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Willem II is a Dutch football club playing in Tilburg. The club was founded as Tilburgia on August 12, 1896. On January 12, 1898, the club was renamed Willem II, after Dutch king Willem II (1840-1849), who, as Prince of Orange and commander of the Dutch army, had his military headquarters in Tilburg during the Belgian uprising of 1830. In 2004, the club added Tilburg to its official name, becoming Willem II Tilburg.
The club has had many famous players, including Jaap Stam, and Martijn Reuser. The club jersey consists of red-white-blue vertical stripes. Willem II plays its home matches in the Willem II Stadion. The stadium, opened on May 31, 1995, has a capacity of 14,700 spectators. The average attendance in 2004/05 was 12,500 people.
Willem II has won three national titles (1916, 1952 and 1955) and two national cups (1944 and 1963). In 1987, 1990 and 1999, Willem II were voted Dutch Club of the Year. In 1999, a second place in the league guaranteed the club a UEFA Champions League berth. In the first group stage (Group G), Willem II were eliminated. They scored 2 points in 6 matches. In 1963, Willem II lost to Manchester United (7-2 on aggregate) in the first round of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. In 1998-99, Willem II competed in the UEFA Cup. After beating Dinamo Tbilisi of Georgia 6-0 on aggregate in the first round, Willem II lost to Spanish side Real Betis in the second round, 4-1 on aggregate.
In the 2005-2006 season, the team won the relegation playoffs: Willem II - De Graafschap (1-0 and 2-1), and will be playing in the Eredivisie the coming season.
[edit] 1999/2000 Champions League
| Matches |
Classification Group G |
- Willem II - Spartak Moskva 1-3
- Girondins de Bordeaux - Willem II 3-2
- Sparta Praha - Willem II 4-0
- Willem II - Sparta Praha 3-4
- Spartak Moskva - Willem II 1-1
- Willem II - Girondins de Bordeaux 0-0
|
- Sparta Praha 6 - 12
- Girondins de Bordeaux 6 - 12
- Spartak Moskva 6 - 5
- Willem II Tilburg 6 - 2
|
[edit] Honours
[edit] Current squad 2006/2007
Out on loan
[edit] Notable former players
[edit] Former managers
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
Hans Verbunt
