Fortuna Sittard (women)

Fortuna Sittard
Full nameFortuna Sittard Vrouwen
Founded2022
Dissolved2025
GroundFortuna Sittard Stadion
Capacity12.800
ManagerGlenda van Lieshout
LeagueEredivisie
2023–24Fourth (out of 12 teams)
WebsiteFortunaSittard.nl

Fortuna Sittard Vrouwen is a Dutch women's football team from Sittard, the Netherlands that competes in the Vrouwen Eredivisie. It is connected to the Fortuna Sittard men's team and shares Fortuna Sittard Stadion as a home stadium.

History

On 25 January 2022, Fortuna announced it was beginning a women's football team.[1] The club started playing in the Eredivisie in the 2022–23 season. It became the first top-level women's club in Limburg since VVV-Venlo folded in 2012.[2] Owner Atilla Aytekin said before the club began play that the goal was to play in the Women's Champions League within three years.[3] In its first season, the club finished third out of 11 teams. In the 2023–24 season, Fortuna finished fourth out of 12 teams, and forward Tessa Wullaert was the top goal scorer and Player of the Year in the league.[4] However, prior to the 2024–25 season, the club announced it had not generated sufficient revenue from the women's team and cut its spending, with Wullaert, Alieke Tuin, and other players leaving for new clubs.[5][6] Additionally, Glenda van Lieshout replaced inaugural manager Roger Reijners.[7]

On 7 April 2025, the club announced its women's team would end after the current season, citing financial issues, including the withdrawal of its sponsor Principion.[8] The club offered free admission to its final two home games, with 2.500 attending the final home game, a 3–0 loss to PSV.[9][10]

Competitive record

3
4
23 24
Eredivisie
Season Division Position W – D – L = Pts GF – GA Top scorer KNVB Cup
2022–23 Eredivisie 3 / 11 11 – 3 – 6 = 36 49 – 27 Wullaert (20) Quarterfinals
2023–24 4 / 12 12 – 4 – 6 = 40 57 – 27 Wullaert (26) Finals
2024–25 - / 12 Quarterfinals

Current squad

As of 30 December 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Netherlands NED Claire Dinkla
2 DF Netherlands NED Moïsa van Koot
3 DF Netherlands NED Nicole Stoop
5 DF Netherlands NED Diana Hilhorst
6 MF Netherlands NED Nienke Mulder
7 MF Finland FIN Venla Lindfors
8 MF Netherlands NED Amber van Heeswijk
9 FW Netherlands NED Femke Prins
10 FW Netherlands NED Lakeesha Eijken
11 FW Netherlands NED Isa Dekker
14 DF Netherlands NED Sara Vijfhuizen
17 DF Netherlands NED Femke Pietersma
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 MF Netherlands NED Maud van Berlo
19 MF Netherlands NED Sanne Peereboom
20 MF Netherlands NED Ted Rooijendijk
21 FW Netherlands NED Sanne Arons
22 GK Belgium BEL Hanne Thijs
23 MF Netherlands NED Briony Duijzings
24 DF Netherlands NED Rosa van Wershoven
26 DF Netherlands NED Isabel Kopp
27 GK Belgium BEL Silke Baccarne

Source[11][12]

Coaching staff

Position Name
Head coach Netherlands Glenda van Lieshout
Assistant coach Netherlands Wim Dusseldorp

Head coaches

References

  1. ^ "Fortuna Sittard start met vrouwenvoetbal: "Die gaan we benaderen"". Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  2. ^ Impuls vrouwenvoetbal: uitbreiding eredivisie en nieuwe competitiestructuur NOS, 25 januari 2022. Gearchiveerd op 22 maart 2023.
  3. ^ "Eigenaar Atilla Aytekin: 'Ik stop geen miljoenen in Fortuna omdat ik iedereen zo aardig vind'". De Volkskrant. 16 October 2022. Archived from the original on 9 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  4. ^ "Big winners of the Eredivisie Awards: Luuk de Jong, Tessa Wullaert, Johan Bakayoko, and Lily Yohannes". Eredivisie. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  5. ^ Schreurs, Joost (27 September 2024). "Na zomer vol veranderingen beginnen vrouwen Fortuna Sittard aan nieuw seizoen". www.l1nieuws.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Waarom successprookje van vrouwen Fortuna na bekerfinale mogelijk stopt". NOS (in Dutch). 20 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  7. ^ Ebbelink, Jaap (18 June 2024). "Glenda van Lieshout nieuwe hoofdtrainer Fortuna Vrouwen". L1Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Fortuna Sittard stopt na drie seizoenen met vrouwenelftal om financiële redenen" [Fortuna Sittard stops after three seasons with the women's team for financial reasons]. NOS (in Dutch). 7 April 2025. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  9. ^ "Fortuna Vrouwen stopt na drie seizoenen". Fortuna Sittard (in Dutch). 7 April 2025. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  10. ^ "Fortuna Sittard vs. PSV Vrouwen Match Report – Saturday May 3, 2025". FBref.com. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  11. ^ "Fortuna Vrouwen". Fortuna Sittard (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Netherlands - Fortuna Sittard - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos and news - Women Soccerway". us.women.soccerway.com. Retrieved 3 October 2024.