulspor. After h ...

Jean-Paul van Gastel Jacobus Johannes Martinus Paulus "Jean-Paul" van Gastel (; born 28 April 1972 in Breda, North Brabant) is a retired football midfielder from the Netherlands, who obtained five caps for the Dutch national team, scoring twice. Currently, he is th ...

* Klaas-Jan Huntelaar *

Luuk de Jong Luuk de Jong (; born 27 August 1990) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a striker for Eredivisie club PSV Eindhoven and the Netherlands national team. De Jong previously played for DZC '68, De Graafschap, Twente, Borussia Mönc ...

Jurrie Koolhof Jurjen Jacob (Jurrie) Koolhof (10 January 1960 – 28 January 2019) was a Dutch international football striker and manager. As a player, Koolhof had a long and productive career, with 190 league goals. He played for a number of clubs in the Ne ...

* Kees Krijgh *

Martijn Meerdink Martijn Meerdink (born 15 September 1976) is a Dutch former professional footballer who most notably played for AZ Alkmaar as a winger and was capped for the Netherlands. In January 2007, he moved from AZ to FC Groningen in a transfer worth £ ...

Peter van Vossen Peter Jacobus van Vossen (; born 21 April 1968) is a Dutch former professional football player and manager. Club career Van Vossen was born in Zierikzee. As a footballer, he played for Beveren, Anderlecht, Ajax, Istanbulspor, Rangers, Feyenoord ...

Dick Schoenaker Dirk "Dick" Hendrikus Schoenaker (born 30 November 1952) is a retired Dutch football midfielder, who represented the Netherlands at the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina, wearing the number three jersey. Career His football-career started at Wage ...

Sonny Silooy Jan Jacobus "Sonny" Silooy (born 31 August 1963) is a Dutch former professional footballer and football manager. His last team as a manager was United Arab Emirates club Al Shabab under 19. His most successful time as a player was in his period ...

Erik ten Hag Erik ten Hag (, born 2 February 1970) is a Dutch professional football coach and former player, who is currently the manager of Premier League club Manchester United. As a player, Ten Hag played as a centre-back in the Dutch league for 13 years ...

* Hans Kraay Jr. *

Wasiu Taiwo Wasiu Taiwo (born 1 October 1976 in Lagos) is a Nigerian retired footballer who last played for Shooting Stars S.C. Club career Taiwo played football in the Netherlands for 10 years and after that he played in Austria for one year. He began hi ...

Tomasz Rząsa Tomasz Mariusz Rząsa (; born 11 March 1973) is a Polish former professional footballer who primarily played as a left back and sometimes as a left midfielder. Club career During his career, Rząsa represented Cracovia and Sokół Pniewy ( pl) ( ...

* Stephan Keller

Coaching staff

Former coaches

* Leendert IJssennagger (1954–55) * Heinz Huber (1955) * Jan Poulus (1955–59) * Wim Engel (1959) * Eric Jones (1960–62) * Evert Teunissen (1962–67) * Ad Zonderland (1967–71) *

Bert van Lingen Lubertus Hendricus "Bert" van Lingen (28 December 1945) is a Dutch professional football coach who enjoyed two spells in charge of the Netherlands women's national football team. He later became an acolyte of Dick Advocaat, accompanying the sel ...

(1971) * Piet de Visser (1971–74) * Evert Teunissen (1974–76) * Ben Polak ''(interim)'' (1976) * Hans Dorjee (1976–77) * Henk Ellens (1977–78) *

Pim van de Meent Pim van de Meent (20 November 1937 – 13 October 2022) was a Dutch football manager and player who played as a defender. Playing career Van de Meent was born in Amsterdam, North Holland on 20 November 1937. He played for Holland Sport, DOS, V ...

(1978–80) * Huib Ruijgrok (1980–83) * Sandor Popovics (1983–85) *

Henk van Brussel Henk van Brussel (; 12 June 1936 – 7 October 2007) was a football player and manager from the Netherlands. Playing career Club Van Brussel played for local side Excelsior '31 and was part of the Go Ahead squad that won promotion to the ...

(1985–87) * Pim Verbeek (1987–89) * Ben Zweers (1989) * Simon Kistemaker (1989–93) *

Jan Versleijen Johannes Martinus Maria Versleijen (born 29 December 1955), better known as Jan Versleijen, is a Dutch professional association football coach who last managed South African PSL side Ajax Cape Town. Career Born in Venlo, Versleijen has managed a ...

(1993–94) *

Frans Körver Frans Körver (born 31 July 1937) is a Dutch former professional football player and manager. Career During the 1980s and 1990s, Körver guided five Dutch league teams to six promotions from the Eerste Divisie The Eerste Divisie (, en, Fir ...

(1994–95) * Hans van Doorneveld (1995) * Fritz Korbach (1995–98) * Frans Thijssen (1999) * Rob McDonald (1999–00) *

''(interim)'' (2000) * Gerard Marsman (2000–01) *

(2001–02) * Peter Bosz (2002–03) *

Frans Adelaar Frans Adelaar (born 5 December 1960) is a Dutch football manager and former professional player. He most recently was manager of Dutch top amateur side IJsselmeervogels. Career Club career Adelaar played professional football for FC Utrecht a ...

(2003–04) * Gert Kruys (2004–05) * Andries Ulderink ''(interim)'' (2005) *

Jan de Jonge Jan de Jonge (born 8 May 1963 in Emmen, Drenthe) is a retired football striker and is currently working as the manager of De Treffers. As a player, he served three clubs in the Netherlands: FC Groningen, SC Heerenveen and FC Emmen. Managerial ...

(2005–08) *

Henk van Stee Henk van Stee (, born 17 December 1961 in Rotterdam, South Holland) is a former football midfielder from the Netherlands, who played for Sparta Rotterdam and De Graafschap. He retired in 1990, and became a football manager, who worked for Sparta ...

(2008–09) * Darije Kalezić (2009–11) * Andries Ulderink (2011–12) * Richard Roelofsen ''(interim)'' (2012) *

Pieter Huistra Pieter Egge Huistra (born 18 January 1967) is a Dutch football coach and former winger. Huistra played for the Scottish Premier Division club Rangers from 1990 to 1995. He left there to play for Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the J. League. In 2001, he b ...

(2012–13) * Jan Vreman ''(interim)'' (2013–14) *

Jimmy Calderwood James Calderwood (born 28 February 1955) is a Scottish former football player and manager. Calderwood played for Birmingham City and Dutch clubs Sparta Rotterdam, Willem II Tilburg, Roda JC and Heracles Almelo. After retiring as a player, Calderw ...

(2014) * Jan Vreman (2014–16) * Henk de Jong (2017–2019) *

Mike Snoei Mike Snoei (born 4 December 1963) is a former Dutch football player and manager. He is currently in charge of Eerste Divisie side Telstar. During his playing days, Snoei played for Excelsior and Sparta Rotterdam in the Eredivisie and Eerste Divi ...

(2019–now)

References

External links

*
Fansite ''Superboeren''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Graafschap Football clubs in the Netherlands Football clubs in Doetinchem Association football clubs established in 1954 1954 establishments in the Netherlands