Heracles Almelo

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 remained in the top division for 17 seasons before suffering relegation at the end of the 2021–22 season. In 2012, they reached the KNVB Cup final for the first time in the club's history, losing to PSV in the final. The club's main rival is Twente.

Heracles Almelo

Full name	Heracles Almelo
Nickname(s)	Heraclieden, HAFC, Poupers, SCH
Founded	3 May 1903; 122 years ago (1903-05-03)
Ground	Asito Stadion
Capacity	12,080
Chairman	Jacob Roche
Head coach	Erwin van de Looi
League	Eredivisie
2023–24	Eredivisie, 14th of 18
Website	www.heracles.nl
Home colours Third colours
Current season

History

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 Groningen and then 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.^[1]

A run of three consecutive losses saw Heracles end the 2021–22 season in sixteenth place, condemning them to the promotion/relegation play-offs. The club were relegated to the Eerste Divisie after losing 6–1 to Excelsior on aggregate in the semifinals.^[2] Less than a year later, the Heraclieden sealed an immediate return to the top flight, with a 3–0 home win over Jong PSV securing them a top two finish in the 2022–23 Eerste Divisie and only a week after PEC Zwolle had done so.^[3][4] On 19 May 2023, Heracles won their third Eerste Divisie title after defeating Jong Ajax in the last round of play.^[5][6]

Stadium

Heracles Almelo currently play at the Asito Stadion in Almelo. The Asito Stadion was built in 1999 with a capacity 6,900, this was expanded in 2005 to hold 8,500. The pitch at the Asito Stadion is artificial turf. After renovation of the stadium at the beginning of 2015–16 season, it currently holds 13,500 spectators.

Honours

National

• Eredivisie
  • Champions: 1926–27, 1940–41
• Eerste Divisie
  • Winners: 1984–85, 2004–05,^[7] 2022–23
• KNVB Cup
  • Runners-up: 2011–12

Domestic results

Historical chart of league performance

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

Domestic Results since 1956
Domestic league	League result	Qualification to	Domestic cup	Cup result
2023–24 Eredivisie	14th	Eerste Divisie	2023–24	First round
2022–23 Eerste Divisie	1st	Eredivisie (promotion)	2022–23	Second round
2021–22 Eredivisie	16th	Eerste Divisie (relegation)	2021–22	Second round
2020–21 Eredivisie	9th	–	2020–21	Round of 16
2019–20 Eredivisie	8th	–	2019–20	Round of 16
2018–19 Eredivisie	7th	– (losing EL play-offs)	2018–19	Second round
2017–18 Eredivisie	10th	–	2017–18	Round of 16
2016–17 Eredivisie	10th	–	2015–16	Third round
2015–16 Eredivisie	6th	Europa League (winning EL play-offs)	2015–16	Fourth round
2014–15 Eredivisie	14th	–	2014–15	Round of 16
2013–14 Eredivisie	14th	–	2013–14	Round of 16
2012–13 Eredivisie	12th	–	2012–13	Quarter-final
2011–12 Eredivisie	12th	–	2011–12	Final
2010–11 Eredivisie	8th	– (losing EL play-offs)	2010–11	Fourth round
2009–10 Eredivisie	6th	– (losing EL play-offs)	2009–10	Round of 16
2008–09 Eredivisie	15th	–	2008–09	Second round
2007–08 Eredivisie	14th	–	2007–08	Semi-final
2006–07 Eredivisie	14th	–	2006–07	Second round
2005–06 Eredivisie	13th	– (losing IC play-offs)	2005–06	DSQ
2004–05 Eerste Divisie	1st	Eredivisie (promotion)	2004–05	Third round
2003–04 Eerste Divisie	4th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	2003–04	Quarter-final
2002–03 Eerste Divisie	4th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	2002–03	Second round
2001–02 Eerste Divisie	8th	–	2001–02	Second round
2000–01 Eerste Divisie	15th	–	2000–01	Round of 16
1999–00 Eerste Divisie	7th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	1999–00	Third round
1998–99 Eerste Divisie	17th	–	1998–99	Second round
1997–98 Eerste Divisie	14th	–	1997–98	Round of 16
1996–97 Eerste Divisie	13th	–	1996–97	Round of 16
1995–96 Eerste Divisie	8th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	1995–96	Second round
1994–95 Eerste Divisie	6th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	1994–95	Quarter-final
1993–94 Eerste Divisie	4th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	1993–94	Third round
1992–93 Eerste Divisie	17th	–	1992–93	Third round
1991–92 Eerste Divisie	6th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	1991–92	Second round
1990–91 Eerste Divisie	6th	–	1990–91	Second round
1989–90 Eerste Divisie	3rd	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	1989–90	First round
1988–89 Eerste Divisie	12th	–	1988–89	First round
1987–88 Eerste Divisie	19th	–	1987–88	Second round
1986–87 Eerste Divisie	15th	–	1986–87	Second round
1985–86 Eredivisie	18th	Eerste Divisie (relegation)	1985–86	Second round
1984–85 Eerste Divisie	1st	Eredivisie (promotion)	1984–85	First round
1983–84 Eerste Divisie	12th	–	1983–84	Second round
1982–83 Eerste Divisie	16th	–	1982–83	First round
1981–82 Eerste Divisie	16th	–	1981–82	Quarter-final
1980–81 Eerste Divisie	19th	–	1980–81	First round
1979–80 Eerste Divisie	10th	–	1979–80	First round
1978–79 Eerste Divisie	13th	–	1978–79	Second round
1977–78 Eerste Divisie	10th	–	1977–78	Second round
1976–77 Eerste Divisie	19th	–	1976–77	First round
1975–76 Eerste Divisie	15th	–	1975–76	Second round
1974–75 Eerste Divisie	11th	–	1974–75	Quarter-final
1973–74 Eerste Divisie	10th	–	1973–74	Second round
1972–73 Eerste Divisie	15th	–	1972–73	Round of 16
1971–72 Eerste Divisie	14th	–	1971–72	First round
1970–71 Eerste Divisie	6th	–	1970–71	Second round
1969–70 Eerste Divisie	10th	–	1969–70	First round [citation needed]
1968–69 Eerste Divisie	10th	–	1968–69	Quarter-final [citation needed]
1967–68 Eerste Divisie	11th	–	1967–68	Group stage [citation needed]
1966–67 Eerste Divisie	6th	–	1966–67	Quarter-final [citation needed]
1965–66 Eredivisie	16th	Eerste Divisie (relegation)	1965–66	Round of 16 [citation needed]
1964–65 Eredivisie	9th	–	1964–65	Second round [citation needed]
1963–64 Eredivisie	13th	–	1963–64	First round [citation needed]
1962–63 Eredivisie	14th	–	1962–63	Third round [citation needed]
1961–62 Eerste Divisie	1st	Eredivisie (promotion)	1961–62	? [citation needed]
1960–61 Eerste Divisie	3rd (group B)	–	1960–61	? [citation needed]
1959–60 Eerste Divisie	4th (group B)	–	not held	not held
1958–59 Eerste Divisie	7th (group B)	–	1958–59	? [citation needed]
1957–58 Tweede Divisie	1st (group B)	Eerste Divisie (promotion)	1957–58	? [citation needed]
1956–57 Tweede Divisie	3rd (group A)	–	1956–57	? [citation needed]

European record

Season	Competition	Round	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
2016–17	UEFA Europa League	3Q	Arouca	1–1	0–0	1–1 (a)

Notes

• 3Q: Third qualifying round

Current squad

As of 17 January 2025^[8]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 2 DF  NED Mimeirhel Benita (on loan from Feyenoord) 3 DF  GER Jannes Wieckhoff 4 DF  NED Damon Mirani 5 MF  NED Jordy Bruijn 6 DF  SRB Sava-Arangel Čestić 7 FW  BEL Bryan Limbombe 8 FW  GER Mario Engels 9 FW  NED Jizz Hornkamp 11 FW  DEN Nikolai Laursen 13 MF  CZE Jan Žambůrek 14 MF  BEL Brian De Keersmaecker 16 GK  NED Fabian de Keijzer 17 MF  NED Thomas Bruns 19 FW  BIH Luka Kulenović

No. Pos. Nation Player 20 FW  NED Diego van Oorschot 21 DF  NED Justin Hoogma (captain) 22 DF  ITA Lorenzo Milani 23 FW  FIN Juho Talvitie (on loan from Lommel) 24 DF  SVK Ivan Mesík 26 MF  NED Daniël van Kaam 27 DF  NED Jop Tijink 28 FW  CUW Giandro Sambo 29 FW  ISR Suf Podgoreanu (on loan from Maccabi Haifa) 30 GK  BEL Robin Mantel 32 MF  NED Sem Scheperman 35 DF  NED Stijn Bultman 36 GK  NED Timo Jansink 39 DF  NED Mats Rots (on loan from Twente)

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player — FW  ITA Antonio Satriano (at Renate until 30 June 2025)

Former players

Further information: Category:Heracles Almelo players

National team players

The following players were called up to represent their national teams in international football and received caps during their tenure with Heracles Almelo:

Algeria Karim Bridji (2006–2009) Australia Jason Davidson (2011–2014) Ajdin Hrustić (2024) Burundi Mohamed Amissi (2020–2022) Cameroon Willie Overtoom (2008–2013) Canada Rob Friend (2007) Curaçao Brandley Kuwas (2016–2019) Estonia Ragnar Klavan (2005–2009)

Finland Mika Nurmela (2005–2006) Ghana Kwame Quansah (2004–2014) Kazakhstan Alexander Merkel (2018–2020) Morocco Oussama Tannane (2013–2016) Netherlands Bertus Freese (1918–1936) Hennie van Nee (1960–1962; 1963–1965) Frits Schipper (1923–1939) Frans van der Veen (1936–1941; 1948–1954)

Nigeria Cyriel Dessers (2019–2020) United States Luca de la Torre (2020–2022) Suriname Navajo Bakboord (2019–2024) Kelvin Leerdam (2024–present) Syria Mohammed Osman (2018–2020) Tanzania Sunday Manara (1977–1978)

• Players in bold actively play for Heracles Almelo and for their respective national teams. Years in brackets indicate careerspan with Heracles.

National team players by Confederation

Member associations are listed in order of most to least amount of current and former Heracles Almelo players represented Internationally

Total national team players by confederation

Confederation	Total	(Nation) Association
AFC	3	Australia (2), Syria (1)
CAF	7	Algeria (1), Burundi (1), Cameroon (1), Ghana (1), Morocco (1), Nigeria (1), Tanzania (1)
CONCACAF	5	Suriname (2), Canada (1), Curaçao (1), United States (1)
CONMEBOL	0
OFC	0
UEFA	7	Netherlands (4), Estonia (1), Finland (1), Kazakhstan (1)

Players in international tournaments

The following is a list of Heracles Almelo players who have competed in international tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup, AFC Asian Cup and the CONCACAF Gold Cup. To this date no Heracles players have participated in the UEFA European Championship, Africa Cup of Nations, Copa América. or the OFC Nations Cup while playing for Heracles Almelo.

Cup	Players
1938 FIFA World Cup	Frans van der Veen
2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup	Rob Friend
2014 FIFA World Cup	Jason Davidson
2019 AFC Asian Cup	Mohammed Osman

Coaching staff

As of 20 February 2024

Position	Staff
Technical director	Nico-Jan Hoogma
Team Manager	Edwin van Lenthe
Manager	Tom Uitzetter
Head coach	Erwin van de Looi
Assistant coach	René Kolmschot Ivo Rossen
First-team coach	Hendrie Krüzen
First-Team Goalkeeper Coach	Brian van Loo
Video analyst	Leen den Boer
Chief scout	Alfred Nijhuis
Scout	Robin Hoogma
Physiotherapist	Emiel Bolscher Léon van Beelen Ashwien Baidnath
Kit Manager	Martin Dalhoeven

Former coaches

• Horace Colclough (1920–21)
• Ted Magner (1921–23)^[9][10]
• Horace Colclough (1923–32)
• Robert Roxburgh (1932–35)^[11][12]
• Leslie Lievesley (1 March 1946 – 30 June 1947)
• David Davison (July 1948 – February 1949)
• Gilbert Richmond (1949–53)
• Duggie Lochhead (1953–56)
• Jan Bilj (1956–60)
• Michael Keeping (Sept. 1960 – 30 January 1961)
• Frits van der Elst / Freek Jaarsma (1961 interim)
• Jaap van der Leck (March 1961–63)
• Keith Spurgeon (1 July 1963 – 30 June 1964)
• Jan de Bouter (1964–66)
• Les Talbot (1 July 1966 – 30 June 1967)
• Toon Valks (1967–69)
• Evert Teunissen (1 July 1969 – 30 June 1970)
• Rinus Gosens (1 July 1970 – 30 June 1972)
• Ron Dellow (1 July 1972 – 30 June 1975)
• Jan Verhaert (1975–76)
• Hennie Hollink (1 July 1976 – 30 June 1979)
• Theo Laseroms (1979–81)^[13]
• Jan Morsing (1 July 1981 – 3 November 1982)^[14]
• Arie Stehouwer (1982–83)
• Gerard Somer (1983–87)^[15]
• Jan Morsing (1988)^[16][17]
• Henk van Brussel (1989–90)
• Henk ten Cate (21 November 1990 – 30 June 1992)
• Azing Griever (1 February 1993 – 1 March 1995)
• Jan van Staa (1 July 1995 – 30 June 1996)
• Gerard Marsman (1 July 1996 – 30 June 1998)
• Theo Vonk (8 March 1998 – 30 June 1999)
• Fritz Korbach (1 July 1999 – 30 June 2001)
• Gertjan Verbeek (1 July 2001 – 30 June 2004)
• Peter Bosz (1 July 2004 – 30 June 2006)
• Ruud Brood (1 July 2006 – 24 December 2007)
• Gert Heerkes (2 January 2008 – 30 June 2009)
• Gertjan Verbeek (1 July 2009 – 30 June 2010)
• Peter Bosz (1 July 2010 – 30 June 2013)
• Jan de Jonge (1 July 2013 – 31 August 2014)
• John Stegeman (1 September 2014 – 30 June 2018)
• Frank Wormuth (1 July 2018 – 16 May 2022)
• John Lammers (25 June 2022 – 12 December 2023)
• Erwin van de Looi (21 December 2023 – Present)