Willem II (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈʋɪləm ˈtʋeː]), also known as Willem II Tilburg, is a Dutch football club based in Tilburg, Netherlands, whose team plays in the Eredivisie, the top tier in Dutch football. The club was founded on 12 August 1896 as Tilburgia. On 12 January 1898, the club was renamed Willem II after Dutch kingWilliam II of the Netherlands, who, as Prince of Orange and commander of the Dutch army, had his military headquarters in Tilburg during the Belgian uprising of 1830, spent much time in the city after becoming king, and died there.[1]
With regard to European competition, Willem II first appeared in UEFA Cup Winners' Cup of 1963 where they lost to Manchester United in the first round by an aggregate score of 7–2. In 1998–99, Willem once again competed in the Cup Winners' Cup and after beating Dinamo Tbilisi of Georgia 6–0 in both legs, Willem then lost to Spanish side Real Betis in the second round, 4–1 on aggregate. A second place in the Eredivisie of 1999 guaranteed the club a UEFA Champions League berth for the first time. At the tournament's group stage, Willem only attained two points in their six group G matches and were thus eliminated. After reaching the KNVB Cup final in 2005 where they lost 4–0 against PSV Eindhoven, Willem II again qualified again for the UEFA Cup, in which they lost to French side AS Monaco in the first round by 5–1 on aggregate.[1]
At the end of the 2010–11 season, Willem II were relegated from the Eredivisie for the first time in 24 years. In the 2011–12 season under new manager Jurgen Streppel Willem II was promoted back to the Eredivisie, but they went right back down the next season after finishing bottom of the table. The club became champions of the Eerste Divisie in the subsequent season and were thus promoted back to the Eredivisie.[1]
In early 2015, journalists at De Volkskrant revealed that Willem II had its matches fixed by an "Asian gambling syndicate", who had paid Willem's players a total sum of €100,000 to lose matches against Ajax and Feyenoord (in October and December 2009). According to the journalists, midfielder Ibrahim Kargbo was the Asians' main contact within the club; Kargbo denies having accepted their money.[1][2] The Royal Dutch Football Association called the affair "the most concrete case of match fixing in the Netherlands" and took legal action as well as asking UEFA and FIFA to reevaluate previous matches.[3]
In 2019, Willem II reached the KNVB Cup Final for the fourth time in their history. They beat AZ Alkmaar in the semi-finals after a penalty shoot-out, but were defeated by in the final by AFC Ajax.
The fans of Willem II have close links with the fans of English championship club Bristol City. Willem supporters have been known to travel to Bristol, with Bristol City fans heading the other way to Tilburg. At Bristol City's game on 31 October 2009 against Sheffield Wednesday, some Willem II fans were seen in the 'Eastend' of the Ashton Gate Stadium, and songs were sung about Willem II by City fans.[4][5]
The players below had senior international cap(s) for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed represented their countries while playing for Willem II.
1917–18 RHC (1/2)
1918–19 not played
1919–20 CVV
1920–21 Schoten
1921–22 not played
1922–23 not played
1923–24 not played
1924–25 ZFC
1925–26 LONGA
1926–27 VUC Den Haag
1927–28 RHC (2/2)
1928–29 not played
1929–30 Feyenoord (1/13)
1930–31 not played
1931–32 DFC (2/2)
1932–33 not played
1933–34 Velocitas 1897
1934–35 Feyenoord (2/13)
1935–36 Roermond
1936–37 EVV
1937–38 VSV
1938–39 FC Wageningen (1/2)
1939–40 not played
1940–41 not played
1941–42 not played
1942–43 Ajax (2/19)
1943–44 Willem II (1/2)
1944–45 not played
1945–46 not played
1946–47 not played
1947–48 FC Wageningen (2/2)
1948–49 Quick 1888
1949–50 PSV (1/9)
1950–51 not played
1951–52 not played
1952–53 not played
1953–54 not played
1954–55 not played
1955–56 not played
1956–57 Fortuna '54 (1/2)
1957–58 Sparta (1/3)
1958–59 VVV
1959–60 not played
