VVV-Venlo

History

Foundation and first decades (1903–1952)

VVV originated from the association football club De Gouden Leeuw, which was founded by a group of friends in Venlo at the end of the nineteenth century. A few more name changes would occur, and the team was also known as Valuas for some time. Eventually, it was decided on 7 February 1903 to change the name to Venlose Voetbal Vereniging (VVV), the current name of the club. VVV wrote itself into the history books as one of the oldest clubs in Dutch professional football. In 1909, the clubs VITOS and THOR merged and became part of VVV. Quick followed in 1910.

During the first years of its existence, VVV could not enter the highest league of Dutch football. This was due to the fact that before the 1911–12 season, there was no first-tier Eerste Klasse in the southern Netherlands, but only Eastern and a Western Eerste Klasse. From the 1912–13 season, the South also competed in its own Eerste Klasse. VVV has been part of this since its introduction into Dutch football, with varying degrees of success. After the 1921–22 season, the club suffered relegation to the second-tier Tweede Klasse. Afterwards, the team played for some time in the Tweede Klasse, in which they won the championship during several seasons. They, however, failed to reach promotion to the Eerste Klasse again afterwards. After the end of World War II, the number of Eerste Klasse teams was expanded, which also included VVV. From 1948 to 1952, the club achieved fourth-place finishes in the Eerste Klasse.

Return to the Eredivisie (2006–2013)

VVV returned to the Eredivisie, the highest league in the Netherlands, by defeating RKC Waalwijk (3–0) in the promotion/relegation play-offs in the 2006–07 season. After one season in the Eredivisie, VVV-Venlo were relegated back to the Eerste Divisie. After a single season, VVV-Venlo won the 2008–09 Eerste Divisie title and returned to the Eredivisie.

In the 2009–10 season, the team booked its best league result since 1988 after finishing 12th in the Eredivisie. Another remarkable event was the transfer of star player Keisuke Honda to CSKA Moscow. They also signed toddler Baerke van der Meij on a symbolic ten-year contract, after a video featuring him scoring a hat trick into a toy box became popular. Honda was replaced by Gonzalo and the club signed Japanese player Maya Yoshida. The departure of Honda turned out to be a key point in the club's season. In the second half of the season, the team was not able to win matches and barely escaped from relegation.

At the end of the season, key players Ruben Schaken and Adil Auassar both signed with Feyenoord on a free transfer. Gonzalo returned to his employer Groningen, while Sandro Calabro signed with Swiss side St. Gallen. The club contracted Ruud Boymans and the Nigerian Ahmed Musa to strengthen the squad for the 2010–11 season. They avoided relegation, but it was a harsh season in which Jan van Dijk was fired and former international Patrick Paauwe terminated his contract after losing the competition from his competitors.

Belgian manager Glen De Boeck was signed for the next season, but failed to improve the results. As a result of that, he resigned in December 2011. Ton Lokhoff was recruited as the new manager and succeeded in avoiding relegation by winning the post-season play-offs. However, in the 2012–13 season, the club was relegated after losing the promotion/relegation play-offs against Go Ahead Eagles. The club finished fifth in its first Eerste Divisie season since its promotion in 2009. But again, the club bounced back and returned to the Eredivisie in 2017, after clinching promotion by defeating RKC Waalwijk. The club finished 15th and secured survival without the need for play-offs. In the following 2018–19 season, VVV improved its league position, finishing 12th.

Resurgence, relegation and financial restructuring (2017–present)

In the summer of 2019, head coach Maurice Steijn left the club after five years in charge to take up a position in the United Arab Emirates. He was replaced by Robert Maaskant, whose tenure proved short-lived; after seven consecutive league defeats, he was dismissed in November 2019. Former player Jay Driessen served as interim head coach until the winter break, after which Hans de Koning was appointed on 1 January 2020. De Koning managed to lift VVV out of the relegation zone, ensuring the club's continued presence in the Eredivisie for the 2020–21 season.

During De Koning's tenure, VVV suffered a record-breaking 13–0 away defeat to Ajax on matchday six of the 2020–21 season, the heaviest loss in Eredivisie history. Following a run of seven consecutive defeats, De Koning was dismissed and replaced by Jos Luhukay on 17 March 2021. Luhukay was unable to prevent relegation, which was confirmed after a 3–1 away loss to Ajax on 13 May 2021. Despite relegation, the season included several notable achievements. Greek striker Giorgos Giakoumakis scored 26 league goals, becoming the first player in the club's history to finish as Eredivisie top goalscorer. VVV also reached the semi-finals of the 2020–21 KNVB Cup, their best cup performance since 1988.

Following relegation, VVV struggled to re-establish themselves in the Eerste Divisie. Although the club qualified for the promotion play-offs in 2023, they were eliminated in the semi-finals after a penalty shoot-out defeat to eventual promotees Almere City. Shortly thereafter, it emerged that the club was facing significant financial difficulties, leading to a scaling back of sporting ambitions and delaying plans for a swift return to the top flight. In August 2023, VVV initiated a WHOA (Dutch Act on Court Confirmation of Extrajudicial Restructuring Plans) procedure in an effort to restructure its debts and ensure financial continuity. On 1 February 2024, the District Court of Limburg approved the restructuring plan and the associated creditor agreement. The ruling relieved the club of a substantial portion of its outstanding debt, safeguarding its future.

Japanese players

Since Keisuke Honda transferred from Nagoya Grampus in 2008, a slew of Japanese players have played at VVV-Venlo, including Maya Yoshida, Robert Cullen and Yuki Otsu. Sef Vergoossen, a legendary manager of the club, and Japanese agent Tetsuro Kiyooka were a bridge between the Japanese players and the club.

Community support

The official club mascot since 1 July 2004 is a dog named "Koelie" ().

The Jan Klaassens Museum, set up in 2003 is located in the city center of Venlo and is operated by the Limburgs Museum. Since 2005, VVV has annually presented the Jan Klaassens Award to the greatest talent from its own youth academy.

The Herman Teeuwen Memorial, named after the club icon who died suddenly in 2003, since 2004 has been organised by the club, usually with well-known foreign clubs participating on an invitational basis.

VVV announced in July 2015 that they would be retiring the number 28 shirt in memory of youth player Beau Vilters, who had previously worn that number but was killed in a traffic accident on 14 June 2015, at the age of 18.

In April 2011, after a viral video of a local toddler, Baerke van der Meij, grandson of VVV player Jan van der Meij, showing him scoring a hat trick into his toy box, the club gave the 18-month-old an honorary contract.

Stadium

VVV-Venlo currently play at De Koel in Venlo. The stadium holds 8,000 people and was built in 1972. It is named after its main sponsor, hence its current name, Covebo Stadion De Koel.

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

from:01/01/1990 till:01/01/1991 color:bl1 shift:(0,13) text: from:01/01/1991 till:01/01/1992 color:bl2 shift:(0,13) text: from:01/01/1992 till:01/01/1993 color:bl1 shift:(0,13) text: from:01/01/1993 till:01/01/1994 color:bl2 shift:(0,13) text: from:01/01/1994 till:01/01/2007 color:bl1 shift:(0,13) text: "Eerste Divisie" from:01/01/2007 till:01/01/2008 color:bl2 shift:(0,13) text: from:01/01/2008 till:01/01/2009 color:bl1 shift:(0,13) text: from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2013 color:bl2 shift:(0,13) text: "Eredivisie" from:01/01/2013 till:01/01/2017 color:bl1 shift:(0,13) text: "Eerste Divisie" from:01/01/2017 till:01/01/2021 color:bl2 shift:(0,13) text: "Eredivisie" from:01/01/2021 till:01/01/2025 color:bl1 shift:(0,13) text: "Eerste Divisie"

Players

Current squad

Retired numbers

28 — Netherlands Beau Vilters, defender (2014–15) — posthumous honour

Former players

Club staff

Coaching history

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National team players

The following players were called up to represent their national teams in international football and received caps during their tenure with VVV-Venlo:

• ;Aruba
  • Aruba Joshua John (2020–2021)
• ;Finland
  • Finland Niki Mäenpää (2012–2015)
• ;Greece
  • Greece Giorgos Giakoumakis (2020–2021)
• ;Japan
  • Japan Keisuke Honda (2008–2009)
  • Japan Yūki Ōtsu (2012–2015)
  • Japan Maya Yoshida (2010–2012)
• ;Latvia
  • Latvia Vitālijs Maksimenko (2014–2015)
• ;Netherlands
  • Netherlands Jan Klaassens (1948–1959; 1964–1967)
  • Netherlands Coy Koopal (1954–1956)
  • Netherlands Faas Wilkes (1956–1958)
• ;Nigeria
  • Nigeria Ahmed Musa (2010–2012)
  • Nigeria Uche Nwofor (2011–2014)
• ;Slovenia
  • Slovenia Aleksandar Radosavljević (2012–2013)
• ;Togo
  • Togo Peniel Mlapa (2018–2019)
• Players in bold actively play for VVV-Venlo and for their respective national teams. Years in brackets indicate careerspan with VVV-Venlo.

National team players by Confederation

Member associations are listed in order of most to least amount of current and former VVV-Venlo players represented Internationally

Players in international tournaments

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

Domestic results

Below is a table with VVV-Venlo's domestic results since the introduction of the Eredivisie in 1956.

References

References

1. "KNVB clubs".
2. (28 April 2011). "Club 'signs up' hat-trick toddler".
3. [http://nos.nl/artikel/2168322-vvv-venlo-na-vier-jaar-terug-in-de-eredivisie.html VVV-Venlo na vier jaar terug in de eredivisie] {{Webarchive. link. (15 April 2017 – NOS {{in lang). nl
4. "VVV-Venlo vs. Ajax Amsterdam – Football Match Report – October 24, 2020 – ESPN".
5. "Eredivisie > Fixtures > Wedstrijdoverzicht (en-US)".
6. (2 July 2023). "Problemen stapelen zich op bij VVV: 'De plannen gaan de koelkast in'". Voetbal International.
7. (14 July 2023). "Financiële problemen dwingen tijdelijke VVV-leiding tot ingrijpen". Voetbal International.
8. (2 July 2023). "Noodlijdend VVV start WHOA-procedure om schuldenvrij te worden". Voetbal International.
9. (1 February 2024). "Financieel doemscenario afgewend voor VVV-Venlo". 1Limburg.
10. (1 February 2024). "Rampscenario VVV afgewend: rechtbank bepaalt dat club slechts deel van miljoenenschuld hoeft te betalen". De Limburger.
11. [http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/04/03/soccer/venlo-chief-eyes-new-japanese-talent/ Venlo chief eyes new Japanese talent] {{Webarchive. link. (12 November 2016 , The Japan Times, 3 April 2014)
12. [https://www.vvv-venlo.nl/nl/vvv-venlo/nieuws/simon_janssen_wint_jan_klaassens_award Simon Janssen wint Jan Klaassens Award] {{Webarchive. link. (3 August 2019 Officiële website VVV-Venlo, 30 July 2019)
13. [http://www.vvv-venlo.nl/nl/nieuws/Nummer28 Nummer 28...] {{Webarchive. link. (5 March 2016 – VVV-Venlo, 10 July 2015)
14. (28 April 2011). "Dutch football club VVV 'signs up' hat-trick toddler".
15. "Spelers".