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KPN Eredivisie, 2000-2001: Club Profile

WILLEM II: THE 'TRICOLORES' - WORTHY OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS' NAME

In 1944, Holland was occupied by the Nazis. Football was a way to try and live a normal life in those days, and one of Holland's strongest sides was Willem II. Named after a former king from the Oranje family and playing in red, white and blue (the colours of the Dutch flag) Willem II provided the Dutch an opportunity to stand up, applaud and pay modest homage to the flag and the royal family, that had taken refuge in England and Canada. Willem II was a way to realize that this was still The Netherlands, and not a province of Hitler's Third Reich. As a beautiful omen of the allied invasion of Europe, the Tricolores won that year's Dutch Cup, becoming a subtle epitome of hope in one of the darkest years in the history of The Netherlands.

Before and after the war, too, Willem II has proved to be worthy of King Willem II's name and the colours of the national flag. Hailing from Tilburg, a southern city known for its textile industry, Willem II has a reputation of being a civilized, traditional club, playing fair football. The team, the board, the fans - they all seem decent, living their lives in a pleasant, 'Burgundian' pace, in the heart of the province of Noord-Brabant.

Willem II is the third oldest club of the Eredivisie, after Sparta and Vitesse. After its foundation, back in 1896, they were the first team to break the hegemony of the western provinces, bringing the official Dutch championship to the south for the very first time, in 1916. Under the reign of legendary Czech coach, Frantisek Fadrhonc, two post-war championships would follow during the 1950s.

After the 'golden era', the genial provincial club had problems adjusting to professionalizing Dutch football. The 1962-1963 season saw relegation from the Eredivisie, but also a victory in the Dutch Cup final against ADO from The Hague (0-3), which made the Tricolores the first ever Dutch team to play European games as a First Division team. They did surprisingly well against the mighty Manchester United in De Kuip (the game was played there because the Tilburg ground had no light-plant), keeping the English down to 1-1. At Old Trafford, it was a different story: 6-1 to Man-U.

The large part of the 1970s and 1980s were spent in the First Division, as well as in deep financial trouble. Meagre years followed the near-bankruptcy of 1981 and 1982, until coach Piet de Visser started building a solid foundation for the 1990s, the decade in which the club was to celebrate its centenary. The 1994 team had Jaap Stam, Jean-Paul van Gastel and Marc Overmars as its superstars, but Willem II achieved its biggest success since the Fadrhonc era after those players had left, with a coach whose blunt and harsh approach initially contrasted with the kind-heartedness of the club. His name: Co Adriaanse.

Tilburg looks back at the Adriaanse era as if it were a dream. The club made its come-back into the European spotlights (UEFA Cup, 1998-1999), in its best season since the Dutch league was named Eredivisie in 1956. Willem II finished second and qualified for the Champions League. Adriaanse was 'King Co', at the club often referred to as the 'Ajax of the South'.

Opponents Spartak Moscow, Sparta Prague and Girondins Bordeaux were far too strong for the naive Tilburg side, but what an adventure it was, for a club that's already satisfied when finishing with the upper ten and qualifying for the UEFA Cup every once in a while. That's enough - and it's exactly the status Willem II has nowadays. Chairman Brokx explained that Willem II would not even want to be part of the Champions League circus every year. Probably because most football clubs do not behave like gentlemen anymore when millions are at stake. The Tilburgers rather remain worthy of King Willem II's name. (MP)

WILLEM II FACTS

Founded: 12 August, 1896 as Tilburgia. Name changed into Willem II on 12,January, 1898.
City: Tilburg
Stadium: Willem II Stadium
Capacity: 14,700
Honors:

• Dutch champions: 1916, 1952, 1955
• Dutch Cup winners: 1944, 1963

Ajax vs Willem II, the last five Eredivisie seasons: RELATED LINKS

• Official Willem II website