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KPN Eredivisie, 2000-2001: Club Profile

FORTUNA SITTARD: FIGHTING AGAINST RELEGATION AND FC LIMBURG

The subject returns every once in a while: wouldn't it be a good idea for the four professional football clubs from Holland's most southern province, Limburg, to join forces and become one big club, named FC Limburg? So far, MVV (Maastricht), VVV (Venlo), Roda JC (Kerkrade) and Fortuna Sittard wiped the plans off the table. For emotional reasons, of course, but also because they were doing fine on their own.

But things have changed: Roda JC is still a feared opponent, but MVV from Maastricht and VVV from Venlo are now playing in the First Division and don't seem to be candidates to jump back soon. Fortuna, after having played two Dutch Cup finals and three rounds in the European Cup Winners' Cup of 1984, has come extremely close to becoming the third Limburg club to drop back to the First Division. Nowadays, Limburg is not such a healthy football province anymore as it used to be.

Just like Kerkrade neighbors and rivals, Roda JC, the soul of green and yellow Fortuna lies in Limburg's former coalmining area, within a stone's throw from the German border. There used to be two professional clubs in the twin-town of Sittard-Geleen: top team Fortuna '54 from Geleen, winner of the Dutch KNVB Cup in 1957 and 1964, and mediocre Sittardia, from Sittard. Both clubs had financial problems and decided to unite. The Fortuna Sittardia Combination (Fortuna SC) was born in July 1968. The club simplified the name to Fortuna Sittard in 1979.

The relatively short history of Fortuna is a history of extreme ups and downs. The newborn club initially spent most of its time in the First Division, until the promotion to the Eredivisie in 1982 turned out to be the start of a glorious time. Fortuna played in the KNVB Cup Final two years later. They lost, but because winners Feyenoord won the national title as well, Fortuna found itself back in the spotlights of European football. Another Dutch Cup final was reached in 1996. This time, Ajax was too strong.

After having been one of Holland's top 10 teams for the large part of the 1980's, relegation in 1993 and a return to the highest level in 1995, Fortuna Sittard is now a modest team. A small-timer, with survival in the Eredivisie as its main goal. Even that modest mission seemed impossible in 2001, but Fortuna managed to save itself in the relegation play-offs. Was it just putting off the evil hour? It seems like it. There is no money to improve the squad. The near future will be an ongoing battle for survival.

What remains, is Fortuna's remarkable reputation for being a 'giant killer', even in the last few poor years. PSV, Feyenoord and Ajax all suffered fairly recent defeats in Sittard. Nevertheless, things will have to change in Sittard, because otherwise, Roda JC may soon be the only Limburg club left in the Eredivisie. Sittard doesn't want that to happen, if only to prove that those damn' FC Limburg ambitions are unnecessary… (MP)

FORTUNA FACTS

Founded: 1 July, 1968 as Fortuna SC (fusion of Fortuna '54 and Sittardia). Name changed into Fortuna Sittard in July, 1979.
City: Sittard
Stadium: Wagner & Partners Stadium
Capacity: 13,000
Official website: http://www.fortuna-sittard.nl

Honors:

• Dutch cup winners: 1957 and 1964 (Fortuna '54)

Ajax vs Fortuna Sittard, the last five Eredivisie seasons: