SBV Excelsior

Founding and Early Years

Excelsior Rotterdam was founded on 23 July 1902 by a group of friends from the Kralingen district, who were already playing informally on the Woudesteyn estate, where the club's stadium now stands.

Club Evolution

Nicknamed "De Kralingers" or, self-deprecatingly, "Oud Papier" (Waste Paper), in reference to paper-collection drives organized by a former chairman to fund the club, Excelsior play at Stadion Woudestein, one of the smallest grounds in Dutch professional football with a capacity of around 4,500.

Great Managers

Alex Pastoor (2009-2011) and then John Lammers (2011-2012), promoted from his assistant role, mark the recent history of a club known for its frequent managerial turnover, reflecting its "yo-yo" status between the top two divisions.

Iconic Players

Robin van Persie, an academy product before joining Feyenoord and later captaining the Netherlands, remains the academy's most famous graduate. Mats Wieffer (club Player of the Year in 2020-21) and Thijs Dallinga (2021-22) also left the club for bigger destinations after breaking out there.

Major Achievements

Excelsior have never won the Eredivisie or the KNVB Cup (runners-up in 1929-30, lost to Feyenoord), their honours limited to three second-division titles (1973-74, 1978-79, 2005-06).

The Club Today

Coached by Ruben den Uil, Excelsior finished 13th in the 2025-26 championship and stayed up in the Eredivisie, maintaining a long-standing informal relationship with Feyenoord, which regularly loans young players to the club for development.