NEC Nijmegen

History

1900–1919: Merger and early years

The oldest remnant of NEC Nijmegen, Eendracht, was formed on 15 November 1900 by three men – August Lodenstijn, Antoon Kuypers and Wouter de Lent – representing the people from the benedenstad (lower town) who, due to their working class status, were not able to play for the major club in the city, Quick 1888.

Due to a lack of funds, Eendracht initially played only friendly matches against teams from other parts of the city until 1903, when the local league in Nijmegen was formed. Eendracht was the first champion and was promoted to Gelderland's regional league, and two years later the club was promoted to the second tier of Dutch football.

Eendracht merged in April 1910 with NVV Nijmegen, a club formed two years earlier by former members of Quick 1888. The new club was given the name Nijmegen Eendracht Combinatie, and played its first match against Amsterdam side DEC, the match ending 0–0.

1920–1939: "Never first-class"

After a series of ground moves in the club's early years, at the beginning of the 1920s, NEC bought land and moved to a ground at Hazenkampseweg. Finally, the club had a permanent home and the club's fanbase began to grow. However, despite a new home and increased membership, on-field success did not follow.

Although NEC won second-tier championships in 1928, 1929, 1931, and 1934, the club did not win promotion after losing consecutive play-off matches. The club was mockingly nicknamed "Nooit eerste classer" (), before being promoted at the fifth attempt in 1936. In 1939, NEC won the first Eastern title and fought for the Dutch title in a playoff competition with four other district champions. NEC came in third place, behind Amsterdam sides Ajax and DWS.

The club moved from Hazenkampseweg in 1942 to the Goffertstadion, located in the Goffertpark on the outskirts of the city, where the club still plays today.

1940–1959: WWII and professional football

During the Second World War, little football was played. After liberation, the club's pre-war success continued and again became the champion of the East in both 1946 and 1947.

Professional football was introduced in the Netherlands in 1954, and came at the wrong time for NEC. The club was not in a good financial state and not as well established as other clubs. When the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) reorganised the league structure in time for the 1956–57 season, NEC found themselves in the lowest semi-professional division, the Tweede Divisie.

1960–1973: Recovery

At the beginning of the 1960s, NEC began to recover from its financial difficulties. A major reason for this was new support from the municipal council who began to see the importance of a professional club like the NEC, and started providing financial support in 1963. The following year, the club was promoted to the second-tier Eerste Divisie again and three years later, reached the top-tier Eredivisie for the first time, finishing tenth in its first season.

The club remained in the top flight for seven seasons in a row, with some games played in front of capacity crowds; season averages of 14,000 spectators were normal. NEC flourished, primarily due to the development of players from their youth setup, including Frans Thijssen and Jan Peters.

1974–2002: Lean years

However, a sharp decline soon followed. NEC could not sustain itself with its only major revenue sources being the sale of players and the large subsidy from the Nijmegen council.

Relegation from the top flight came in 1974, and although NEC returned to the top division the following year, the club was heading in a downward trajectory. During the following years, NEC became renowned as a yo-yo club; in little over a decade, they changed leagues six times: relegation in 1983, promotion in 1985, relegation in 1986, promotion in 1989, relegation in 1991, and finally promotion in 1994.

In 1981, the club was given further support from the municipal council, when NEC's professional and amateur sides separated. This did not prevent the club's bankruptcy in 1987. NEC continued to exist only after 80% of creditors waived their claims.

New chairman Henk van de Water formed a sponsors' club to raise funds which started to gather momentum. By the mid-1990s, NEC was on the way up again. In 1995, the club clung on to a place in the Eredivisie by the skin of their teeth. In 1998, it surprised many with an eighth-place finish. Its financial situation had improved and attendance numbers rose gradually, up to an average of 10,000 spectators.

Cup finals

NEC has reached the final of the KNVB Cup four times. On two occasions NEC were underdogs. Going into the 1973 final, the club was the overwhelming favorite. At Rotterdam's De Kuip against NAC Breda, things went completely wrong for the Nijmegen club, with NAC coming away 2–0 winners, amidst claims of infighting and disagreements with the manager.

In 1983, NEC unexpectedly reached the Cup Final despite having been relegated that season, but fell 3–1 to the league champions Ajax – the third goal being scored by Johan Cruyff in his final game for the club.

In the 1993–94 season, the club surprised many by reaching the final despite playing in the Eerste Divisie, defeating Ajax 2–1 away from home in the semi-final, before losing 2–1 to Feyenoord in the final at De Kuip.

In 2000, the club's centenary year, it reached the final for the fourth time. The match against Roda JC would end in disappointment for the 20,000 fans who made the trip; NEC lost the match 2–0.

NEC in the Cup Winners' Cup

In 1983, during the darkest period of the club's history, the club played a match which many see as a highlight of the club's history: a match played in the European Cup Winners' Cup against Barcelona, while NEC was little more than a mid-table second-tier team.

In the spring, NEC had lost the cup-final against Ajax and were also relegated. Because the Amsterdam-based side had also been crowned champion of the Eredivisie, NEC qualified for UEFA competition while in the second-tier.

In the first round of the Cup Winners' Cup, NEC narrowly defeated Norway's Brann, 2–1 on aggregate. A few days later, the draw was completed for the second round, which pitted the superstars of Barcelona – with both Bernd Schuster and Diego Maradona – against the small Dutch outfit. Both players were injured for the tie, though there was still excitement for the fans at the Goffertstadion – NEC raced into a 2–0 lead after 44 minutes, with goals from Anton Janssen and Michel Mommertz, though the Blaugrana would hit back, winning the game 3–2, and strolled to a 2–0 victory at Camp Nou in the second leg.

2003–2012: NEC in Europe

29 May 2003 marked a historic day for NEC. Following a late strike from Jaromír Šimr against RKC Waalwijk, NEC finished fifth in the Eredivisie. For the first time in the club's history, NEC qualified for the UEFA Cup through their league position. This led to unprecedented scenes with jubilant fans invading the pitch. Similar scenes occurred in the city centre with over 25,000 people celebrating.[[Image:Goffertnijmegen.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Stadion de Goffert|Stadium de Goffert]] in 2008.]] In the 2007–08 Eredivisie season, NEC qualified for European competition again, despite a disappointing first half of the season, when the club found itself in 17th place at the winter break. However, there was a remarkable turnaround. From January, NEC improved their form and finished eighth place in the league. This position secured participation in the UEFA Cup play-offs, which they won, beating Roda JC, Groningen, and NAC Breda. With 31 undefeated matches in a row and with a 6–0 home victory at NAC Breda the highlight of the turnaround, NEC achieved European qualification once again.

The year became even more successful following early rounds of the UEFA Cup. In the first round, the club defeated Dinamo București over two ties. After a 1–0 home win, NEC drew 0–0 in Romania to reach the group stage. They were then drawn against Tottenham Hotspur, Udinese, Spartak Moscow, and Dinamo Zagreb. They started poorly, with defeats to both Dinamo Zagreb and Tottenham Hotspur – meaning they were bottom of the group and almost out of the competition. After a 2–1 victory against Spartak Moscow in Russia with a goal from Lasse Schöne, NEC played their last match in Nijmegen against Udinese. To advance, NEC had to win and hope that other results went their way. Tottenham were trailing at half time, while NEC were being held at 0–0. In the 74th minute, however, Tottenham scored twice to eventually draw 2–2 against Spartak and goals from Collins John and Jhon van Beukering gave NEC a 2–0 victory, and they qualified for the knockout round.

The round of 32 of the UEFA Cup saw NEC drawn against Bundesliga side Hamburger SV. The run ended when the Germans won 3–0 in Nijmegen and 1–0 in Hamburg. NEC supporters were subsequently complimented in Europe by Franz Beckenbauer, who said he had never witnessed such great support from away supporters.

2013–present: Relegations and promotions

At the end of the 2013–14 season, NEC prevented automatic relegation by holding Ajax to a 2–2 draw in Amsterdam on the last matchday with a brace from Alireza Jahanbakhsh. However, in the following relegation play-offs, NEC lost 4–1 on aggregate to Eerste Divisie's 16th placed Sparta Rotterdam and was relegated to the second tier of Dutch football, ending a 20-year run in the top flight.

They bounced back however at the first attempt after beating Sparta 1–0 on 3 April 2015 to clinch the Eerste Divisie title with six games left. On 28 May 2017, NEC faced relegation again after two years in the Eredivisie after losing 5–1 on aggregate against NAC Breda.

They reached the promotion play-offs in both the 2017–18 and 2018–19 seasons, but lost in the semi-finals on both occasions to FC Emmen and RKC Waalwijk. For the 2019–20 season, the club took the unusual step of appointing three head coaches: Adrie Bogers, Rogier Meijer and Francois Gesthuizen – the club finished in eighth place, which would have granted them a place in the play-offs, but due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands, there was no promotion or relegation between Eredivisie and Eerste Divisie.

In May 2021, the club once again achieved promotion to the Eredivisie after beating NAC Breda 2–1 in the final of the promotion/relegation play-offs.

Stadium

The club's current home, Goffertstadion, was opened in 1939 by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. It had been constructed by thousands of the city's unemployed, during a time of compulsory employment. At the time of its completion it was the third highest capacity stadium in the Netherlands, after Ajax's Olympic Stadium and De Kuip in Rotterdam.

The Gofferstadion was a project by the municipal council, but upon completion both local clubs Quick 1888 and NEC refused to play there, as both had their own stadiums and did not want to pay rent for De Goffert. It therefore took until 1942 for the first match to be played, after NEC's home ground was damaged during the Second World War and the club permanently moved to De Goffert in 1945.

In 1992 the club purchased the stadium from the municipal council for the symbolic sum of 1 guilder. The stadium was renovated in the late 1990s, with an increased capacity of 12,500, opening with a friendly match between NEC and RSC Anderlecht, which the home side won 3–1.

On 17 October 2021, the away stand collapsed after a match between NEC and rivals Vitesse. Nobody was seriously injured.

International matches

Goffertstadion has hosted various senior men's international matches.

Kit and colours

Club colours

Upon the merger of NVV and Eendracht, the club played in black shirts with a green and red band across the chest. However the club's traditional shirt is known as the Balkenshirt, consisting of a red shirt with a green chestband with black trim. During the 2000s, other variations of the club's colours were worn, such as a quartered design in 2004–05 and various half-and-half designs. In 2016 NEC's board allowed a controversial fan vote on whether to restore the classic chest band, which passed with a slim majority.

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

Club culture

Rivalries

Vitesse are NEC's archrivals. The two clubs share a long history together and they contest the Gelderse Derby (Derby of Gelderland), a confrontation between the two largest cities of the province of Gelderland, Arnhem and Nijmegen, two cities with major differences in attitude and culture. Since 1813, Arnhem has been the capital of Gelderland and is historically based on finance and trade, perceived as an office city with modern buildings. Nijmegen, on the other hand, is predominantly a workers' city, with middle and high-income groups in the minority.

The two cities are just 24 kilometers apart, resulting in an intense crosstown rivalry. The meeting between the two teams is still considered to be one of the biggest matches of the season.

De Graafschap are also considered a rival, and games between them are known as the Kleine Gelderse Derby (Little Gelderland Derby) but these matches are not as loaded with the tension and rivalry of those with Vitesse.

Mascot

Since 2007, the club's mascot has been Bikkel, a Roman legionary, with a sword and shield, a reference to the Roman history of the city of Nijmegen. The name Bikkel reportedly refers to the nickname given to former player and coach Ron de Groot, who spent his whole career at the club.

Players

First team squad

Out on loan

Youth/reserves squad

Former players

National team players

The following players were called up to represent their national teams in international football and received caps during their tenure with N.E.C.:

;Angola

• Angola Dominique Kivuvu (2006–2010) ;Aruba
• Aruba Gregor Breinburg (2014–2018) ;Australia
• Australia Brett Holman (2006–2008)
• Australia Brad Jones (2016) ;Austria
• Austria Jakob Jantscher (2013–2014) ;Belgium
• Belgium Björn Vleminckx (2009–2011) ;Bonaire
• Bonaire Denyor Cicilia (2023–present) ;Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Bosnia and Herzegovina Dario Đumić (2016–2017) ;Burundi
• Burundi Saidi Ntibazonkiza (2006–2010) ;Curaçao
• Curaçao Suently Alberto (2017–2018)
• Curaçao Rangelo Janga (2020–2021) ;Denmark
• Denmark Kevin Conboy (2011–2015)
• Denmark John Frandsen (1973–1975)
• Denmark Dennis Rommedahl (2008–2009)
• Denmark Lasse Schöne (2008–2012; 2021–present)
• Denmark Niki Zimling (2010–2011) ;DR Congo
• DR Congo Jonathan Okita (2018–2022) ;Finland
• Finland Antti Sumiala (1995–1997) ; Guinea
• Guinea Mikael Dyrestam (2016–2017) ;Hungary
• Hungary Gábor Babos (2005–2013)
• Hungary Krisztián Vadócz (2007–2008; 2011–2012) ;Iceland
• Iceland Hannes Þór Halldórsson (2015–2016)
• Iceland Victor Pálsson (2013–2014) ;Indonesia
• Indonesia Calvin Verdonk (2022–2025)
• Indonesia Maarten Paes (2016–2018)
• Indonesia Ole Romeny (2018–2022)
• Indonesia Ragnar Oratmangoen (2017–2019)
• Indonesia Dion Markx (2023–2024) ;Iran
• Iran Alireza Jahanbakhsh (2013–2015) ;Japan
• Japan Koki Ogawa (2023–present) ;Luxembourg
• Luxembourg Yvandro Borges Sanches (2024) ;Morocco
• Morocco Youssef El Akchaoui (2006–2010)
• Morocco Souffian El Karouani (2019–2023) ;Netherlands
• Netherlands Jasper Cillessen (2010–2011; 2022–2024)
• Netherlands Romano Denneboom (2004–2007)
• Netherlands Theo de Jong (1971–1972)
• Netherlands Wim Lakenberg (1936–1948)
• Netherlands Pauke Meijers (1950–1954; 1962–1967)
• Netherlands Jan Peters (1971–1977; 1986–1988) ;North Macedonia
• Macedonia Georgi Hristov (2000–2003)
• Macedonia Dževdet Šainovski (1997–1999) ;Paraguay
• Paraguay Édgar Barreto (2004–2007; 2020–2022) ;Poland
• Poland Andrzej Niedzielan (2004–2007) ;Sint Maarten
• Sint Maarten Sergio Hughes (2019–2022) ;Slovakia
• Slovakia Samuel Štefánik (2013–2014) ;Sweden
• Sweden Jordan Larsson (2017–2018)
• Sweden Jonas Olsson (2005–2008) ;Venezuela
• Venezuela Christian Santos (2014–2016)
• Players in bold actively play for N.E.C. and for their respective national teams. Years in brackets indicate career span with N.E.C.

National team players by Confederation

Member associations are listed in order of most to least amount of current and former N.E.C. players represented Internationally

Players in international tournaments

The following is a list of N.E.C. players who have competed in international tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship, AFC Asian Cup, Africa Cup of Nations and the Copa América. To this date no N.E.C. players have participated in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, or the OFC Nations Cup while playing for NEC Nijmegen.

Staff

Former coaches

Source.

• Hungary Ferenz György (1923–24)
• England Smith (1929–30)
• Germany Claus Uber (1931–32)
• Austria Richard Longin (1932–33)
• Netherlands Fons Lodenstijn (1933–36)
• Netherlands Coen Delsen (1936–37)
• Netherlands Bertus Schoester (1937–39)
• England Bill Julian (1939–40)
• Netherlands Bertus Schoester (1940–42)
• England George Charlton (1947–49)
• Netherlands Jan Bijl (1949–54)
• Netherlands Coen Delsen (1954–56)
• Germany Ferdi Silz (1956–57)
• Netherlands Rein ter Horst (1957–58)
• Netherlands Fons Lodenstijn (interim) (1958)
• Netherlands Wim Groenendijk (1958–60)
• Netherlands Joop de Busser (1960–61)
• Netherlands Jan Remmers (1961–70)
• Netherlands Wiel Coerver (1 July 1970 – 30 June 1973)
• Netherlands Meg de Jong (1973–74)
• Netherlands Piet de Visser (1 July 1974 – 30 June 1976)
• Netherlands Hans Croon (1976–78)
• Netherlands Leen Looijen (1978–81)
• Netherlands Pim van de Meent (1 July 1981 – 30 June 1985)
• Hungary Sandor Popovics (1985–87)
• Netherlands Leen Looijen (1987–91)
• Netherlands Jan Pruijn (1 July 1991 – 30 June 1993)
• Netherlands Cees van Kooten (1 July 1994 – 8 December 1995)
• Netherlands Wim Koevermans (8 December 1995 – 3 March 1997)
• Netherlands Leen Looijen (interim) (3 March 1997 – 30 June 1997)
• Scotland Jimmy Calderwood (1 July 1997 – 29 December 1999)
• Netherlands Ron de Groot (interim) (29 December 1999 – 30 June 2000)
• Netherlands Johan Neeskens (1 July 2000 – 13 December 2004)
• Netherlands Cees Lok (13 December 2004 – 19 December 2005)
• Netherlands Ron de Groot (interim) (19 December 2005 – 30 June 2006)
• Netherlands Mario Been (1 July 2006 – 30 June 2009)
• Netherlands Dwight Lodeweges (1 July 2009 – 27 October 2009)
• Netherlands Wim Rip & Netherlands Wilfried Brookhuis (interim) (27 October 2009 – 16 November 2009)
• Netherlands Wiljan Vloet (16 November 2009 – 30 June 2011)
• Netherlands Alex Pastoor (1 July 2011 – 19 August 2013)
• Netherlands Ron de Groot & Netherlands Wilfried Brookhuis (interim) (19 August 2013 – 27 August 2013)
• Netherlands Anton Janssen (27 August 2013 – 22 May 2014)
• Netherlands Ruud Brood (1 July 2014 – 27 May 2015)
• Netherlands Ernest Faber (1 July 2015 – 30 June 2016)
• Germany Peter Hyballa (1 July 2016 – 24 April 2017)
• Netherlands Ron de Groot (interim) (25 April 2017 – 30 June 2017)
• Netherlands Adrie Bogers (1 July 2017 – 1 January 2018)
• Netherlands Pepijn Lijnders (2 January 2018 – 17 May 2018)
• Netherlands Jack de Gier (1 July 2018 – 2 April 2019)
• Netherlands Ron de Groot, Netherlands Adrie Bogers & Netherlands Rogier Meijer (interim) (3 April 2019 – 2 June 2019)
• Netherlands Rogier Meijer (3 June 2020 –1 July 2025)
• Netherlands Dick Schreuder (1 July 2025 –present)

Honours

• Eerste Divisie
  • Winners: 1974–75, 2014–15
  • Promoted: 1966–67, 1984–85, 1988–89, 1993–94, 2020–21
• Tweede Divisie
  • Winners: 1963–64
• KNVB Cup
  • Runners-up: 1972–73, 1982–83, 1993–94, 1999–2000, 2023–24

Results

ImageSize = width:800 height:60 PlotArea = left:10 right:10 bottom:30 top:10 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1990 till:01/01/2025 ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:1 start:1990 Colors = id:bl1 value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0.3) id:bl2 value:rgb(0.5,0.8,0.5) id:rs value:rgb(0.8,0.6,0.6) id:rn value:rgb(0.9,0.1,0.1)

PlotData= bar:Position width:15 color:white align:center

from:01/01/1990 till:01/01/1991 shift:(0,-4) text:18 from:01/01/1991 till:01/01/1992 shift:(0,-4) text:8 from:01/01/1992 till:01/01/1993 shift:(0,-4) text:4 from:01/01/1993 till:01/01/1994 shift:(0,-4) text:2 from:01/01/1994 till:01/01/1995 shift:(0,-4) text:15 from:01/01/1995 till:01/01/1996 shift:(0,-4) text:17 from:01/01/1996 till:01/01/1997 shift:(0,-4) text:17 from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/1998 shift:(0,-4) text:8 from:01/01/1998 till:01/01/1999 shift:(0,-4) text:11 from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2000 shift:(0,-4) text:15 from:01/01/2000 till:01/01/2001 shift:(0,-4) text:12 from:01/01/2001 till:01/01/2002 shift:(0,-4) text:9 from:01/01/2002 till:01/01/2003 shift:(0,-4) text:5 from:01/01/2003 till:01/01/2004 shift:(0,-4) text:14 from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2005 shift:(0,-4) text:13 from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2006 shift:(0,-4) text:10 from:01/01/2006 till:01/01/2007 shift:(0,-4) text:10 from:01/01/2007 till:01/01/2008 shift:(0,-4) text:8 from:01/01/2008 till:01/01/2009 shift:(0,-4) text:11 from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2010 shift:(0,-4) text:13 from:01/01/2010 till:01/01/2011 shift:(0,-4) text:11 from:01/01/2011 till:01/01/2012 shift:(0,-4) text:8 from:01/01/2012 till:01/01/2013 shift:(0,-4) text:15 from:01/01/2013 till:01/01/2014 shift:(0,-4) text:17 from:01/01/2014 till:01/01/2015 shift:(0,-4) text:1 from:01/01/2015 till:01/01/2016 shift:(0,-4) text:10 from:01/01/2016 till:01/01/2017 shift:(0,-4) text:16 from:01/01/2017 till:01/01/2018 shift:(0,-4) text:3 from:01/01/2018 till:01/01/2019 shift:(0,-4) text:9 from:01/01/2019 till:01/01/2020 shift:(0,-4) text:8 from:01/01/2020 till:01/01/2021 shift:(0,-4) text:7 from:01/01/2021 till:01/01/2022 shift:(0,-4) text:11 from:01/01/2022 till:01/01/2023 shift:(0,-4) text:12 from:01/01/2023 till:01/01/2024 shift:(0,-4) text:6 from:01/01/2024 till:01/01/2025 shift:(0,-4) text:8

from:01/01/1990 till:01/01/1991 color:bl2 shift:(0,13) text: "Eredivisie" from:01/01/1991 till:01/01/1994 color:bl1 shift:(0,13) text: "Eerste Divisie" from:01/01/1994 till:01/01/2014 color:bl2 shift:(0,13) text: "Eredivisie" from:01/01/2014 till:01/01/2015 color:bl1 shift:(0,13) text: "Eerste Divisie" from:01/01/2015 till:01/01/2017 color:bl2 shift:(0,13) text: "Eredivisie" from:01/01/2017 till:01/01/2021 color:bl1 shift:(0,13) text: "Eerste Divisie" from:01/01/2021 till:01/01/2025 color:bl2 shift:(0,13) text: "Eredivisie"

Below is a table with NEC's domestic results since the introduction of professional football in 1955.

NEC in European competition

Main article: NEC Nijmegen in European football

Records and statistics

Attendance

• Record attendance: 22,000 v Ajax, Eredivisie, 6 May 1990
• Highest season average attendance: 12,379, 2009–10

Transfers

• Biggest Transfer fee paid: €1.75 million to KV Mechelen for Björn Vleminckx, 2009
• Biggest Transfer fee received: €10.5 million from Sunderland for Robin Roefs, 2025

Team records

• Biggest victory: 7–0 v FC Den Bosch, 3 November 1973
• Biggest defeat: 1–9 v Ajax, 5 November 1967
• Highest league finish: 5th, 2002–03
• Most wins in a season: 15, 1971–72
• Most goals scored in a season: 100, 2014–15
• Fewest goals conceded in a season: 36, 1970–71

Individual records

• Most appearances: Sije Visser, 490
• Most goals: Frans Janssen, 126
• Most goals in a season: 23, Björn Vleminckx, 2010–11
• Most goals in a game: 4, Björn Vleminckx, NEC Nijmegen 5–0 Roda JC, 1 May 2011
• Most assists in a game: 4, Jeffrey Sarpong, NEC Nijmegen 4–2 NAC Breda, 12 February 2010
• Youngest goalscorer: Ferdi Kadioglu, 17 years, 23 days, 30 October 2016

References

References

1. "1900–1910".
2. (21 February 2018). "Historie".
3. "Synergy – N.E.C. Nijmegen, a story about a historious rich club".
4. "Historie".
5. "N.E.C. Nijmegen – Historie Betaald Voetbal".
6. "History at official N.E.C. website". N.E.C.].
7. "Goffertstadion – NEC – Nijmegen – The Stadium Guide".
8. (26 July 2008). "Uit de oude doos: NEC-Barcelona (1983)".
9. (18 May 2008). "NEC Europa in na tweede winst op NAC". Trouw.
10. Bandini, Nicky. (27 November 2008). "Uefa Cup: NEC Nijmegen v Tottenham – as it happened". The Guardian.
11. (17 March 2009). "Franz Beckenbauer about great ambiance N.E.C. Supporters". De Trouwe Honden.
12. (5 August 2014). "NEC face play-off, Roda relegated". FIFA.com.
13. (12 May 2014). "NEC vreest toekomst na degradatie". nos.nl.
14. [http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1448/NEC/article/detail/3944338/2015/04/03/NEC-in-een-jaar-van-hel-naar-hemel.dhtml NEC in één jaar van hel naar hemel] {{Webarchive. link. (4 March 2016  – AD {{in lang). nl
15. (23 May 2021). "NEC dompelt NAC in rouw en keert terug in de eredivisie". Algemeen Dagblad.
16. "Goffertstadion – NEC – Nijmegen – The Stadium Guide".
17. "Stand buckles as Vitesse fans celebrate". BBC Sport.
18. "Traditionele balkenshirt terug bij NEC".
19. (7 April 2016). "NEC volgend seizoen in De Goffert weer in balkenshirt".
20. (6 November 2004). "Arnhem en Nijmegen, droomduo". Trouw.
21. (2 April 2017). "Gelderse derby: drie spektakelstukken van deze eeuw". Elfvoetbal.nl.
22. (22 March 2018). "Gelderse derby onder hoogspanning: NEC ontvangt De Graafschap". Elfvoetbal.nl.
23. (12 February 2018). "Selectie N.E.C. Nijmegen". www.nec-nijmegen.nl.
24. "Managers". N.E.C. Nijmegen.
25. Ornstein, David. (30 July 2025). "Sunderland reach €10.5m agreement to sign goalkeeper Robin Roefs from NEC Nijmegen".