Prins Hendrik Ende Desespereert Nimmer Combinatie Zwolle, commonly known asPEC Zwolle, is a Dutch professionalfootball club based inZwolle, Netherlands. They play in theEredivisie, the top tier ofDutch football. They have played in the Eredivisie for a total of 22 seasons, reaching sixth place in 2015. They won theKNVB Cup in2014 and also reached the final in 1928, 1977 and 2015.
This is the second incarnation of the club; its predecessor of the same name went bankrupt in 1990. The current club was founded immediately afterwards asFC Zwolle before renaming back to PEC Zwolle in 2012.
PEC was founded on 12 June 1910, the name being an abbreviation ofPHEDNCombinatie (PH EDN Combination). The club was formed by a merger of Prins Hendrik (1 April 1906;Prince Henry) and Ende Desespereert Nimmer (1904; And Never Despair). PEC has been a professional football club since 23 February 1955. The club name was changed toPEC Zwolle in 1971 and toPEC Zwolle '82 in 1982. Instantly after the bankruptcy a new name was chosen for the new club: FC Zwolle. On 14 April 2012, after the promotion, the club name was changed back to PEC Zwolle.
PEC was one of Zwolle's three top football clubs, along withZAC (founded in 1893) andZwolsche Boys (1918). ZAC was associated with the local high society, Zwolsche Boys were associated with the working class, while PEC was the club of the local middle class.[3] There was considerable rivalry between these three clubs, especially between Zwolsche Boys and PEC. Not only were their stadiums within walking distance from each other, the clubs frequently met each other in league matches.
Despite this rivalry, PEC and Zwolsche Boys merged in 1969, taking the name PEC. In 1971, this became PEC Zwolle, in an attempt to promote the image of the city ofZwolle. In 1977, PEC Zwolle reached the finals of theKNVB Cup, losing toTwente in extra time, and missed out on promotion to theEredivisie by one point. In 1978, the club won the Dutchfirst division title and was promoted to the Eredivisie for the first time in its history. In its first season in the Eredivisie, the club finished eighth, which remained PEC Zwolle's highest ever league position until finishing sixth in2014–15. Their most impressive result that season was a 0–1 away victory atPSV. These results were achieved by a talented group of players bought from other clubs, such asRinus Israël. The money for this came from theSlavenburg's bank, which was led by FC Zwolle chairmanJan Willem van der Wal. By 1982, the club had built up a debt of six millionguilders and was on the verge of bankruptcy.
Real estate developerMarten Eibrink took over power in PEC Zwolle in 1982. He managed to end the debt and restructured the club, which was epitomized by a change in the name:PEC Zwolle '82. He also had the club's stadium renovated and decided to name the stadium's main stand theJohan Cruyff Stand, because Johan Cruyff had played his last official match against PEC Zwolle '82 on 13 May 1984. Eibrink brought legendary players likePiet Schrijvers,Johnny Rep andCees van Kooten to the club. The club managed to revive, but the revival was short-lived. In 1985, PEC Zwolle '82 were relegated to the Dutch first division, largely due to an injury-ridden main squad. They managed to return after only one season, having finished in second place. That team was led by the coachCo Adriaanse and the playerFoeke Booy. Eibrink, however, grew increasingly disappointed in sponsors and local authorities, accusing them of not loving the club in the way that he did, and he left the club in 1988. Despite a promising start to the 1988–89 season, the club finished in 16th place, which meant that it was relegated to the First Division. The financial crisis worsened, as sponsors refused to invest in the club any longer. The players' wages could not be paid, and a debt to the Slavenburg's bank appeared which had been overseen by the board for around ten years. This led to the club's bankruptcy in March 1990.
After the bankruptcy, it was decided that the club had to sever all ties with the troubled finances of the past and make a fresh start. The club got a new name (FC Zwolle), a new organisational structure, new sponsors, new club colours (blue-white shirts with white shorts instead of green-white shirts with black shorts) and a new crest. The first years of the 'new' club were hard, but after 1992–93, a new team filled with talents such asJaap Stam (who would later play for PSV,Manchester United,Lazio,Milan andAjax),Bert Konterman (Feyenoord andRangers),Johan Hansma (Heerenveen) andHenri van der Vegt (Udinese) played attractive and successful football. In 1992–93, FC Zwolle narrowly missed promotion to theEredivisie. In the KNVB Cup, FC Zwolle reached the quarter-finals, losing toFeyenoord in apenalty shootout.
After many failed attempts in the play-offs, FC Zwolle finally managed to secure a return to the Eredivisie by winning the First Division in 2002. In the2002–03 Eredivisie season, the club finished in 16th place and escaped relegation via the play-offs. A year later, they made a miserable start to the season, and had scored only seven points halfway through the season. An impressive run, with victories over the likes ofSC Heerenveen andAZ, proved in vain, as FC Zwolle dropped from a 16th place (which would have placed them in the play-offs) to the 18th place (direct relegation) on the last day of the season. They lost 7–1 away at Feyenoord, while their rivalsVitesse andVolendam managed to beat their opponentsUtrecht andRBC Roosendaal.
At the beginning of the2004–05 season, FC Zwolle was considered one of the favourites for the title in the First Division, along withSparta Rotterdam. However, it was another club from the province ofOverijssel,Heracles Almelo, that won the title. FC Zwolle finished the season in fourth place, and had to play play-off matches against the second- and sixth-placed teams of the First Division (Sparta andHelmond Sport) and the 17th-placed team of the Eredivisie,De Graafschap. They finished bottom of their group, with one point from six matches, while Sparta won the group and clinched promotion and De Graafschap was relegated.
The2005–06 season started well, with FC Zwolle fighting for the league's top spot in the first months. However, the results dwindled in November and December. Angry supporters threatened trainer-coachHennie Spijkerman after a 0–5 home defeat againstExcelsior, and Spijkerman resigned a few days later. The club's chairman announced that he would crack down on the supporters involved, and said that some had already received stadium bans of up to 9 years. Spijkerman's assistant trainerHarry Sinkgraven finished the season, leading the club to the play-offs, in which Eredivisie sideWillem II proved too strong.
FormerFeyenoord andAjax playerJan Everse, who had already trained the club between 1996 and 1999, was presented as the new trainer-coach. He was faced with financial problems at the club, and the departure of key strikerSanti Kolk. Many players from the club's youth teams were brought into the main squad, with mixed results. The team ended at the ninth place of the table during the2006–07 season.
During the2010–11 season, FC Zwolle held the top spot for a long time, but had to leave the title toRKC Waalwijk. Zwolle ended in 2nd place and did not achieve promotion. The2011–12 season was more successful. FC Zwolle won the title and secured their return to the Eredivisie in the2012–13 season.
Ron Jans led PEC to a KNVB Cup and Johan Cruijf Schaal.
Shortly after winning the championship of theEerste Divisie, the club announced that the name will be changed toPEC Zwolle again.[4]
In 2014, under the guidance of new head coachRon Jans, PEC Zwolle earned their first major silverware by winning theKNVB Cup, beating league champions Ajax 5–1 in the final. Thus, PEC Zwolle qualified for theUEFA Europa League for the first time.[5] On 3 August 2014, PEC Zwolle also won the2014 Johan Cruijff Schaal (Dutch Supercup) by defeating AFC Ajax, this time by 1–0.[6]
By winning the KNVB Cup, PEC Zwolle qualified for the2014–15 UEFA Europa League. In the play-off round, Zwolle playedAC Sparta Prague and after a 1–1 draw in Zwolle it lost 3–1 in Prague, losing 2–4 on aggregate.[7]
After winning the KNVB Cup 2014, PEC Zwolle managed to reach the finals again in 2015. This time they played againstFC Groningen and lost with 2 - 0.[8]
The years following this, Zwolle was relatively stable. During the year 2017 with the new head coachJohn van 't Schip, PEC Zwolle experienced one of the most successful years ever, being third place during the winter break. However, following the winter break, Zwolle experienced the complete opposite of what it had before; it lost all matches and eventually ended at the 9th place in 2018.[9] The season 2018/2019 Zwolle had a very disastrous start. During the winter break of 2018/2019, Zwolle was on struggling to stay in the Eredivise, being on the 15th place. Coach John van 't Schip was fired after this.[10] During the year 2018, Zwolle got the fewest points in the Eredivisie; 26 points.
New coachJaap Stam replaced his successor and managed to save Zwolle. He won with 3 - 1 againstFeyenoord,[11] 0 - 2 againstHeracles Almelo,[12] and 4 - 3 againstFC Utrecht.[13] At the end of the season 2018/2019, Zwolle ended at the 13th place, preventing relegation.
The 2 seasons following 2018/2019, PEC Zwolle repeatedly narrowly avoids relegation, ending at the 15th and 13th place. However, during the season 2021/2022, PEC Zwolle had a disastrous season once again. The coachArt Langeler quit and his assistant quit as well.[14] This time,Dick Schreuder was enlisted as head coach to rescue Zwolle from relegation. Despite his initial successes, he failed to prevent relegation and Zwolle ended at the 18th place in 2022, being relegated to the second division in the Netherlands.
Short and record-breaking return to the Eerste Divisie
On 3 March 2023, Zwolle gained a 13–0 win overFC Den Bosch in aleague game, as the team broke a broad series of records in the process.[15][16] Firstly, the match became the largest win in the history of theEerste Divisie,[15][16][17] as well as the second largest one in the history ofDutch football (ex aequo withAjax's0–13 away win overVVV-Venlo in October 2020).[15][17] Secondly, Zwolle became the first Dutch team since August 2002 (Heracles Almelo being the previous record-breaker) to close the first half of an official match with a 7–0 lead.[15][16] In the same game, Zwolle playerApostolos Vellios scored three goals in almost twelve minutes since the starting kick-off, before netting another one later in the game: as a result, the Greek striker scored the fastesthat-trick in the history of the Dutch second tier.[16][18] PEC playerLennart Thy claimed the top goalscorer's award in the Eerste Divisie for the season, having scored 23 goals in 36 appearances.[19] Zwolle won immediate promotion back to the Eredivisie at the end of the season, finishing second in the league table.[20][21][22]
The old stadium was built in 1934 and demolished in 2007. It was located atBusiness park Oosterenk. Since the completion in 1934 two different clubs played in the stadium.PEC from 1934 till 1957,Zwolsche Boys from 1957 till 1970. Since 1970PEC played its games at the Oosterenk Stadium. The stadium had to be demolished because the new stadium is located at the same spot as the Oosterenk Stadium is.
Officially since 29 August 2009, the stadium is no longer under construction. Construction started at 9 March 2007. The first game in the new stadium was againstMVV. The final score was 0–0. The first goal scored in the new stadium was by FC Zwolle playerBram van Polen, coming on 22 August 2008 againstCambuur.
PEC Zwolle's biggest rival isGo Ahead Eagles.[26] Both clubs are located at the riverIJssel, hence the name "IJsselderby".
PEC Zwolle also have good relations withScottish Championship sideGreenock Morton, with a contingent of fans making the trip toScotland occasionally, as well as Greenock Morton also having a PEC Zwolle fans brick in there stadiumCappielow Park, and occasionally Greenock Morton fans attend at PEC Zwolle as well, with a flag with both club badges on it
PEC Zwolle made it to the final round of the national cup four times. They only won in 2014. The first final was in 1928 againstRacing Club Heemstede. The final score was 2–0. The second time they made it to the final was in 1977. The opponent that time wasFC Twente. They lost 3–0 after extra time. The third time was in 2014, when they beatAjax 5–1, subsequently claiming the cup for Zwolle for the first time in their history. The last time was in 2015 againstFC Groningen. Final score 2–0.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
^Tonie van Ringelestijn and Joël Groeneveld (May 1999)."Betaald voetbal in Zwolle van 1980 tot 1999. Van PEC naar FC Zwolle" (in Dutch). Archived fromthe original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved2007-03-17.ZAC was een chique club van welgestelden ... Zwolsche Boys was de arbeidersclub en had vooral in de wijk Dieze zijn supporters. ... PEC ... was de club van de Zwolse middenstand.
^Born in the Netherlands,Anton Jongsma representedNetherlands Antilles internationally, prior to the countries dissolution in 2010, with Curaçao considered by both UEFA and FIFA as the only inherit successor to the national team of former Netherlands Antilles.