Go Ahead Eagles
| Full name | Go Ahead Eagles | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The pride of the IJssel Kowet (Dunglish pronunciation of "Go Ahead") | ||
| Founded | 2 December 1902 | ||
| Ground | De Adelaarshorst | ||
| Capacity | 10,400[1] | ||
| Chairman | Jan Willem van Dop | ||
| Head coach | Melvin Boel | ||
| League | Eredivisie | ||
| 2024–25 | Eredivisie, 7th of 18 | ||
| Website | www | ||
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The Go Ahead Eagles are a Dutch professional football club from the city of Deventer in the province of Overijssel. They play in the Eredivisie, the top tier of Dutch football, having achieved promotion from the second tier Eerste Divisie in the 2020–21 season. The club's home stadium since 1920 is De Adelaarshorst. The club have won the national championship on four occasions: in 1917, 1922, 1930 and 1933. It also won the KNVB Cup in 2025 for the first time.
The Go Ahead Eagles have produced numerous notable players including Raimond van der Gouw, René Eijkelkamp, Marc Overmars, Paul Bosvelt, Jan Kromkamp, Victor Sikora, Bert van Marwijk and Demy de Zeeuw while providing Henk ten Cate, Erik ten Hag and Leo Beenhakker with their first tastes of management.
History
Early successes
The club was founded in 1902 as Be Quick by the Hollander brothers. The name was changed to Go Ahead at the request of the Dutch Football Association in 1905, to avoid confusion with another team.[2]
Go Ahead started in the second-tier Tweede Klasse. In 1911, the club reached promotion to the Eastern Eerste Klasse. In 1916, Go Ahead became champions of the Eastern Eerste Klasse for the first time, after which they faced off for the national championship in a competition with the other regional champions. In this championship playoffs for the national championship, however, the southern champions from Willem II proved too strong. A year later, however, Go Ahead took their first league title, a feat repeated in 1922, 1930 and 1933.[2]
In the period between the First and Second World War, Go Ahead was by far the most successful team in the Eastern league. The club won the regional championship fifteen times during that period, and even won the title eight times in a row from 1916 to 1923. The last pre-war Eastern Championship was won in 1937. After that, the club fell on tough times. In 1941, Go Ahead suffered relegation to the Tweede Klasse. The following year, they promoted again. In 1948, the club became champion of the Eastern First Division for the sixteenth and final time. In the playoffs for the national championship with the other regional champions, Go Ahead finished third behind eventual champions, BVV Den Bosch, and Heerenveen.[2]
Professionalism and Europe
The introduction of professionalism in 1954 was initially unsuccessful for Go Ahead. In 1956, the club finished second to last in the Tweede Divisie. In 1959, promotion to the Eerste Divisie was secured. On 7 October 1962, Go Ahead recorded their biggest win in club history. In Deventer the final score was 11–1 against Roda JC.[3] Promotion to the top-tier Eredivisie followed in 1963. In the twenty-four years that followed, the club continuously played at the highest level. Especially in the second half of the sixties, Go Ahead did well in the Eredivisie. For example, from 1966 to 1969, the club finished in the top five four times in a row, with the 1967–68 season as high point when Go Ahead finished third behind Ajax and Feyenoord.[2]
Go Ahead also had successes in the KNVB Cup in that period. The club reached the semi-finals four seasons in a row from 1965 to 1968. Those of 1966, 1967 and 1968 were lost, but in 1965, Go Ahead reached the final. This was lost 1–0 to Feijenoord, but because Feijenoord was also national champion, Go Ahead qualified for European football. In the first round, Scottish side Celtic, who would eventually go on to win the European Cup a season later, was drawn. Go Ahead lost the two legs, 0–1 and 6–0.[2][4]
On 1 July 1971, the suffix "Eagles" was added, following a suggestion from then head coach Barry Hughes, as the professional department of Go Ahead separated from the parent club.[5] The eagle is the charge in the coat of arms of the city of Deventer. The club had a strong start with their new name. Go Ahead Eagles were famously the only side to defeat Ajax in any competition during the 1971–72 season when they won 3–2 at De Adelaarshorst in the Eredivisie.[2]
In the 1970s and early 1980s, Go Ahead Eagles was a stable Eredivisie club. Relegation followed in 1987. A short Eredivisie period followed from 1992 to 1996, but afterwards the club played in the second-tier Eerste Divisie.[2] Partly due to the constant postponement of the construction of a new stadium, major financial concerns arose. Thanks to the help of investors, the club managed to survive in November 2003. In exchange for that help, the investors acquired 80% of the club's shares. The club is thus privately owned. The determining factor was former chairman Hans de Vroome, who owned approximately 50% of the shares.[6]
In May 2019, Alex Kroes took over 80% of the shares of Go Ahead Eagles, becoming the new owner.[7] On 16 May 2022, it was announced that Kroes intended to sell his share package to Kees Vierhouten – shareholder since 2021 – as of 1 July 2022, and to leave as owner of Go Ahead Eagles. In August 2022, this sale was officially endorsed by the licensing committee of the Dutch Football Association.[8]
Recent seasons
After almost two decades in the Eerste Divisie, Go Ahead won promotion to the 2013–14 Eredivisie at the end of the 2012–13 season, winning the promotion play-offs.[9] The club remained in the top division for the 2014–15 season, finishing 13th.
Go Ahead Eagles would compete in Europe in the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League due to the Netherlands' first place in UEFA Respect Fair Play ranking. National Fair Play winner Twente withdrew due to financial difficulties, making the place for Go Ahead Eagles. However, they also suffered relegation after losing 2–0 on aggregate to De Graafschap in the May 2015 promotion/relegation play-offs.[10] In July 2015, they were beaten 2–5 on aggregate by Hungarian side Ferencváros[11] in the first Europa League qualifying round with the home leg played in Emmen due to the Adelaarshorst being renovated, and the away leg without spectators because the Hungarians were serving a ban by UEFA.
The club bounced back to the Eredivisie on the first attempt in May 2016 after beating De Graafschap 5–2 on aggregate in the promotion/relegation play-offs,[12] but were relegated again at the end of the 2016–17 season.
In May 2021, Go Ahead finished second in the Eerste Divisie, earning promotion back to the Eredivisie after four seasons in the second tier.[13] On 21 April 2025, Go Ahead claimed their first-ever KNVB Cup.[14]
Honours
- Dutch Championship/Eredivisie
- Tweede Divisie
- Winners (1): 1958–59
- KNVB Cup
- Winners (1): 2024–25
- Runners-up: 1964–65
Domestic results
Below is a table with Go Ahead Eagles' domestic results since the introduction of professional football in 1956.
| Go Ahead Eagles domestic results since 1956 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic league | League result | Qualification to | KNVB Cup season | Cup result |
| 2024–25 Eredivisie | 7th | Europa League | 2024–25 | Winners |
| 2023–24 Eredivisie | 9th | Conference League (Q2) | 2023–24 | Round of 16 |
| 2022–23 Eredivisie | 11th | – | 2022–23 | Round of 16 |
| 2021–22 Eredivisie | 13th | – | 2021–22 | Semi-final |
| 2020–21 Eerste Divisie | 2nd | Eredivisie (promotion) | 2020–21 | Round of 16 |
| 2019–20 Eerste Divisie | 6th | Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic | 2019–20 | Quarter-final |
| 2018–19 Eerste Divisie | 5th | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 2018–19 | Second round |
| 2017–18 Eerste Divisie | 17th | – | 2017–18 | Second round |
| 2016–17 Eredivisie | 18th | Eerste Divisie (relegation) | 2016–17 | Second round |
| 2015–16 Eerste Divisie | 5th | promotion/relegation play-offs: promotion | 2015–16 | Third round |
| 2014–15 Eredivisie | 17th | promotion/relegation play-offs: relegation | 2014–15 | Third round |
| 2013–14 Eredivisie | 13th | – | 2013–14 | Third round |
| 2012–13 Eerste Divisie | 6th | promotion/relegation play-offs: promotion | 2012–13 | Round of 16 |
| 2011–12 Eerste Divisie | 9th | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 2011–12 | Round of 16 |
| 2010–11 Eerste Divisie | 7th | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 2010–11 | Fourth round |
| 2009–10 Eerste Divisie | 5th | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 2009–10 | Semi-final |
| 2008–09 Eerste Divisie | 7th | – | 2008–09 | Second round |
| 2007–08 Eerste Divisie | 10th | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 2007–08 | Third round |
| 2006–07 Eerste Divisie | 7th | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 2006–07 | Round of 16 |
| 2005–06 Eerste Divisie | 18th | – | 2005–06 | Third round |
| 2004–05 Eerste Divisie | 17th | – | 2004–05 | Round of 16 |
| 2003–04 Eerste Divisie | 9th | – | 2003–04 | Second round |
| 2002–03 Eerste Divisie | 7th | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 2002–03 | Second round |
| 2001–02 Eerste Divisie | 16th | – | 2001–02 | Second round |
| 2000–01 Eerste Divisie | 6th | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 2000–01 | Second round |
| 1999–2000 Eerste Divisie | 14th | – | 1999–00 | Round of 16 |
| 1998–99 Eerste Divisie | 7th | – | 1998–99 | Round of 16 |
| 1997–98 Eerste Divisie | 9th | – | 1997–98 | Group stage |
| 1996–97 Eerste Divisie | 6th | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 1996–97 | Second round |
| 1995–96 Eredivisie | 18th | Eerste Divisie (relegation) | 1995–96 | Second round |
| 1994–95 Eredivisie | 17th | – (surviving promotion/relegation play-offs) | 1994–95 | Second round |
| 1993–94 Eredivisie | 12th | – | 1993–94 | Third round |
| 1992–93 Eredivisie | 15th | – | 1992–93 | Third round |
| 1991–92 Eerste Divisie | 11th | Eredivisie (winning prom./releg. play-offs) | 1991–92 | Second round |
| 1990–91 Eerste Divisie | 7th | – | 1990–91 | Second round |
| 1989–90 Eerste Divisie | 9th | promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion | 1989–90 | Second round |
| 1988–89 Eerste Divisie | 10th | promotion competition: no promotion | 1988–89 | First round |
| 1987–88 Eerste Divisie | 12th | – | 1987–88 | First round |
| 1986–87 Eredivisie | 16th | Eerste Divisie (relegation) | 1986–87 | First round |
| 1985–86 Eredivisie | 10th | – | 1985–86 | First round |
| 1984–85 Eredivisie | 15th | – | 1984–85 | Quarter-final |
| 1983–84 Eredivisie | 11th | – | 1983–84 | Second round |
| 1982–83 Eredivisie | 12th | – | 1982–83 | Quarter-final |
| 1981–82 Eredivisie | 10th | – | 1981–82 | Second round |
| 1980–81 Eredivisie | 12th | – | 1980–81 | Semi-final |
| 1979–80 Eredivisie | 12th | – | 1979–80 | Round of 16 |
| 1978–79 Eredivisie | 9th | – | 1978–79 | Second round |
| 1977–78 Eredivisie | 16th | – | 1977–78 | Round of 16 |
| 1976–77 Eredivisie | 11th | – | 1976–77 | Second round |
| 1975–76 Eredivisie | 13th | – | 1975–76 | Round of 16 |
| 1974–75 Eredivisie | 12th | – | 1974–75 | Second round |
| 1973–74 Eredivisie | 10th | – | 1973–74 | Second round |
| 1972–73 Eredivisie | 14th | – | 1972–73 | Second round |
| 1971–72 Eredivisie | 9th | – | 1971–72 | Round of 16 |
| 1970–71 Eredivisie | 7th | – | 1970–71 | Second round |
| 1969–70 Eredivisie | 7th | – | 1969–70 | Round of 16 |
| 1968–69 Eredivisie | 4th | – | 1968–69 | Second round |
| 1967–68 Eredivisie | 3rd | – | 1967–68 | Semi-final |
| 1966–67 Eredivisie | 5th | – | 1966–67 | Semi-final |
| 1965–66 Eredivisie | 5th | – | 1965–66 | Semi-final |
| 1964–65 Eredivisie | 11th | Cup Winners' Cup | 1964–65 | Final |
| 1963–64 Eredivisie | 12th | – | 1963–64 | Second round |
| 1962–63 Eerste Divisie | 2nd | Eredivisie (promotion) | 1962–63 | Third round |
| 1961–62 Eerste Divisie | 4th (group A) | – | 1961–62 | ? |
| 1960–61 Eerste Divisie | 15th (group B) | – | 1960–61 | ? |
| 1959–60 Eerste Divisie | 10th (group B) | – | not held | not held |
| 1958–59 Tweede Divisie | 1st (group B) | Eerste Divisie (promotion) | 1958–59 | ? |
| 1957–58 Tweede Divisie | 3rd (group B) | – | 1957–58 | ? |
| 1956–57 Tweede Divisie | 13th (group A) | – | 1956–57 | ? |
European record
| Season | Competition | Round | Opponent | Home | Away | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965–66 | Cup Winners' Cup | R1 | Celtic | 0–6 | 0–1 | 0–7 |
| 1967–68 | Intertoto Cup | Group A4 | Lierse | 1–2 | 0–2 | 4th out of 4 |
| Rouen | 5–0 | 3–4 | ||||
| Grenchen | 3–1 | 0–2 | ||||
| 1969–70 | Intertoto Cup | Group 2 | Szombierki Bytom | 2–2 | 0–1 | 3rd out of 4 |
| Östers IF | 1–1 | 2–3 | ||||
| Lugano | 1–1 | 4–0 | ||||
| 1984–85 | Intertoto Cup | Group 4 | Standard Liège | 1–1 | 2–4 | 4th out of 4 |
| OB | 1–1 | 0–3 | ||||
| Eintracht Braunschweig | 2–1 | 1–2 | ||||
| 2015–16 | Europa League | QR1 | Ferencváros | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–5 |
| 2024–25 | Conference League | R2 | Brann | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 |
| 2025–26 | Europa League | League phase | Draw: 29 August 2025 | — | TBD out of 36 | |
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Rivalries
Go Ahead Eagles' biggest rivals are PEC Zwolle.[15] Both clubs are located close to the river IJssel, hence the name IJssel-derby for their encounters. Other teams who share a rivalry with Go Ahead Eagles include FC Twente and De Graafschap. Go Ahead Eagles fans maintain a friendly relationship with English team Luton Town.
Current squad
- As of 4 July 2025[16]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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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.
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Former 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 Go Ahead Eagles:
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- Players in bold actively play for Go Ahead Eagles and for their respective national teams. Years in brackets indicate careerspan with Go Ahead Eagles.
National team players by Confederation
Member associations are listed in order of most to least amount of current and former Go Ahead Eagles players represented Internationally
| Confederation | Total | (Nation) Association |
|---|---|---|
| AFC | 4 | Indonesia (4), Malaysia (1), Australia (1) |
| CAF | 5 | Nigeria (2), Cape Verde (1), Comoros (1), Togo (1) |
| CONCACAF | 3 | Curaçao (2), Suriname (1) |
| CONMEBOL | 0 | |
| OFC | 0 | |
| UEFA | 21 | Netherlands (11), Denmark (2), Estonia (2), Finland (2), Moldova (2), Faroe Islands (1), Iceland (1) |
Players in international tournaments
The following is a list of Go Ahead Eagles players who have competed in international tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship, Africa Cup of Nations, CONCACAF Gold Cup, and the Caribbean Cup. To this date no Go Ahead Eagles players have participated in the AFC Asian Cup, or the OFC Nations Cup while playing for Go Ahead Eagles.
Coaching staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | Melvin Boel |
| Assistant Coach | Henk den Bruggen |
| Goalkeeping Coach | Matthijs Hoorstwald |
| Fitness Coach | Maurits Thijkhuis |
| Trainer scout | Frank Berghuis |
| Opponent Analyst | Gert Jan Karsten |
| Scout | Jan Groeneweg Dennis Hulshoff Jules Reimerink |
| Sports Scientist | Tim van der Meulen |
| Physiotherapist | Frank Nab |
| Secretary | Adrie Steenbergen |
| Kit Manager | Carla Whittie-Bruggeman |
| Academy Manager | Eric Whittie |
| Team Manager | Alfred Knippenberg |
| Technical Director | Paul Bosvelt |
Coaching history
- Fred Fitton (1946–1948)[17]
- Stephan Nagy (1948–50)[18][19]
- Franz Köhler (1954–56)
- Gilbert Richmond (1957–62)
- František Fadrhonc (1 July 1962 – 30 June 1970)
- Barry Hughes (1 July 1970 – 30 June 1973)
- Jan Notermans (1973–75)
- Henk van Brussel (1975)
- Leo Beenhakker (1975–76)
- Henk van Brussel (interim) (1976)
- Wiel Coerver (1 July 1976 – 30 June 1977)
- Henk van Brussel (interim) (1978)
- Joop Brand (1 July 1978 – 17 February 1980)
- Spitz Kohn (1 July 1980 – 30 June 1981)
- Bob Maaskant (1981–83)
- Henk Wullems (1 July 1983 – 30 June 1986)
- Nico van Zoghel (1 July 1985 – 30 June 1988)
- Mircea Petescu (30 June 1988 – 15 December 1988)
- Fritz Korbach (15 December 1988 – 30 June 1990)
- Henk ten Cate (22 Feb 1990 – 30 June 1990)
- Jan Versleijen (1 July 1990 – 30 June 1993)
- Henk ten Cate (1 July 1993 – 27 January 1995)
- Ab Fafié (27 Jan 1995 – 30 June 1996)
- Leo van Veen (1 July 1996 – 30 June 1997)
- Jan van Staa (1 July 1997 – 30 June 2002)
- Theo de Jong (2001–02)
- Robert Maaskant (1 July 2002 – 2 February 2003)
- Raymond Libregts (15 Jan 2003 – 30 June 2005)
- Mike Snoei (1 July 2005 – 4 March 2008)
- Gerard Somer (interim) (4 March 2008 – 7 March 2008)
- Andries Ulderink (7 March 2008 – 30 June 2011)
- Joop Gall (1 July 2011 – 24 March 2012)
- Michel Boerebach (int.) (24 March 2012 – 31 March 2012)
- Jimmy Calderwood (30 March 2012 – 30 June 2012)
- Erik ten Hag (1 July 2012 – 30 June 2013)
- Foeke Booy (1 July 2013 – 22 March 2015)
- Dennis Demmers (22 March 2015 – 1 February 2016)
- Harry Decheiver (interim) (2016)
- Hans de Koning (20 February 2016 – 22 March 2017)
- Robert Maaskant (25 March 2017 – 30 June 2017)
- Leon Vlemmings (1 July 2017 – 3 December 2017)
- Jan van Staa (5 December 2017 – 30 June 2018)
- John Stegeman (1 July 2018 – 29 May 2019)
- Jack de Gier (May 2019 – 30 June 2020)
- Kees van Wonderen (1 July 2020 – 30 June 2022)
- René Hake (1 July 2022 – 6 July 2024)
- Paul Simonis (7 July 2024 – 12 June 2025)
- Melvin Boel (12 June 2025 – present)
See also
References
- ^ "De Adelaarshorst – Go Ahead Eagles".
- ^ a b c d e f g "Historie - Go Ahead Eagles". ga-eagles.nl. Go Ahead Eagles. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ "Go Ahead - Roda 1962" (in Dutch). Go Ahead Eagles. 16 February 2017. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ Sullivan, Joe (26 October 2015). "Go Ahead Eagles celebrate Golden Anniversary of meeting Celtic". celticfc.net. Celtic F.C. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
So, it would seem that the 7-0 aggregate score ended Go Ahead's European story right then and there but, as it turns out, their fairytale adventure of getting into Europe via the back door didn't end there for the club who changed their name to Go Ahead Eagles in 1971.
- ^ "Go Ahead Eagles – About Us". Archived from the original on 26 November 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
- ^ Arentsen, Dennis (16 May 2018). "De Vroome wil zijn aandelen in GA Eagles aan stichting schenken". de Stentor (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ "KNVB keurt overname aandelen goed: Kroes machtigste man binnen Go Ahead". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 31 May 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ "Alex Kroes vertrekt als grote baas van Go Ahead Eagles". Algemeen Dagblad. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ "Eredivisie review: Go Ahead Eagles end 17-year exile from the Eredivisie". Sky Sports. 26 May 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
- ^ Graafschap duwt Go Ahead Eagles naar Eerste Divisie – Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch)
- ^ Ferencváros maat te groot voor GA Eagles - GA Eagles (in Dutch)
- ^ Go Ahead Eagles naar eredivisie - De Telegraaf (in Dutch)
- ^ "Go Ahead Eagles promoveert op doelsaldo naar eredivisie, De Graafschap met lege handen" [Go Ahead Eagles promoted to Eredivisie on goal difference, De Graafschap empty handed] (in Dutch). Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ "Go Ahead Eagles Win The KNVB Cup". football-oranje.com. 21 April 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ Tonie van Ringelestijn and Joël Groeneveld (May 1999). "Betaald voetbal in Zwolle van 1980 tot 1999. Van PEC naar FC Zwolle" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 17 March 2007.
FC Zwolle – Go Ahead Eagles Rivalry.
- ^ "Selectie". www.ga-eagles.nl. Go Ahead Eagles. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
- ^ "De trainer van Go Ahead". Deventer Dagblad (in Dutch). 5 August 1946. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "Go- Ahead krijgt Tsjechische oefenmeester". Deventer Dagblad (in Dutch). 19 June 1948. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "Trainer S. Nagy gaat Go-Ahead verlaten" (in Dutch). Deventer Dagblad. 9 November 1950. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
External links
- Official website (in Dutch)
- Club profile (Archived 6 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine) at Weltfussballarchiv
- Online fanzine (in Dutch)
- Bozen van het Oosten (in Dutch) (archived)