De Graafschap

De Graafschap
Full name	Vereniging Betaald Voetbal; De Graafschap
Nickname(s)	Superboeren (Super Farmers)
Founded	1 February 1954; 67 years ago
Ground	De Vijverberg; Doetinchem
Capacity	12,600
Chairman	Martin Mos
Head coach	Reinier Robbemond
League	Eerste Divisie
2020–21	Eerste Divisie, 3rd of 20
Website	Club website
Home colours	Away colours

VBV De Graafschap (Dutch pronunciation: [də ˈɣraːfsxɑp]) is a professional football club from Doetinchem, Netherlands, playing in the Eerste divisie, the second tier of Dutch football.

It was formed on 1 February 1954 and they play their home games at the De Vijverberg stadium. The stadium was opened on 12 August 2000 and stands on the site of the club's old pitch. The club name is Dutch for "The County". They are nicknamed Superboeren ("Super Farmers").

While not a large club by European club football standards, the club has remained a semi-permanent fixture in the Eredivisie (top league); although to date it has never won any silverware of importance. It also has a large stadium and a large fan base when compared to many other Dutch teams, particularly those in the Eerste Divisie. They had a fierce rivalry with Vitesse Arnhem, but during the years due several circumstances Go Ahead Eagles began to be a rival as well.

The club's colors are blue and white hooped shirts with white shorts and blue socks. The club's major sponsors are and [nl].

De Graafschap's home base, De Vijverberg has been voted as the most atmospheric stadium in the Eredivisie for the 2018–19 campaign.

History[]

De Graafschap had their longest streak in the Dutch top tier from 1995 until 2003. In the 1995–96 season De Graafschap finished in 8th place, an all-time high. After this season results went down and in 2003 the club was relegated after finishing in last place (18th).

Since 2003, De Graafschap was relegated four times and gained promotion five times. They were crowned champions of the Eerste Divisie in 2007 and 2010, and won the promotion playoffs in 2004 and 2015.^[1] De Graafschap never finished last in the Eredivisie since 2003 but lost relegation playoffs after finishing in 17th place in 2005, 2009 and 2012.^[2] In the 2015-16 Eredivisie season De Graafschap were once again relegated through playoffs after finishing 17th but not before drawing 1–1 against AFC Ajax on the final day of the season, denying Ajax the championship. In 2018, the club gained promotion again by winning the promotion playoffs, beating Almere City FC in the playoffs finals.^[3] They were relegated in 2019, and the next season ended in further heartbreak on April 24, 2020 as they were denied a possible promotion back to the top flight due to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the Eredivisie to declare their season void with no promotion or relegation.^[4]

Late in the 2020–21 season, De Graafschap were in control of their promotion hopes, only needing one win in their final two games to secure promotion. However, they were held to a 1-1 draw, followed by a goalless draw versus Helmond Sport, denying them an automatic promotion spot and forcing them to go through the promotion playoffs.^[5]^[6] De Graafschap crashed out of the playoffs in the first round after a 3-2 home loss to Roda JC, thus meaning that they would remain in the Eerste Divisie.^[7]

Honours[]

Eerste Divisie
- Winner: 1991, 2007, 2010
Tweede Divisie
- Winner: 1969
Promoted to Eredivisie
- Promotion: 1973, 1981, 1995, 2004, 2015, 2018
Promoted to Eerste Divisie
- Promotion: 1966

Results[]

Below is a table with De Graafschap's domestic results since the introduction of the Eredivisie in 1956.

showDomestic Results since 1956
Domestic league	League result	Qualification to	KNVB Cup season	Cup result
2020–21 Eerste Divisie	3rd	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	2020–21	second round
2019–20 Eerste Divisie	2nd	Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic	2019–20	first round
2018–19 Eredivisie	17th	Eerste Divisie (losing promo./releg. play-offs)	2018–19	second round
2017–18 Eerste Divisie	4th	Eredivisie (winning promo./releg. play-offs)	2017–18	first round
2016–17 Eerste Divisie	12th	–	2016–17	first round
2015–16 Eredivisie	17th	Eerste Divisie (losing promo./releg. play-offs)	2015–16	second round
2014–15 Eerste Divisie	6th	Eredivisie (winning promo./releg. play-offs)	2014–15	second round
2013–14 Eerste Divisie	7th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	2013–14	round of 16
2012–13 Eerste Divisie	8th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	2012–13	third round
2011–12 Eredivisie	17th	Eerste Divisie (losing promo./releg. play-offs)	2011–12	quarter final
2010–11 Eredivisie	14th	–	2010–11	third round
2009–10 Eerste Divisie	1st	Eredivisie (promotion)	2009–10	second round
2008–09 Eredivisie	17th	Eerste Divisie (losing promo./releg. play-offs)	2008–09	quarter final
2007–08 Eredivisie	16th	– (surviving promotion/relegation play-offs)	2007–08	third round
2006–07 Eerste Divisie	1st	Eredivisie (promotion)	2006–07	round of 16
2005–06 Eerste Divisie	5th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	2005–06	DSQ
2004–05 Eredivisie	17th	Eerste Divisie (losing promo./releg. play-offs)	2004–05	second round
2003–04 Eerste Divisie	6th	Eredivisie (winning promotion/releg. play-offs)	2003–04	second round
2002–03 Eredivisie	18th	Eerste Divisie (relegation)	2002–03	round of 16
2001–02 Eredivisie	14th	–	2001–02	third round
2000–01 Eredivisie	15th	–	2000–01	second round
1999–2000 Eredivisie	14th	–	1999–2000	second round
1998–99 Eredivisie	13th	–	1998–99	second round
1997–98 Eredivisie	11th	–	1997–98	second round
1996–97 Eredivisie	8th	–	1996–97	round of 16
1995–96 Eredivisie	14th	–	1995–96	round of 16
1994–95 Eerste Divisie	2nd	Eredivisie (winning promotion/releg. play-offs)	1994–95	second round
1993–94 Eerste Divisie	6th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	1993–94	round of 16
1992–93 Eerste Divisie	5th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	1992–93	third round
1991–92 Eredivisie	17th	Eerste Divisie (relegation)	1991–92	second round
1990–91 Eerste Divisie	1st	Eredivisie (promotion)	1990–91	round of 16
1989–90 Eerste Divisie	7th	–	1989–90	first round
1988–89 Eerste Divisie	9th	–	1988–89	first round
1987–88 Eerste Divisie	4th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	1987–88	second round
1986–87 Eerste Divisie	10th	–	1986–87	round of 16
1985–86 Eerste Divisie	9th	–	1985–86	first round
1984–85 Eerste Divisie	3rd	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	1984–85	second round
1983–84 Eerste Divisie	6th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	1983–84	round of 16
1982–83 Eerste Divisie	14th	–	1982–83	round of 16
1981–82 Eredivisie	18th	Eerste Divisie (relegation)	1981–82	second round
1980–81 Eerste Divisie	7th	Eredivisie (winning promotion/releg. play-offs)	1980–81	first round
1979–80 Eerste Divisie	6th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	1979–80	second round
1978–79 Eerste Divisie	8th	–	1978–79	round of 16
1977–78 Eerste Divisie	14th	–	1977–78	first round
1976–77 Eredivisie	18th	Eerste Divisie (relegation)	1976–77	round of 16
1975–76 Eredivisie	12th	–	1975–76	quarter final
1974–75 Eredivisie	13th	–	1974–75	second round
1973–74 Eredivisie	14th	–	1973–74	second round
1972–73 Eerste Divisie	4th	Eredivisie (winning promotion/releg. play-offs)	1972–73	first round
1971–72 Eerste Divisie	11th	–	1971–72	DNC
1970–71 Eerste Divisie	16th	–	1970–71	first round
1969–70 Eerste Divisie	9th	–	1969–70	round of 16^{[citation needed]}
1968–69 Tweede Divisie	1st	Eerste Divisie (promotion)	1968–69	first round^{[citation needed]}
1967–68 Tweede Divisie	6th	–	1967–68	group stage^{[citation needed]}
1966–67 Eerste Divisie	18th	Tweede Divisie (relegation)	1966–67	DNC^{[citation needed]}
1965–66 Tweede Divisie	2nd (group A)	Eerste Divisie (promotion)	1965–66	round of 16^{[citation needed]}
1964–65 Tweede Divisie	11th (group A)	–	1964–65	first round^{[citation needed]}
1963–64 Tweede Divisie	5th (group B)	–	1963–64	first round^{[citation needed]}
1962–63 Tweede Divisie	15th (group A)	–	1962–63	third round^{[citation needed]}
1961–62 Tweede Divisie	10th	–	1961–62	?^{[citation needed]}
1960–61 Tweede Divisie	11th	–	1960–61	?^{[citation needed]}
1959–60 Eerste Divisie	17th (group B)	Tweede Divisie (relegation)	not held	not held
1958–59 Eerste Divisie	14th (group A)	–	1958–59	?^{[citation needed]}
1957–58 Eerste Divisie	4th (group A)	–	1957–58	?^{[citation needed]}
1956–57 Eerste Divisie	10th (group A)	–	1956–57	?^{[citation needed]}

Players[]

Current squad[]

As of 7 August 2021^[8]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	NED	Hidde Jurjus
2	DF	NED	Julian Lelieveld
3	DF	NED	Jasper van Heertum
4	DF	NED	Ted van de Pavert (vice-captain)
5	DF	NED	Roland Baas
6	MF	NED	Elmo Lieftink
7	FW	NED	Hicham Acheffay
8	MF	NED	Jesse Schuurman
9	FW	NED	Danzell Gravenberch
10	MF	NED	Danny Verbeek
11	FW	NED	Giovanni Korte
14	MF	NED	Camiel Neghli
16	GK	NED	Nick van den Dam
17	DF	NED	Milan Hilderink


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
18	MF	NED	Johnatan Opoku
19	MF	NED	Rick Dekker
22	MF	NED	Devin Haen
23	MF	NED	Philip Brittijn
24	FW	NED	Mees Kaandorp
25	FW	NED	Joey Konings
26	MF	NED	Ebbe Wenting
27	MF	NED	Thomas Kleinpenning
28	MF	BEL	Hamza Bouihrouchane
29	MF	NED	Maas Willemsen
30	FW	NED	Ezra van der Heiden
32	GK	NED	Guus Vaags
43	MF	NED	Jonathan Berrio

Out on loan[]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player

Notable former players[]

The players below had senior international cap(s) for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed represented their countries while playing for De Graafschap.

Arnar Viðarsson
Jhon van Beukering
Ben Sahar
Gil Vermouth
Ģirts Karlsons
Dulee Johnson
Xhelil Abdulla
Bakary Diakité
Oussama Assaidi
Youssef El Jebli
Ernie Brandts
John van den Brom
Jean-Paul van Gastel

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Luuk de Jong
Jurrie Koolhof
Kees Krijgh
Martijn Meerdink
Peter van Vossen
Dick Schoenaker
Sonny Silooy
Wasiu Taiwo
Tomasz Rząsa
Stephan Keller

Coaching staff[]

Position	Name
Head coach	Mike Snoei
Assistant coaches	Richard Roelofsen


Goalkeeping coach

Former coaches[]

Leendert IJssennagger (1954–55)
Heinz Huber (1955)
(1955–59)
(1959)
Eric Jones (1960–62)
(1962–67)
Ad Zonderland (1967–71)
Bert van Lingen (1971)
Piet de Visser (1971–74)
(1974–76)
Ben Polak (interim) (1976)
Hans Dorjee (1976–77)
(1977–78)
Pim van de Meent (1978–80)
Huib Ruijgrok (1980–83)

(1983–85)
Henk van Brussel (1985–87)
Pim Verbeek (1987–89)
(1989)
(1989–93)
Jan Versleijen (1993–94)
Frans Körver (1994–95)
(1995)
Fritz Korbach (1995–98)
Frans Thijssen (1999)
Rob McDonald (1999–00)
Jurrie Koolhof (interim) (2000)
(2000–01)
Jurrie Koolhof (2001–02)
Peter Bosz (2002–03)

Frans Adelaar (2003–04)
Gert Kruys (2004–05)
Andries Ulderink (interim) (2005)
Jan de Jonge (2005–08)
Henk van Stee (2008–09)
Darije Kalezić (2009–11)
Andries Ulderink (2011–12)
Richard Roelofsen (interim) (2012)
Pieter Huistra (2012–13)
Jan Vreman (interim) (2013–14)
Jimmy Calderwood (2014)
Jan Vreman (2014–16)
Henk de Jong (2017–2019)
Mike Snoei (2019–now)

References[]

^ De Graafschap terug in eredivisie – Telegraaf (in Dutch)
^ De Graafschap gedegradeerd – NOS (in Dutch)
^ De Graafschap knokt zich voorbij Almere City en keert terug in Eredivisie – Voetbalprimeur (in Dutch)
^ https://eredivisie.nl/nl-nl/uitgelicht/afwikkeling-voetbalseizoen-201920-een-feit
^ "De Graafschap grijpt naast directe promotie door gelijkspel tegen Helmond Sport". De Graafschap (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 May 2021.
^ "Anti-climax voor De Graafschap na bizar slotstuk tegen Helmond Sport: Superboeren grijpen naast directe promotie in waterballet, Roda JC eerste tegenstander in play-offs". de Gelderlander (in Dutch). 12 May 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
^ "De Graafschap vs Roda JC Kerkrade - Eredivisie Qualification - Quarter-Final stats, H2H, lineups". FotMob. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
^ "Eerste Elftal - De Graafschap".

External links[]

Official website (in Dutch)
Fansite Superboeren (in Dutch)

[1] De Graafschap terug in eredivisie – Telegraaf (in Dutch)

[2] De Graafschap gedegradeerd – NOS (in Dutch)

[3] De Graafschap knokt zich voorbij Almere City en keert terug in Eredivisie – Voetbalprimeur (in Dutch)

[4] ttps://eredivisie.nl/nl-nl/uitgelicht/afwikkeling-voetbalseizoen-201920-een-feit

[5] "De Graafschap grijpt naast directe promotie door gelijkspel tegen Helmond Sport". De Graafschap (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 May 2021.

[6] "Anti-climax voor De Graafschap na bizar slotstuk tegen Helmond Sport: Superboeren grijpen naast directe promotie in waterballet, Roda JC eerste tegenstander in play-offs". de Gelderlander (in Dutch). 12 May 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.

[7] "De Graafschap vs Roda JC Kerkrade - Eredivisie Qualification - Quarter-Final stats, H2H, lineups". FotMob. Retrieved 15 May 2021.

[8] "Eerste Elftal - De Graafschap".

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

show v t Eredivisie
2021–22 clubs	Ajax AZ Cambuur Feyenoord Fortuna Sittard Go Ahead Eagles Groningen Heerenveen Heracles N.E.C. PEC Zwolle PSV Twente RKC Sparta Utrecht Vitesse Willem II
Stadiums	Abe Lenstra Stadion De Adelaarshorst AFAS Stadion Cambuur Stadion Erve Asito Euroborg Fortuna Sittard Stadion Galgenwaard GelreDome De Goffert De Grolsch Veste IJsseldeltastadion Johan Cruyff Arena Het Kasteel Koning Willem II Stadion De Kuip Mandemakers Stadion Philips Stadion
Former clubs	ADO Den Haag Alkmaar '54 FC Amsterdam Blauw-Wit Amsterdam Den Bosch Dordrecht DOS DS '79 DWS FC Eindhoven Elinkwijk Emmen SC Enschede Fortuna '54 Haarlem Helmond Maastricht NAC Breda NOAD Roosendaal Roda SVV Telstar Veendam Volendam De Volewijckers VVV-Venlo Wageningen XerxesDZB
Competition	Champions Players (foreign) Managers Hat-tricks Derbies Eredivisie Live
Awards	Footballer of the Year Rinus Michels Award
Associated competitions	League system Eerste Divisie Tweede Divisie Derde Divisie Hoofdklasse KNVB Cup Johan Cruyff Shield Eredivisie for women UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League
Netherlands Football League seasons	1888–89 1889–90 1890–91 1891–92 1892–93 1893–94 1894–95 1895–96 1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–1900 1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56
Eredivisie seasons	1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22
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