Rotterdam derby
Encyclopedia
The term Rotterdam derby refers to the local derbies
in Rotterdam
played between two of the three professional football clubs Feyenoord, Sparta Rotterdam
or Excelsior. It specifically refers to individual matches between the clubs, but can also be used to describe the general ongoing rivalry between the clubs, players and / or fans.
Rotterdam is the only city in the Netherlands
hosting three professional football clubs. The only other Dutch city to host more than one professional football club is Eindhoven, home of PSV and FC Eindhoven
. However, the two Eindhoven clubs hardly play head-to-head due to FC Eindhoven's common lower division status.
Nowadays the Rotterdam derbies are often played in friendly circumstances, as there's no fierce rivalry between the clubs and its fans anymore.
are Feyenoord, Sparta Rotterdam
and Excelsior. Feyenoord and Excelsior are currently playing in the Eredivisie
, while Sparta Rotterdam was relegated to the second tier after the 2009–10
season.
Feyenoord is the most renowned club of Rotterdam. The club is located in the Feijenoord district
of southern Rotterdam
. Together with Ajax and PSV, Feyenoord is part of the traditional top three clubs in the Netherlands. Sparta Rotterdam – founded in 1888 – is the oldest professional football club in the Netherlands. The club is located in Spangen, a neighborhood in the Delfshaven
district in west Rotterdam. Excelsior was founded as one of the first Dutch working class clubs in the Kralingen
district in eastern Rotterdam.
titles were won by clubs from Rotterdam. Feyenoord collected 14 Eredivisie trophies, while Sparta Rotterdam won the league six times. Former Rotterdam amateur club VV Concordia won the league once in the season 1888–1889, which was the first season of the highest football league in the Netherlands. Where Feyenoord and Sparta Rotterdam were successful on the highest level, Excelsior only won trophies on the second tier of Dutch football.
The main rivalry in Rotterdam
is between its two most successful clubs; Feyenoord and Sparta Rotterdam
. The derby between both clubs is still seen as a match with a lot of tradition, but the rivalry is not as ferocious as it used to be. The rivalry between the two clubs is mainly based on the historical class difference. When Sparta Rotterdam was founded in 1888, football in the Netherlands was an upper class
sport only. Feyenoord on the other hand was founded twenty years later, in the center of the working class
district Feijenoord
. The difference in culture and background caused a lot of friction between the two sides.
The first derby match between Feyenoord and Sparta was a friendly match on 22 May 1921. Since Feyenoord's establishment in 1908, the club was working its way up the Dutch football system steadily. In 1921, Feyenoord promoted to the highest football league in the Netherlands
for the first time in its existence, while Sparta just relegated to the lower league. As an official league match was not possible, a friendly match had to be played to decide who really was the best club of Rotterdam. Feyenoord won the match in the Sparta stadium
with a 2–4 score, which was the first time Sparta's superiority in Rotterdam was broken. In the season 1922–23, the first official Rotterdam derby between Feyenoord and Sparta was played. Sparta, the most successful Rotterdam club at the time, took its revenge over the friendly loss in the previous season and managed to defeat Feyenoord twice with a 1–0 score.
Following Sparta Rotterdam's relegation from the top flight after the season 2009–10
, a Rotterdam derby between both clubs in the league isn't possible. The last meeting between the two clubs was in April 2010, with Feyenoord winning the Eredivisie
match with a 3-0 score at De Kuip
.
Such derby involves the two Rotterdam clubs who are currently behind Feyenoord in terms of awards and recent successes. Excelsior is based on Kralingen-Crooswijk
(formerly a city of its own), in the eastern part of the city, whereas Sparta hails from Spangen
, far closer to the city centre, and they are separated by their respective histories, with Sparta being far more successful in the past, whereas Excelsior being perceived as a newer, less successful side. Such rivalry is therefore not considered a heated one.
On June 2010, a Sparta-Excelsior two-legged derby occurred as a final the so-called nacompetitie, the promotion/relegation playoff tournament involving clubs from Eredivisie and Eerste Divisie. Despite Sparta coming from Eredivisie and considered obvious favourites, and Excelsior being instead merely third-placed in the Eerste Divisie with a team mostly composed by Feyenoord loanees, it was Excelsior who won the two-legged game on away goals rule, after scoring a late equaliser in the final minutes of the return game at Sparta's home, Het Kasteel, and thus replacing their crosstown opponents in the Dutch top flight.
The least tensed derby in Rotterdam
is the match between Feyenoord and Excelsior
. Both clubs have the same working class background and have a long term partnership since 1979, which was contractually sealed in 1996. Excelsior became Feyenoord's feeder club and provided experience and training for young talented Feyenoord players. In 2009, Feyenoord and Excelsior agreed on an even more extensive partnership. As part of the new agreement, the clubs started a joint regional youth academy called Feyenoord Academy
and merged the club's reserve teams. Also, Excelsior continued to be Feyenoord's feeder club.
Since the partnership between both clubs, the Excelsior fans and players slowly developed a more heated rivalry with Feyenoord, but one not reciprocated by Feyenoord. A majority of the Excelsior fans have always been against a partnership with Feyenoord. Michel van der Neut, chairman of Excelsior's supporters club, claimed: "Excelsior sold her soul with the extended partnership. Excelsior simply stops existing this way." The players on the other hand state to be extra motivated in the Rotterdam derbies versus Feyenoord. Most players have a history at Feyenoord and want to proof they do deserve a chance in Feyenoord's first team squad in the near future. Excelsior have an unbeaten run in home matches against Feyenoord since 2008.
With Excelsior's Eredivisie promotion in the season 2010–11
, the Rotterdam derbies between both clubs is on the fixture again. Excelsior beat Feyenoord in the first derby of the season with a 3–2 score at Stadion Woudestein
. The next match between both clubs will be played on 12 December 2010 at De Kuip.
Local derby
In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
played between two of the three professional football clubs Feyenoord, Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
or Excelsior. It specifically refers to individual matches between the clubs, but can also be used to describe the general ongoing rivalry between the clubs, players and / or fans.
Rotterdam is the only city in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
hosting three professional football clubs. The only other Dutch city to host more than one professional football club is Eindhoven, home of PSV and FC Eindhoven
FC Eindhoven
FC Eindhoven is a Dutch football club based in Eindhoven, North Brabant. They current play in the Eerste Divisie , and are one of two professional clubs which are based in the city of Eindhoven, the other one being PSV Eindhoven....
. However, the two Eindhoven clubs hardly play head-to-head due to FC Eindhoven's common lower division status.
Nowadays the Rotterdam derbies are often played in friendly circumstances, as there's no fierce rivalry between the clubs and its fans anymore.
Background
The three professional football clubs located in RotterdamRotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
are Feyenoord, Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
and Excelsior. Feyenoord and Excelsior are currently playing in the Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
, while Sparta Rotterdam was relegated to the second tier after the 2009–10
2009–10 Eredivisie
-Personnel and sponsoring:-Managerial changes:-League table:-Results:...
season.
Feyenoord is the most renowned club of Rotterdam. The club is located in the Feijenoord district
Feijenoord district
Feijenoord is a district in Rotterdam and is located south of the Nieuwe Maas. As of 1 January 2004 there were 72,320 citizens. The area is 6.44 km²...
of southern Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. Together with Ajax and PSV, Feyenoord is part of the traditional top three clubs in the Netherlands. Sparta Rotterdam – founded in 1888 – is the oldest professional football club in the Netherlands. The club is located in Spangen, a neighborhood in the Delfshaven
Delfshaven
Delfshaven is a borough of Rotterdam on the right bank of river Nieuwe Maas, in South Holland, the Netherlands. It was a separate municipality until 1886.The town of Delfshaven grew around the port of the city of Delft...
district in west Rotterdam. Excelsior was founded as one of the first Dutch working class clubs in the Kralingen
Kralingen-Crooswijk
Kralingen-Crooswijk is a township of the city of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. It is located at the immediate east of the city's centre. As of 2005 it has about 52,379 inhabitants and has a territory of about 1,286 ha...
district in eastern Rotterdam.
Honours
In total, 21 EredivisieEredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
titles were won by clubs from Rotterdam. Feyenoord collected 14 Eredivisie trophies, while Sparta Rotterdam won the league six times. Former Rotterdam amateur club VV Concordia won the league once in the season 1888–1889, which was the first season of the highest football league in the Netherlands. Where Feyenoord and Sparta Rotterdam were successful on the highest level, Excelsior only won trophies on the second tier of Dutch football.
| National honours | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competition | |Sparta | Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... | 14 | 6 | 0 |
| KNVB Cup KNVB Cup The KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup... |
11 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Johan Cruijff Shield | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 27 | 9 | 0 | ||
Feyenoord vs Sparta Rotterdam derby
EWLINE
|
The main rivalry in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
is between its two most successful clubs; Feyenoord and Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
. The derby between both clubs is still seen as a match with a lot of tradition, but the rivalry is not as ferocious as it used to be. The rivalry between the two clubs is mainly based on the historical class difference. When Sparta Rotterdam was founded in 1888, football in the Netherlands was an upper class
Upper class
In social science, the "upper class" is the group of people at the top of a social hierarchy. Members of an upper class may have great power over the allocation of resources and governmental policy in their area.- Historical meaning :...
sport only. Feyenoord on the other hand was founded twenty years later, in the center of the working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
district Feijenoord
Feijenoord district
Feijenoord is a district in Rotterdam and is located south of the Nieuwe Maas. As of 1 January 2004 there were 72,320 citizens. The area is 6.44 km²...
. The difference in culture and background caused a lot of friction between the two sides.
The first derby match between Feyenoord and Sparta was a friendly match on 22 May 1921. Since Feyenoord's establishment in 1908, the club was working its way up the Dutch football system steadily. In 1921, Feyenoord promoted to the highest football league in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
for the first time in its existence, while Sparta just relegated to the lower league. As an official league match was not possible, a friendly match had to be played to decide who really was the best club of Rotterdam. Feyenoord won the match in the Sparta stadium
Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel
Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel is a football stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands. It is the home ground of Sparta Rotterdam. It has a capacity of 11,026.-History and layout:...
with a 2–4 score, which was the first time Sparta's superiority in Rotterdam was broken. In the season 1922–23, the first official Rotterdam derby between Feyenoord and Sparta was played. Sparta, the most successful Rotterdam club at the time, took its revenge over the friendly loss in the previous season and managed to defeat Feyenoord twice with a 1–0 score.
Following Sparta Rotterdam's relegation from the top flight after the season 2009–10
2009–10 Eredivisie
-Personnel and sponsoring:-Managerial changes:-League table:-Results:...
, a Rotterdam derby between both clubs in the league isn't possible. The last meeting between the two clubs was in April 2010, with Feyenoord winning the Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
match with a 3-0 score at De Kuip
Feijenoord Stadion
The Feijenoord Stadion, better known by its nickname De Kuip , is a stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands that was completed in 1937. The name is derived from the area "Feijenoord" in Rotterdam, and from the club with the same name .Capacity at completion: 64,000. Maximum capacity: 69,000...
.
| Feyenoord vs Sparta Rotterdam statistics | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competition | Feyenoord wins | Draws | Sparta wins | Total |
| Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
62 | 23 | 17 | 102 |
| KNVB Cup KNVB Cup The KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup... |
1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Total | 63 | 25 | 18 | 106 |
Sparta Rotterdam vs Excelsior derby
EWLINE
|
Such derby involves the two Rotterdam clubs who are currently behind Feyenoord in terms of awards and recent successes. Excelsior is based on Kralingen-Crooswijk
Kralingen-Crooswijk
Kralingen-Crooswijk is a township of the city of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. It is located at the immediate east of the city's centre. As of 2005 it has about 52,379 inhabitants and has a territory of about 1,286 ha...
(formerly a city of its own), in the eastern part of the city, whereas Sparta hails from Spangen
Spangen
Spangen is a neighborhood of Rotterdam, Netherlands.It is in the west of the city with about 9500 inhabitants. From the entrance of Spangen to the center is formed by the Mathenesserbrug across the Delfshavense Schie....
, far closer to the city centre, and they are separated by their respective histories, with Sparta being far more successful in the past, whereas Excelsior being perceived as a newer, less successful side. Such rivalry is therefore not considered a heated one.
On June 2010, a Sparta-Excelsior two-legged derby occurred as a final the so-called nacompetitie, the promotion/relegation playoff tournament involving clubs from Eredivisie and Eerste Divisie. Despite Sparta coming from Eredivisie and considered obvious favourites, and Excelsior being instead merely third-placed in the Eerste Divisie with a team mostly composed by Feyenoord loanees, it was Excelsior who won the two-legged game on away goals rule, after scoring a late equaliser in the final minutes of the return game at Sparta's home, Het Kasteel, and thus replacing their crosstown opponents in the Dutch top flight.
| Sparta Rotterdam vs Excelsior statistics | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competition | Sparta wins | Draws | Excelsior wins | Total |
| Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
15 | 5 | 8 | 28 |
| Eerste Divisie Eerste Divisie The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium... |
2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| KNVB Cup KNVB Cup The KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 18 | 6 | 9 | 33 |
Feyenoord vs Excelsior derby
EWLINE
|
The least tensed derby in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
is the match between Feyenoord and Excelsior
Excelsior
Excelsior is a Latin and archaic English word meaning "ever higher". It may refer to:- Literature and music :* "Excelsior" , a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow...
. Both clubs have the same working class background and have a long term partnership since 1979, which was contractually sealed in 1996. Excelsior became Feyenoord's feeder club and provided experience and training for young talented Feyenoord players. In 2009, Feyenoord and Excelsior agreed on an even more extensive partnership. As part of the new agreement, the clubs started a joint regional youth academy called Feyenoord Academy
Feyenoord Academy (Varkenoord)
Feyenoord Academy, often referred to as Varkenoord, is the joint academy of the professional football clubs Feyenoord and Excelsior located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The academy is a result of the extensive partnership between the two Rotterdam clubs...
and merged the club's reserve teams. Also, Excelsior continued to be Feyenoord's feeder club.
Since the partnership between both clubs, the Excelsior fans and players slowly developed a more heated rivalry with Feyenoord, but one not reciprocated by Feyenoord. A majority of the Excelsior fans have always been against a partnership with Feyenoord. Michel van der Neut, chairman of Excelsior's supporters club, claimed: "Excelsior sold her soul with the extended partnership. Excelsior simply stops existing this way." The players on the other hand state to be extra motivated in the Rotterdam derbies versus Feyenoord. Most players have a history at Feyenoord and want to proof they do deserve a chance in Feyenoord's first team squad in the near future. Excelsior have an unbeaten run in home matches against Feyenoord since 2008.
With Excelsior's Eredivisie promotion in the season 2010–11
2010–11 Eredivisie
-Managerial changes:-League table:-Results:...
, the Rotterdam derbies between both clubs is on the fixture again. Excelsior beat Feyenoord in the first derby of the season with a 3–2 score at Stadion Woudestein
Stadion Woudestein
Stadion Woudestein is a multi-use stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Excelsior Rotterdam. The stadium is able to hold 3,531 people and was built in 2000....
. The next match between both clubs will be played on 12 December 2010 at De Kuip.
| Feyenoord vs Excelsior statistics | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competition | Feyenoord wins | Draws | Excelsior wins | Total |
| Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
26 | 1 | 4 | 31 |
| KNVB Cup KNVB Cup The KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup... |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 26 | 2 | 5 | 33 |