Willem II

Willem II were founded in Tilburg on 12 August 1896 as Tilburgia and renamed in 1898 after King William II, who had his military headquarters in the city during the Belgian Revolution and died there in 1849. The red, white and blue vertical stripes, taken from the Dutch flag, explain the nickname Tricolores. Since 1995 the club have played at the Koning Willem II Stadion, also named after the king.

Willem II have been Dutch champions three times, in 1916, 1952 and 1955, all before the Eredivisie began in 1956, and have won the KNVB Cup twice, in 1944 and 1963. They have also taken four Eerste Divisie titles. A second-place Eredivisie finish in 1998-99 earned the club its first Champions League campaign, reaching the group stage in 1999-2000.