Chasing the Big Leagues – FC Zwolle (Dutch Eerste Divisie)

Just Football’s Tales from Tier Two series, in association with @tiertwofooty, concludes now with a look at the runaway leaders of the Dutch Eerste Divisie:

FC Zwolle

FC Zwolle are in pole position to return to the Dutch Eredivisie eight years since they were cruelly relegated after both Volendam and Vitesse claimed rare victories as Zwolle were being thumped 7-1 at Feyenoord. Nobody will be taking promotion for granted despite entering the winter break a massive 10 points clear of closest challenges FC Eindhoven.

One year ago Zwolle sat 11 points clear of RKC Waalwijk before a terrible end to the season in which Zwolle won only 1 game in 8 whilst RKC Waalwijk won 7 of their 8 games (including a 3-0 win in Zwolle) to finish 4 points clear at the top. After scraping past Cambuur on penalties Zwolle lost to VVV Venlo in the playoffs to condemn them to another season in the Eerste Divise.

Founded just over 100 years ago under the name PEC, they have competed in the top flight of Dutch football on 12 occasions with a highest finish of 8th in 1979. Since relegation back to the Eerste Divisie Zwolle have yet to finish outside the top 10.

Art Langeler was promoted from Youth Coach in October 2009 with a contract until the end of the 2010/11 season which has now been extended until the end of this season. Assisted by former Manchester United & Holland defender Jaap Stam the pair faced a tough task in the summer when 46 goal strike partners Danny Schreurs and Sjoerd Ars left to join Willem II & Levski Sofia respectively.

Langeler has forged a team that are not reliant on the strikers and the goals are much more evenly spread this season. Furdjel Narsingh has proved an inspired signing, he joined from AZ Alkmaar reserves. Nassir Maachi was a bit part player last season whilst on loan from Cambuur but he has signed permanently, featured in every game so far and notched 11 goals. Rochdi Achenteh has been a rock in the centre of midfielder since joining from FC Eindhoven and Bart Van Hintum (Dordrecht) alongside Darryl Lachman (Groningen) have added security to the defence.

The January transfer window saw Ruud ter Heide join from FC Emmen after he found the net 5 times for his former club this season. Zwolle will surely use last season’s heartbreak to good effect and win the title at a canter avoiding the lottery of the Dutch playoff system. From there the aim will be consolidation in the Eredivisie, something that promoted teams often find a difficult hurdle to climb.

The early period of the 2nd half of the season has been reasonably good to Zwolle, despite early murmurings of a collapse to match last year’s after the Blauwvingers lost their first fixture after the break 2-0 at Sparta Rotterdam. They followed that up with 2 victories against Almere City and Dordrecht, new signing ter Heide notching his first goal for the club (although later picking up an injury that will keep him out for several weeks). Zwolle remain firmly on course for a long awaited return to the Eredivisie.

Will they last the pace? Yes, surely they can’t blow a 10 point lead in consecutive seasons.

Predicted Final Position: 1st

Key Man: Joey van den Berg, The versatile attacker/winger provides both goals & assists on a regular basis.

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Dutch Eredivisie, Dutch Football, FC Zwolle, Holland, Tier Two Football