Football Season Guide

When the league was suspended in March due to COVOD-19, Sparta Rotterdam were in 11th place - an absolutely positive result considering they were a newly promoted team. The start of the season had been very bright, then there was an inevitable decline, however they always kept their distance from the relegation zone. Coach Henk Fraser has always been able to field a competitive and balanced team, conceding perhaps a few too many goals, but also with an attack capable of scoring 41 goals in 26 rounds (the seventh best attack of Eredivisie), even without a regular scorer (the best was Mohamed Rayhi with just 7 goals). During the summer transfer market they made three major transfers out. All three were immediately replaced by players of more or less the same quality. Goalkeeper Ariel Harush has been replaced with Benjamin van Leer from Ajax, central defender Jurgen Mattheij with experienced Tom Beugelsdijk, while team star striker Ragnar Ache, sold to Eintracht Frankfurt, was replaced by German Lennart Thy, coming from an overall positive season with PEC Zwolle. Sparta's biggest shortcomings appear to be in midfield, especially due to Dante Rigo and Patrick Joosten's loans ending. With the departure of these two players, the midfield loses quality, leaving mainly ball-winners.