Football Season Guide

Excelsior obtained straight promotion back to the Eredivisie at the first time of asking, last season. In fact, the Rotterdam side finished on the second place, with 74 points, 8 below Volendam, the Eerste Divisie dominators. While the Volendam side had the best attack, Excelsior held the best defence of the league, with just 38 goals conceded and 14 clean sheets to their name. They had an uneven season, momentarily making the top between mid-November and mid-December and then facing a crisis, between early January and early March, which brought them to the 4th place. When they seemed to need the playoffs to achieve promotion, a final push characterized by 8 wins in the last 9 games proved decisive for their success. Thus, coach Ruben den Uil led them to promotion at his first season in charge after acting as an assistant in the previous years. He was logically confirmed also for the new campaign. Excelsior underwent a major overhaul over the transfer campaign, with 15 players leaving and only 7 arriving so far. Back-up goalie Kuiper left and Van Gassel joined in from NEC Nijmegen. The latter, who has Eredivisie experience unlike Raatsie, could thus become the new n.1. The defence remained basically untouched with 22-year-old centre-back Henderikx, their main investment, set to become a protagonist at the back in the long run. The midfield was affected by the departures of starting holding midfielder Hatenboer and key attacking midfielder Duijvestijn, 12 goals and 11 assists last season, returning to his parent club and sold respectively. Carlen arrived from IFK Goteborg, as Hatenboer replacement, and could be given starting status while no creative player was signed yet. The attack lost a few protagonists in wingers Fini and Donkor, together with strikers Omorowa and Van Duinen. Again, they need to strengthen also this department since, of the two wingers arrived, De Regt should become a protagonist, having already played in the Eredivisie, while 18-year-old Yoon has still to adapt to European football, after impressing in the K-League.