FC Groningen

Founding and Early Years

FC Groningen was born on 16 June 1971 from the restructuring of the professional section of GVAV, a founding member of the Eredivisie in 1956, after a members' vote in favor of the "Brink plan" that reorganized professional football in the city.

Club Evolution

Nicknamed "Trots van het Noorden" (Pride of the North), the club plays at the Euroborg, a multi-purpose complex opened in 2006, in green and white colors drawn from the city's flag.

Great Managers

Ron Jans (2002-2010) remains the most significant coach of the club's modern era, leading Groningen into the UEFA Cup in 2006 and 2007 against opponents including Fiorentina.

Iconic Players

Arjen Robben, an academy product who became a global star at Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, returned for a farewell spell in 2020. Luis Suárez spent one season at the club (2006-07, 15 goals) before joining Ajax and then Liverpool and Barcelona, while Japanese international Ritsu Doan made his mark from his 2016 arrival.

Major Achievements

FC Groningen won their only KNVB Cup in 2014-15, their best-ever league finish remaining 3rd in 1990-91, without ever winning the Eredivisie title.

The Club Today

Coached by Dick Lukkien, who brought the club back to the Eredivisie after a 2023 relegation, FC Groningen settled into a mid-table position during the 2025-26 season.