Football Season Guide

Two seasons after falling from the top flight of the Dutch football, Willem II managed to achieve a long-desired promotion back to the Eredivisie at the end of a campaign that had started on the wrong foot. In fact, after a very dull beginning, they were only 11th following the initial 6 weeks, they parted ways with coach Reinier Robbemond and hired seasoned Peter Maes instead. Thanks to that move, they started an unstoppable march which brought them to the top of the table in November, a place they would never leave, not even after slowing their rhythm from January on. While they held the best attack of the Eerste Divisie, with 77 goals scored, with 35 goals conceded Willem II defence was worse than Groningen and Roda JC. Maes was logically confirmed at the helm for the new season but he will have to deal with the departure of 3 heroes from the past campaign. In fact, the attack is the area which will see major chances as striker Hilterman, who scored 16 goals, returned to his parent club while attacking midfielder Oosting, capable of 12 goals and 5 assists overall, left for Groningen. With Bokila set to play a more relevant role up-front, Willem hired 22-year-old Kehrer, who has no experience at a top level, while Vaesen arrived on loan from Westerlo after a season plagued by injuries. Moreover, the midfield will miss key Verreth, who left for Brescia, as 20-year-old Sandra, who showed some good at Excelsior in the Eredivisie, despite relegation, may not represent a sufficient alternative yet. Besides that, following veteran right-back Heerkens’ retirement at 33, they hired a replacement in experienced Tirpan, who is back to Dutch football after 2 seasons elsewhere. Last but not least, Didillon-Hodl, also coming from Belgian football, was hired as Smits’ back-up in goal.