FC Twente is again the giant killer of yesteryear. That became apparent on Saturday evening in the sold-out Grolsch Veste, where the Ron Jans team inflicted the first defeat of the season on PSV. Striker Václav Cerny was the great star with two goals in the game that was won 2-1. “Welcome to the hell of Enschede”, sang the supporters full of bravado towards the excited fans from Eindhoven. FC Twente has as many points as PSV after five matches. In doing so, it continues the path it started two years ago.
After the surprising fourth place last season, the club from Enschede hopes to establish itself structurally in the second tier. This time it goes according to the way of gradualism. With a budget of EUR 30 million, it is too early for a real attack on the summit. The question is whether the club will ever succeed in repeating the success of the 2010 championship year. “The national title was of course great,” says technical director Jan Streuer. “I don’t know if that will ever be repeated. But never say never. FC Twente is a club with deep valleys and high peaks.”
Calm waters
FC Twente is currently in calm waters. Unlike many of his colleagues in the Eredivisie, Streuer experienced little stress when closing the transfer window. “We just finished our selection on time,” Streuer explains. The fact that Feyenoord cherished the hope to capture Ramiz Zerrouki until the last moment did not make Streuer nervous. “We had a certain amount in mind” [naar verluidt 8 miljoen, red.], but Feyenoord thought that was too much. Then it stops.”
Former football player Streuer (71), who was asked by FC Twente two years ago to shape the purchase and sales policy, in his eyes simply protects the interests of the club. His club, which he himself played for fifty years ago in the old Diekman Stadium. “I can understand that Zerrouki was disappointed for a while. He was able to make a nice transition. He would probably start earning more. But he still has a contract with us. And we didn’t necessarily have to sell it.”
The fact that the Algerian international Zerrouki set out on Saturday as a leader for the defense against PSV is illustrative of FC Twente. The club management first gave the signal itself that it wants to measure itself financially with a club like Feyenoord and the team then showed that on a good evening it is able to beat a team like PSV from a sporting point of view. Is that Streuer’s hand? He laughs and says: “There are enough players in the world. It is important that, in consultation with the club management and the trainer, you get footballers who fit the club and the team. That is going quite well.”
The revival of the club that was relegated from the Eredivisie in 2018 only really started in the summer of 2020. FC Twente was now back at the highest level, but it was a very shaky base, both sportingly and financially. The club had only four goalkeepers, two defenders, five midfielders and one attacker at its disposal. Together with trainer Ron Jans and with the general director, it was decided to take a new path. FC Twente had to entertain again. To attack. With players who were satisfied with a modest salary. With a mix of experienced players such as goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall, striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel and a young defender like Mees Hilgers, the confidence returned to the club that almost went bankrupt in 2016. And was seen as a pariah by the rest of the football world because of malpractice.
How different is that now. FC Twente has color on its cheeks again in all respects. “I notice that FC Twente has a good name again,” says Streuer. “Compared to two years ago, we have taken important steps. The anxiety is gone. People within the club are highly motivated to make something of it. But the most important thing is of course the results. That’s what football is all about.”
Deep rooted
According to Streuer, part of the success is due to the loyal Twente following. According to him, the club is deeply rooted in society, making it ‘more than a club’. Banners were visible against PSV from places such as Denekamp, Losser, Wierden and Borne. “The experience of the people is very special. That came about fifty years ago under Kees Rijvers when FC Twente started playing European. Almost every village in the area has a supporters’ association. Our fans are very loyal. Even when the club played a lower level.”
With the achievement of European football, FC Twente hoped to be able to evoke the old magic again this summer when it played two matches against Fiorentina in the preliminary round of the Europa League. The club was eliminated by the Italians, but the confidence in a good season was not lost. Against PSV, the club management, the technical director, the trainer, the players and the supporters of FC Twente received confirmation that the football stronghold in Enschede is standing again.