Club History
FC Twente was founded in 1965 when Enschedese Boys and Sportclub Enschede merged. The integration was the only solution in 1965 to keep professional football alive in Enschede.
The Start
FC Twente finished its first season in 1965 at an 11th place in the Dutch Eredivisie. Under the guidance of Hilbrink, Olijve and Iliohan, FC Twente changed its course. The young and ambitious Kees Rijvers along with the new manager decide to include young home grown players along with the qualities of several new signings.
With Kees Rijvers as manager, assisted by Spitz Kohn, FC Twente built a well balanced squad. With discipline as the main motivation Rijvers forms unity in the team. That this was a road to success showed, in the 1968-1969 season FC Twente becomes the sensation of the Eredivisie. The formation from Enschede battles for the championship most of the season. The future looks bright for FC Twente and Kees Rijvers continues to be ambitious. In the successful 1970's the club maintains its upward streak and up to this day FC Twente are found near the top of the table.
FC Twente also has quite a history with European Football. In the 1970-1971 season FC Twente reaches the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup in which Juventus proves to be too strong after extra time. Two years later FC Twente reaches the semi-final of the UEFA Cup, in which Juventus is the opponent. FC Twente are victorious in both the home and away matches and reach the final, in which Borussia Mönchengladbach is the opponent. The first match ends 0-0, but the Germans triumph 1-5 at home and win the Cup.
The long awaited first trophy follows in 1977, in which FC Twente win the Dutch Cup with a resounding 3-0 victory over PEC Zwolle. Near the end of the 1970's, however, FC Twente has a hard time clinging on to the top of the league. The successful run cannot be continued throughout the 1980's and a black period in the history of FC Twente is present. The 14th of May, 1983 is, up to this day, the darkest date in FC Twente's history, that what was thought never to happen happens: relegation is a fact.
In July 1983, the new manager Fritz Korbach starts with a crystal clear mission: to get FC Twente back to the highest level. The winning sequence in the first division ends directly behind champions MVV and is sufficient for promoting back to the Eredivisie. The goal is achieved and the average attendance, 12.400, is a first division record.
Under the guidance of Theo Vonk, FC Twente slowly presents itself again at the end of the 1980's in the Eredivisie. The formation from Enschede grows and finishes three consecutive seasons as third in the league. The 25th anniversary in 1990 gets its proper reward by ending the league in a spot that gives the right to play European Football the following season.
In 1996 Hans Meyer is presented as the new manager of FC Twente. Meyer forms a new team which proves its worth. The season he arrives proves to be a memorable one. More and more fans come to the Diekman Stadium, FC Twente takes a massive leap in the Eredivisie and in May of 1998 a new stadium is revealed: Arke Stadion. With the new stadium, a good squad, a good youth academy and fantastic support from the stands FC Twente has shown the Netherlands that they are a club who should be feared by all. 35.000 fans celebrate Cup victory in Rotterdam
The 2000-2001 season goes down in history as one of the most memorable in FC Twente's history. The 11th place finish in the league was average but in the Dutch Cup the squad showed tremendous football. FC Twente has the chance to once again, after winning the cup in 1977, win a major domestic trophy.
FC Twente take on PSV in De Kuip in Rotterdam, filled with 35.000 FC Twente fans. The exiting goalless match ends in a penalty shootout in which goalkeeper Sander Boschker saves three consecutive penalties, bringing the cup to Enschede.
Unfortunately Enschede's pride cannot build on the success of the Cup win in the following two seasons. On a financial level FC Twente face difficult times, like more clubs, Foundation FC Twente '65 was even considered bankrupt.
The years after the bankruptcy are taken as a chance by FC Twente to take a detailed look at what parts of the club need improvement. On the pitch however, the team slowly starts to play better football with some new faces. Blaise NKufo arrives to Enschede in 2003 and turns out to be a real goal poacher. In 2004 FC Twente reaches the final of the Dutch Cup once again but loses to FC Utrecht.
The recent years
From 2004 to 2006 FC Twente achieves no real success and in the summer of 2006 Fred Rutten is appointed as head coach. Rutten, who was working as an assistant of Guus Hiddink at PSV, is the person that needs to bring new successes to the club. The first season under Rutten's reign turns out to be a fantastic season with qualification for the UEFA Cup before the play-offs. In his second season Rutten and his men continue their successes by qualifying for the qualifying round of the Champions League.
With Fred Rutten's departure to Schalke 04 a new manager is found in Steve McClaren. The former English National Team coach sees his FC Twente play well against Arsenal and sees his team grow throughout the season. On the 13th of September 2008 FC Twente play their first match in the expanded stadium. De Grolsch Veste, now has a capacity of 24.000 seats.
On a European level many successes are booked and FC Twente gets through the group phase of the UEFA Cup for the first time in more than 30 years. In the Eredivisie the squad continues their run of success and on the 33rd match day a 3-0 victory against league champions AZ means that FC Twente will once again appear in the qualifying round of the Champions League next season.
Champion!
Yet, the season 2009/2010 will be the most memorable in the history of the club. Sunday May 2nd, FC Twente became champion of Holland for the first time in the history of the club. With a total of 86 points FC Twente stayed ahead of title rival Ajax by one point. Tens of thousands of fans watched the match (away at NAC Breda) on big screens in the city center or on the megascreen in de Grolsch Veste. After the decisive 0-2 of Miroslav Stoch the city of Enschede shook. The players were honored on Monday after the match in the city hall of Enschede and there was a large celebration on the parking lot of de Grolsch Veste where 70.000 people came together to party. The dream of many had been realized: FC Twente, Champion of Holland.
