FC Emmen

Emmen put in a really strong shift in the play-offs at the end of last season and pushed eventually winners NAC Breda all the way in their semi-final. That said, they got beaten deservedly and actually the mere fact that they made it to the play-offs was a real miracle after such a poor run of form in the early months of 2024. The new season offers a chance for a reset and a fresh start as Emmen aim to be a lot more competitive and consistent. Alfons Arts impressed in his short stint at the end of last season but he will not be the manager this season and instead assumes the assistant-manager role to Robin Peter, a young German coach who comes from the Red Bull Salzburg academy. It has been a very busy off-season for Emmen as almost the entire squad has been overhauled, with 16 players leaving and 14 new arriving so far. Peter has focused mostly on the market he knows best, Germany, and there are certainly some exciting additions like Thorben Rein, Julius Kade and Franck Evina. This team looks rather short on experience and know-how about what works in the Eerste Divisive, and unless they hit the ground running early and get some momentum, Emmen do not look at the moment like a side ready to challenge for big things.