Football Season Guide

Eerste Divisie

Netherlands

Eerste Divisie

2022/2023

VVV-Venlo

In

Özcan Yasar (att), NAC Breda U21), Robert Klaasen (def), Roda), Ennio van der Gouw (gk), Twente), Rick Ketting (def), Inter Turku)

Out

Niek Munsters (mid), Straelen), Stan van Dijck (r)(def), Lubeck), Joep Munsters (mid), Straelen), Wassim Essanoussi (sp)(mid), Helmond Sport), Joeri Schroijen (r)(att), Willem II), Bram Verbong (gk), retired), Tobias Pachonik (r)(def), Delano van Crooij (r)(gk), Rayan El Azrak (r)(mid), Utrecht U21 - end of loan)

VVV Venlo were truly awful and rather embarrassing at times last season as they never really looked capable of challenging for promotion and only sporadically looked exciting for their fans. It was thus no surprise that Joe Luhukay was let go at the end of the season and VVV start anew with a younger and more vibrant coach in Rick Kruys, who has worked as part of the Utrecht coaching staff in recent years and comes with little experience as an actual first-team manager. He faces a rather steep task in revitalising a squad that looks woefully short both in terms of numbers and quality. They parted ways with some decent players in Joery Schroyen and Tobias Pachonik while reinforcements have been thin on the ground so far. The defence has been bolstered by signing experienced players like Rick Netting and Richard Jenssen but there is not enough cover in the front three and in midfield as the team looks rather short of invention and creativity. Therefore, the fans of the Venlo side should get ready for another season of painfully slow progress and a push for the top places seems a bit too far away at the moment.

Target

Expected to be in mid-table.