Sparta Rotterdam is one of the defining historic clubs of Dutch football, founded in 1888 and rooted in the Rotterdam district of Spangen. Known as Sparta and De Kasteelheren, the club plays at Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel, a venue distinguished by its castle-like façade and long professional heritage. This team page brings together the club’s recorded squad, coaching timeline, recent player movement and competition history, while placing its red-and-white identity within Rotterdam’s distinctive football culture.
Sparta Rotterdam Upcoming matches by league
Eredivisie
-
- Regular Season - 6
PSV Eindhoven
Sparta Rotterdam
Philips Stadion -
- Regular Season - 7
Sparta Rotterdam
Heerenveen
Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel -
- Regular Season - 8
GO Ahead EaglesNo H2HSparta Rotterdam
De Adelaarshorst -
- Regular Season - 9
Sparta RotterdamNo H2HWillem II
Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel
Sparta Rotterdam Last matches by league
Eredivisie
Friendlies Clubs
KNVB Beker
Sparta Rotterdam Team Roster
Sparta Rotterdam’s recorded squad contains 25 players: four attackers, nine defenders, four goalkeepers and eight midfielders. The attacking group includes Joel Ideho, M. Van Bergen, M. Zonneveld and N. Þórisson. Defensive depth features B. Kuipers, B. Martins Indi, M. De Ligt, N. Verschuren and Teo Quintero, while F. Bednarek, P. Kuiper, R. Suur and D. Lindhout form the goalkeeper group. Midfield options include A. Roaldsøy, A. Santos, C. Terho, J. Baas, J. Toornstra, S. Mito and Y. Jaber el Maftahi, giving the roster a broad positional spread.
position Goalkeeper
Michael Brouwer
D. Lindhout
Filip Bednarek
Rik Suur
Pascal Kuiper
position Defender
L. Martes
Marvin Young
Max de Ligt
Rolando Maximiliano Martins Indi
Bas Edo Kuipers
Boyd Reith
Nick Verschuren
Teo Quintero León
Giannino Felicio Vianello
position Midfielder
Julian Baas
Casper Mikael Terho
C. Hatenboer
Shunsuke Mito
Mitchell van Bergen
Alwande Benedict Roaldsøy
Jens Toornstra
Isaac Achmed Koroma Junior Babadi
position Attacker
Last Sparta Rotterdam Coachs
The latest dated coaching entry names Nourdin Boukhari from 1 November 2024 to the same date. A Maurice Steijn entry also starts on 1 November 2024 and has no recorded end date, but the timeline does not confirm him as the current holder. Jeroen Rijsdijk is listed from July 2023 to November 2024, following Steijn’s earlier 2022–23 spell, while Henk Fraser led the club from June 2018 to April 2022. The sequence reflects successive recorded appointments rather than a confirmed present-day role.
Maurice Steijn
History
| Coach | Coach country | Coach since | Coach until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maurice Steijn | Netherlands | 1 November 2024 | |
| Jeroen Rijsdijk | Netherlands | 1 July 2023 | 1 November 2024 |
| Maurice Steijn | Netherlands | 1 April 2022 | 1 June 2023 |
| Henk Fraser | Suriname | 1 June 2018 | 1 April 2022 |
| Dirk Nicolaas Advocaat | Netherlands | 1 January 2018 | 1 June 2018 |
| Dolf Roks | Netherlands | 18 December 2017 | |
| Alex Pastoor | Netherlands | 1 January 2015 | 1 December 2017 |
| John de Wolf | Netherlands | 29 November 2014 | 31 December 2014 |
| Gert Kruys | Netherlands | 1 December 2013 | 1 November 2014 |
| Arjan van der Laan | Netherlands | 1 December 2013 | 1 December 2013 |
| Adrie Bogers | Netherlands | 1 June 2013 | 1 December 2013 |
| Henk ten Cate | Netherlands | 1 April 2013 | 1 June 2013 |
| Arjan van der Laan | Netherlands | 1 April 2013 | 1 April 2013 |
| Michel Vonk | Netherlands | 1 July 2011 | 1 April 2013 |
| Mike Snoei | Netherlands | 1 July 2003 | 1 May 2005 |
| Wilfred van Leeuwen | Netherlands | 1 January 2003 | 1 February 2003 |
| Henk ten Cate | Netherlands | 1 July 1995 | 1 January 1997 |
Sparta Rotterdam Transfers
Recorded arrivals include transfers, loans and returns from loan. Robin van Cruijsen arrived from FC Volendam, while N. Verschuren came from Ajax, B. Kuipers from Twente and M. Zonneveld from Telstar in transfer entries. C. Terho appears in both a February loan entry from OH Leuven and a later transfer entry. A. Roaldsøy joined from Molde, also as a transfer. Several returns from loan are listed from Dutch clubs, including T. Velthuis, L. Kromah, Y. Schoonderwaldt, J. Triep, L. Duijvestijn, Joel Ideho, B. Reith and N. Þórisson. These are listed movements, not a complete arrivals total.
Latest player transfers from
| Player | Team from | Transfer type | Transfer date |
|---|---|---|---|
| M. Brouwer |
Utrecht
|
Transfer | 30 August 2026 |
| C. Hatenboer |
Anderlecht
|
Transfer | 29 August 2026 |
| A. Kostić |
AC Milan
|
Loan | 18 August 2026 |
| Robin van Cruijsen |
FC Volendam
|
Transfer | 29 July 2026 |
| B. Kuipers |
Twente
|
Transfer | 30 June 2026 |
| C. Terho |
OH Leuven
|
Transfer | 30 June 2026 |
| N. Verschuren |
Ajax
|
Transfer | 30 June 2026 |
| N. Þórisson |
Telstar
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| B. Reith |
Almere City FC
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| Joel Ideho |
FC Volendam
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| L. Duijvestijn |
Fortuna Sittard
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| J. Triep |
VVV Venlo
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| Y. Schoonderwaldt |
VVV Venlo
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| L. Kromah |
VVV Venlo
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| T. Velthuis |
PEC Zwolle
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
Recorded departures include free-agent exits, transfers, loans and returns to parent clubs. T. Lauritsen and J. Kitolano are listed as free agents moving to Sampdoria and Bodo/Glimt, while Jafar Howard Bynoe is listed with FC OSS. Y. Schoonderwaldt, L. Duijvestijn and T. Velthuis appear in transfer entries to VVV Venlo, SV Darmstadt 98 and PEC Zwolle. A group of loan returns went to Burnley, MSV Duisburg, PSV Eindhoven, Utrecht, OH Leuven, NEC Nijmegen and others. The sample also includes loans for M. Kleijn, T. Velthuis and N. Þórisson. It is not a complete departures total.
Latest player transfers to
| Player | Team to | Transfer type | Transfer date |
|---|---|---|---|
| N. Þórisson |
Telstar
|
Loan | 28 August 2026 |
| Jafar Howard Bynoe |
FC OSS
|
Free agent | 4 August 2026 |
| Jafar Howard Bynoe |
FC OSS
|
Free agent | 3 August 2026 |
| M. Kleijn |
FC Volendam
|
Loan | 28 July 2026 |
| T. Lauritsen |
Sampdoria
|
Free agent | 17 July 2026 |
| J. Kitolano |
Bodo/Glimt
|
Free agent | 13 July 2026 |
| Y. Schoonderwaldt |
VVV Venlo
|
Transfer | 9 July 2026 |
| P. Clement |
Groningen
|
Free agent | 30 June 2026 |
| T. Velthuis |
PEC Zwolle
|
Transfer | 30 June 2026 |
| L. Duijvestijn |
SV Darmstadt 98
|
Transfer | 30 June 2026 |
| T. Lauritsen |
Sampdoria
|
Free agent | 29 June 2026 |
| L. Nieuwenhuijs |
NEC Nijmegen
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| V. van Crooij |
NEC Nijmegen
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| J. Kitolano |
Bodo/Glimt
|
Free agent | 29 June 2026 |
| C. Terho |
OH Leuven
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
Transfers Synthesis
Taken together, the listed movements show a squad shaped by several different forms of player turnover. The arrival side combines direct transfers for Robin van Cruijsen, N. Verschuren, B. Kuipers, M. Zonneveld and A. Roaldsøy with loans and a notable stream of returns from loan. C. Terho illustrates movement across categories, appearing first on loan and later in a transfer entry. Departures include free-agent listings, direct transfers, temporary loans and several returns to parent clubs, with T. Velthuis and N. Þórisson appearing in more than one movement type. Together, these movements describe both recruitment and the re-entry or release of players connected to earlier loan arrangements. They do not provide a complete window on all activity, and no fee is stated for the movements described. The clearest pattern is variety in movement mechanisms rather than a reliable measure of net squad change.
Leagues Sparta Rotterdam has participated in
Sparta Rotterdam’s recorded competition profile is led by the Eredivisie, with participation listed from 2016 through 2025 and recent activity extending to the 2025 season. The KNVB Beker is likewise recorded from 2016 through 2025, while Friendlies Clubs appears from 2020 through 2025 with recent activity. Eerste Divisie participation is historical, recorded only for 2018 with no recent season. Together, these entries place Sparta within the Netherlands’ top-flight league and domestic cup framework, alongside a recurring friendly schedule, while separating the older second-tier record from the recent competitions.
More about Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam, founded in 1888, is one of the foundational institutions of Dutch football. The club began as a cricket organisation before establishing its football branch later that year, and it is widely associated with the distinction of being the Netherlands’ oldest professional football club. Its long history includes national league championships and domestic cup honours, placing Sparta among the enduring names in the country’s football story. The club is based in Rotterdam’s Spangen district and plays at Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel, usually shortened to Het Kasteel. Opened in 1916, the ground is renowned for its fairy-tale castle façade and two corner towers, features that make it one of Dutch football’s most recognisable venues. The setting gives the club a strong architectural identity as well as a sporting home, linking matchday life to a historic part of western Rotterdam. Sparta’s visual tradition centres on vertical red-and-white stripes, black shorts and red-and-white socks. The colours are connected to an early inspiration from Sunderland, while the nickname De Kasteelheren, or The Castle Lords, reflects the stadium’s distinctive character. Supporters and club culture remain closely tied to Spangen, with a loyal local following and an emphasis on continuity. Within Rotterdam’s football ecosystem, Sparta shares the city with Feyenoord and Excelsior, creating a distinctive metropolitan backdrop without erasing its separate history. The club’s competitive profile includes the Eredivisie and KNVB Beker, with recent recorded participation also covering club friendlies. Its governance culture is associated with community-rooted backing, careful financial stewardship, youth development and a preference for preserving club identity amid modern commercial pressures. Sparta’s established heritage, compact home and red-and-white identity remain central to its place in Dutch football.
Last matches statistics for Sparta Rotterdam
| match | shots | Poss. | Pass % | Fouls | Cards | Saves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sparta Rotterdam
1 - 0
Telstar
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
SV Meppen
3 - 2
Sparta Rotterdam
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Zulte Waregem
3 - 2
Sparta Rotterdam
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Sparta Rotterdam
1 - 1
Asteras Tripolis
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Sparta Rotterdam
0 - 0
MSV Duisburg
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Sparta Rotterdam
0 - 1
Feyenoord
|
0 / 10 |
|
77 | 11 | 2 | 6 |
|
Telstar
1 - 3
Sparta Rotterdam
|
9 / 16 |
|
78 | 17 | 1 | 0 |
|
Sparta Rotterdam
3 - 3
Utrecht
|
5 / 14 |
|
86 | 10 | - | 1 |
|
Excelsior
2 - 1
Sparta Rotterdam
|
2 / 10 |
|
84 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
|
Sparta Rotterdam
2 - 2
PEC Zwolle
|
8 / 21 |
|
0% | 12 | - | 4 |
Detailed statistics Sparta Rotterdam
Xtra rating history
Last rating points (most recent matches).
shots Sparta Rotterdam
Warnings Sparta Rotterdam
Passes Sparta Rotterdam
Goalkeeper saves Sparta Rotterdam
Latest start lineups Sparta Rotterdam (XI)
Sparta Rotterdam vs PEC Zwolle
Eredivisie 2026 - 1552153
Excelsior vs Sparta Rotterdam
Eredivisie 2026 - 1552145
Sparta Rotterdam vs Utrecht
Eredivisie 2026 - 1552137
Telstar vs Sparta Rotterdam
Eredivisie 2026 - 1552126
Sparta Rotterdam vs Feyenoord
Eredivisie 2026 - 1552122
Sparta Rotterdam vs Excelsior
Eredivisie 2025 - 1381170
2026-2027
1st shirt
2025-2026
1st shirt
2023-2024
1st shirt
2021-2022
1st shirt
2021-2022
2nd shirt
2020-2021
1st shirt
2020-2021
2nd shirt