Willem II begin the 2024-25 Eredivisie season with a challenging trip to Feyenoord’s De Kuip on the league’s opening day. However, powered by their title-winning Eerste Divisie campaign last term, the Tilburg side under Peter Maes will be looking to take the game to their KNVB Cup holding hosts.
For Maes, his appointment in September 2023 after Reinier Robbemond’s sacking inspired the Superkruiken (Super Pitchers) after a slow start to the season. Taking on Maes marked the arrival of the club’s first-ever Belgian head coach. It was also his first coaching venture outside of Belgium. Building off the back of this novelty, with a number of home comfort-type transfers, it’ll be intriguing to see where Willem II finish this term.
Last season’s position: Eerst Divisie Champions
Transfers In: Emilio Kehrer (Cercle Brugge), Thomas Didillon-Hodl (Cercle Brugge), Mickael Tirpan (Lierse SK), Cisse Sandra (Club Brugge, Loan), Kyan Vaesen (KVC Westerlo, Loan)
Transfers Out: Thijs Oosting (FC Groningen), Matthias Verreth (Brescia), Max Svensson (Kalmar FF), Michael de Leeuw (SC Cambuur), Freek Heerkens (Retired)
Overview: 21-year-old Ringo Merveld is one to watch for Willem II. He scored nine and assisted seven in 36 games last year. Him, along with 24-year-old Jesse Bosch, have to continue their midfield development in the absence of Thijs Oosting’s enterprise after his move to Groningen. The centre midfielder Bosch got five goals and three assists in the second division last season.
Nick Doodeman is another who will be important. His creative spark last term was a huge help in the title-winning exploits of 2023-24, with 13 assists. However, with the loan of the prolific Jeredy Hilterman from Almere City ending, the new forward-minded players will need to hit the ground running relatively quickly.
The incoming dynamism of Emilio Kehrer, and loanees Cisse Sandra and Kyan Vaesen will help to a degree. They all arrive under Peter Maes with a Belgian connection, alongside stopper Thomas Didillon-Hodl and Mickael Tirpan. However, with Vaesen’s lack of goals last season – the jump up to the Eredivisie from Westerlo will be real test of the 23-year-old striker’s character. Working with the likes of Jeremy Bokila, who scored 11 last season, will no doubt help his game.
GBeNeFNÂ |Â Max Bradfield
