NEC Nijmegen

Lore & Background

The oldest remnant of NEC Nijmegen, Eendracht, was formed on 15 November 1900. Eendracht merged in April 1910 with NVV Nijmegen to form Nijmegen Eendracht Combinatie. The club moved to the Goffertstadion in 1942, where it still plays today. Professional football was introduced in the Netherlands in 1954. NEC reached the top-tier Eredivisie for the first time in the 1960s. The club has experienced financial difficulties, including bankruptcy in 1987, but continued after 80% of creditors waived their claims. NEC has reached the KNVB Cup final six times—1973, 1983, 1994, 2000, 2024, and 2026—but has never won the cup. In 1983, NEC qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup and faced Barcelona. In 2003 and 2008, NEC qualified for the UEFA Cup through league position.

Reader's Guide

NEC Nijmegen plays its home matches at the Goffertstadion in Nijmegen. The club has a history of yo-yoing between the Eredivisie and Eerste Divisie. Key historical figures include players Frans Thijssen and Jan Peters, developed from the youth setup. The club's cup final appearances include losses to NAC Breda (1973), Ajax (1983), Feyenoord (1994), Roda JC (2000), Feyenoord (2024), and AZ Alkmaar (2026).

Did You Know?

• NEC was mockingly nicknamed 'Nooit eerste classer' before finally winning promotion in 1936.
• In the 1983 European Cup Winners' Cup, NEC led Barcelona 2-0 at halftime before losing 3-2.
• NEC reached the 1994 KNVB Cup final while playing in the Eerste Divisie, defeating Ajax 2-1 away in the semi-final.
• The club's centenary year in 2000 saw 20,000 fans travel to the cup final, which ended in a 2-0 loss to Roda JC.