Heracles Almelo is a Dutch professional football club based in Almelo, founded in 1903. The club has won the Dutch national title twice, in 1927 and 1941. Heracles won the Eerste Divisie title during the 2004–05 season, gaining promotion to the Eredivisie for the first time in 28 years. The club has remained in the top division ever since. In 2012, reached the KNVB Cup final for the first time in club history, losing to PSV in the final. The club's main rival is FC Twente.
The club was founded on 3 May 1903 as Heracles, after the demigod son of Zeus. They changed their name on 1 July 1974 to SC Heracles '74 and finally settled on the current name in 1998.
Heracles finished sixth in the Eredivisie during the 2015–16 season, qualifying for the end of season European play-offs. The club first defeated FC Groningen and then FC Utrecht and thus qualified for the first time in club history for European football, starting in the third qualifying round of the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League.[2]
Stadium[]
Heracles Almelo currently play at the Erve Asito in Almelo. The Erve Asito was built in 1999 with a capacity 6,900, this was expanded in 2005 to hold 8,500. The pitch at the Erve Asito is artificial turf. After renovation of the stadium at the beginning of 2015–16 season, it currently holds 13,500 spectators.