1998–99 Willem II season

Season summary

Managed by Co Adriaanse, Willem II finished in fifth place in the 1997–98 Eredivisie, thereby securing qualification for the 1998–99 UEFA Cup. In the UEFA Cup's first round the club knocked out Georgian side Dinamo Tbilisi with two 3–0 wins. Willem II exited the competition in the second round, following a 1–1 draw and a 3–0 defeat against Spanish club Real Betis. In the 1998–99 KNVB Cup Willem II were knocked out in the first round by FC Zwolle with Geoffrey Prommayon scoring an own-goal in a game that finished 2–0.

Willem II achieved second place in the Eredivisie, the club's best placement to date, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in the club's history. Argentina forward Mariano Bombarda was one of the most important players during the season, scoring 17 goals. At the winter break, Willem II was in 11th place. Thanks to a very successful run in the second half of the season, with only one defeat on the final day of the season against FC Twente, the club climbed to second place.

Willem II sold 10,000 season tickets for the season and drew a total of 204,780 spectators.

In May 1999, it was chosen as club of the season by the VVCS, the trade union of professional footballers in the Netherlands.

First-team squad

Transfers

Out

• Bert Konterman - Feyenoord
• Joonas Kolkka - PSV Eindhoven

Competitions

Eredivisie

Main article: 1998–99 Eredivisie

League table

KNVB Cup

Main article: 1998–99 KNVB Cup

Results

Prommayon

UEFA Cup

Main article: 1998–99 UEFA Cup

Results

Arts Schenning Ceesay Ramzi Benjamín Fernando

References

References

1. "Willem II 0-2 PEC Zwolle".
2. (18 May 2022). "Dit waren de beste seizoenen van Willem II in de Eredivisie". Elf Voetbal.
3. (23 June 2017). "Tilburg voelt als thuis voor nomade Bombarda". Brabants Dagblad.
4. "1997-1999: Weer Europa in".
5. (12 May 1998). "Bert Konterman verruilt Willem II voor Feyenoord". Trouw.
6. (16 February 1998). "Joonas Kolkan uudeksi seuraksi PSV Eindhoven". Helsingin Sanomat.