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ADO Den Haag

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ADO Den Haag
Company typeFootball club
IndustrySports
FoundedFebruary 1, 1905; 121 years ago (1905-02-01) in The Hague, Netherlands
Headquarters
The Hague
,
Netherlands
Area served
Netherlands
Key people
Robin Peter (Head coach)
ProductsFootball team
OwnerGlobal Football Holdings (majority owner since 2021)
Websiteadodenhaag.nl

Alles Door Oefening Den Haag (commonly known as ADO Den Haag) is a football club based in The Hague, Netherlands. Presently, the team competes in the Eerste Divisie, the nation's second division, following their relegation from the Eredivisie at the conclusion of the 2020–21 campaign. Previously called FC Den Haag, the acronym ADO originally referred to the club's amateur section. Although situated in one of the country's largest cities, ADO Den Haag has not achieved the same level of success as leading Dutch clubs such as Ajax, Feyenoord, or PSV. Nevertheless, it maintains intense rivalries particularly with Ajax and Feyenoord. The phrase "Alles Door Oefening" translates into English as Everything Through Practice.

1905–1971: ADO

Established on 1 February 1905 in The Hague, ADO initially faced financial difficulties due to members’ reluctance to pay fees. By 1912, the club transitioned from local competitions to joining the national Nederlandsche Voetbal Bond, earning promotion to the third tier and securing that championship two years afterward.

In 1925, ADO moved into Zuiderpark Stadion and by 1926 had ascended to the highest national level at that time, the Eerste Klasse. Although they initially battled against relegation, by the late 1930s they were contenders for league titles. Narrow misses occurred in 1939 and 1940 when strong Amsterdam-based teams outperformed them. In 1941, after winning their division, ADO qualified for the national championship but were defeated by Heracles Almelo.

The 1941–42 season represented a highlight despite wartime challenges; ADO dominated their league and claimed their inaugural national championship by overcoming AGOVV. Another title followed in 1943, including a notable 8–2 victory over Heerenveen.

During the 1960s under coach Ernst Happel (appointed in 1962), ADO reestablished itself as a force, finishing third in 1965 and reaching several KNVB Cup finals—winning one in 1968 against Ajax. The 1970–71 season began strongly with a 17-match unbeaten streak and concluded with a third-place league finish.

In 1967, ADO participated in the United Soccer Association in North America under the name San Francisco Golden Gate Gales, finishing tied for second place in the Western Division.

1971–1996: FC Den Haag

A merger with local rivals Holland Sport in 1971 led to the formation of FC Den Haag. The club reached the Dutch Cup final in 1972 but lost narrowly to Ajax by 3–2. They secured the cup again in 1975 with a 1–0 victory over Twente. Their most notable European achievement came in the 1976 European Cup Winners’ Cup when they advanced to the quarter-finals before being eliminated by West Ham United, despite winning the home leg 4–2 but losing away 3–1.

The 1980s brought financial struggles and associations with hooliganism for FC Den Haag. The team made it to their fourth Dutch Cup final in 1987 but were defeated by Ajax 4–2 after extra time, with two goals scored by Marco van Basten. On 3 April 1982, hooligans set fire to part of their home stadium, Zuiderpark Stadion, causing damage estimated at $500,000 and destroying its oldest stand. Reconstruction was completed and reopened by 1986.

Following another merger, the club adopted its current name, ADO Den Haag, in 1996.

1996–present: ADO Den Haag

After spending extended spells competing in the second division, ADO Den Haag enjoyed four seasons in the Eredivisie before being relegated at the end of the 2006–07 season. They regained promotion for the 2008–09 season by finishing sixth and succeeding through play-offs. In 2007, they relocated to their new home ground—the Kyocera Stadion (previously known as Den Haag Stadion)—which holds approximately 15,000 spectators. The club’s distinctive yellow and green colors remain widely recognized. The start of the 2008–09 Eredivisie saw them secure two consecutive wins, briefly topping the league table for the first time in over thirty years. During the following season (2009–10), average attendance at home matches reached around 11,745.

The 2010–11 campaign featured significant wins against rivals Ajax. Finishing seventh overall allowed them to win play-off matches against Roda JC and Groningen, securing qualification for European competition via a Dutch UEFA Europa League berth. They progressed past Lithuanian club Tauras but were eliminated by Cypriot side Omonia during the third qualifying round.

Supporters of ADO maintain a close relationship with Welsh team Swansea City, frequently exchanging flags and organizing pre-season friendlies. Additional fan connections exist with Polish club Legia Warsaw, Belgian side Club Brugge, and Italian giants Juventus.

In response to significant financial difficulties faced in 2008, majority ownership changed hands in June 2014 when Chinese firm United Vansen International Sports Company (UVS) acquired control for approximately $8.9 million. UVS committed to substantial investment into the club’s future development. Established in 2008, UVS has organized prestigious football events featuring clubs such as Juventus, Milan, Internazionale, Napoli, Lazio, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, and Hull City.

Due to cancellation of promotion and relegation during the voided 2019–20 season, ADO remained within Eredivisie for the subsequent year despite finishing seventeenth. However, relegation followed after the next campaign (2021), returning them to the Eerste Divisie. That same year saw American investment firm Global Football Holdings—owned by David Blitzer—purchase majority shares from United Vansen.

Sponsors

Timeframe Kit Supplier Shirt Sponsor
1982–1983 Adidas Daihatsu
1983–1986 Adidas Hotelplan Vakanties
1987–1989 Cruyff Hotelplan Vakanties
1992–1994 Lotto
1994–1999 VHS
1999–2000 Wilson Client Solutions
2000–2001 Solidium
2001–2002 Fila
2002–2004 Hommerson Casino's
2004–2005 Hummel
2005–2008 DSW
2008–2011 Fit For Free
2011–2012 Erreà Kyocera
2012–2017 Basic Fit
2018–2022 Cars Jeans
2023–2025 Hommerson Casino's
2025– ADOgroen

Honours

Eredivisie (previously known as the Netherlands Football League Championship)

  • Winners: 1941–42, 1942–43

Eerste Divisie

  • Winners: 1956–57, 1985–86, 2002–03
  • Secured promotion to Eredivisie: 1988–89, 2007–08

KNVB Cup

  • Winners: 1967–68, 1974–75
  • Finalists: 1958–59, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1971–72, 1986–87

European record

UEFA Europa League
Season Stage Opponents Home Leg Away Leg Aggregate Score
2011–12 | Second Qualifying Round | Template:Country data LITTemplate:Namespace detect showall Tauras | 2–0 | 3–2 | 5–2
Template:Country data CYPTemplate:Namespace detect showall Omonia | 1–0 | 0–3 | 1–3
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
1972–73 | First Round | Template:Country data SOVTemplate:Namespace detect showall Spartak Moscow |0–0 |0–1 |0–1 rowspan="3"|1975–76 | First Round | Template:Country data DENTemplate:Namespace detect showall Vejle BK |2–0 |2–0 |4–0 Second Round | Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall Lens |3–2 |3–1 |6–3 Quarterfinals | Template:Country data ENGTemplate:Namespace detect showall West Ham United |4–2 |1–3 |5–5 rowspan="2"|1987–88 | First Round | Template:Country data HUNTemplate:Namespace detect showall Újpest Dósza |3–1 |0–1 |3–2 Second Round | Template:Country data SWITemplate:Namespace detect showall BSC Young Boys |2–1 |0–1 |2–2
Season Stage Opponents Home Leg Away Leg Aggregate Score
1968–69 | First Round | Template:Country data AUTTemplate:Namespace detect showall Grazer AK |4–1 |2–0 |6–1
Germany 1. FC Köln |0–1 |0–3 |0–4
UEFA Cup
rowspan="2"|1971-72 | First Round | Template:Country data LUXTemplate:Namespace detect showall Aris Bonnevoie |5-0 |2-2 |7-2 Second Round | Template:Country data ENGTemplate:Namespace detect showall Wolverhampton Wanderers |1-3 |0-4 |1-7
Season Stage Opponents Home Leg Away Leg Aggregate Score

Below is a summary table illustrating ADO Den Haag's league and cup performances since the Eredivisie was established in 1956.

2020–21 Eredivisie2019–20 Eredivisie2018–19 Eredivisie2017-18 Eredivisie2016-17 Eredivisie2015-16 Eredivisie2014-15 Eredivisie2013-14 Eredivisie2012-13 Eredivisie ... (Selected seasons omitted for brevity) ...

(Note: This comprehensive table details ADO Den Haag's league standings, promotions, relegations, and cup runs over the years, underscoring significant promotions in seasons such as 1985-86, 1988-89, and 2002-03 alongside relegation events and playoff outcomes.)

Technical team

Role Individual
Head coach Germany Robin Peter
Assistant coach Germany Philipp Seidler
Template:Country data NEDTemplate:Namespace detect showall Levi Schwiebbe
Goalkeeper Coach Template:Country data SYRTemplate:Namespace detect showall Kawa Hisso
Fitness coach Vacant
Physiotherapist Template:Country data NEDTemplate:Namespace detect showall Edwin Coret
Equipment supervisor Template:Country data NEDTemplate:Namespace detect showall Rob Ravestein
Team Doctor Template:Country data NEDTemplate:Namespace detect showall Daan van de Pol, MD PhD

International representatives

The following players received international caps during their time at ADO Den Haag:



  • Names in bold indicate individuals currently active with ADO Den Haag and their respective national teams. The years shown correspond to their period at the club.

International players categorized by Confederation

The member associations are ordered by the count of current and former ADO Den Haag players who have been internationally capped:

Number of national team players by confederation
Confederation Count Represented Associations
AFC 4 Template:Country data Chinese TaipeiTemplate:Namespace detect showall Chinese Taipei (1), Indonesia Indonesia (2), Japan Japan (1), Philippines Philippines (1)
CAF 5 Nigeria Nigeria (2), Template:Country data Burkina FasoTemplate:Namespace detect showall Burkina Faso (1), Template:Country data GuineaTemplate:Namespace detect showall Guinea (1), Template:Country data Ivory CoastTemplate:Namespace detect showall Ivory Coast (1)
CONCACAF 10 Template:Country data CuraçaoTemplate:Namespace detect showall Curaçao (4), United States United States (2), Template:Country data ArubaTemplate:Namespace detect showall Aruba (1), Template:Country data BonaireTemplate:Namespace detect showall Bonaire (1), Template:Country data JamaicaTemplate:Namespace detect showall Jamaica (1), Template:Country data SurinameTemplate:Namespace detect showall Suriname (1)
CONMEBOL 0  
OFC 0  
UEFA 34 Netherlands Netherlands (19), Norway Norway (4), Slovakia Slovakia (2), Denmark Denmark (1), Estonia Estonia (1), Finland Finland (1), Template:Country data IsraelTemplate:Namespace detect showall Israel (1), Lithuania Lithuania (1), Luxembourg Luxembourg (1), Template:Country data Northern IrelandTemplate:Namespace detect showall Northern Ireland (1), Poland Poland (1), Slovenia Slovenia (1)


Participants in Global Competitions

Players from ADO Den Haag have represented their nations in prominent international events such as the FIFA World Cup, FIFA Confederations Cup, AFC Asian Cup, Africa Cup of Nations, and CONCACAF Gold Cup. However, no squad members have taken part in the UEFA European Championship, Copa América, or OFC Nations Cup during their tenure at the club.

Tournament Players
Italy 1934 FIFA World Cup Netherlands Mauk Weber
France 1938 FIFA World Cup Netherlands Mauk Weber
United States 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup United States John O'Brien
South Africa 2013 Africa Cup of Nations Nigeria Kenneth Omeruo
Template:Country data BrazilTemplate:Namespace detect showall 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Nigeria Kenneth Omeruo
Template:Country data Equatorial GuineaTemplate:Namespace detect showall 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Template:Country data Ivory CoastTemplate:Namespace detect showall Wilfried Kanon
Template:Country data GabonTemplate:Namespace detect showall 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Template:Country data Ivory CoastTemplate:Namespace detect showall Wilfried Kanon
Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup Nigeria Tyronne Ebuehi
Egypt 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Template:Country data Ivory CoastTemplate:Namespace detect showall Wilfried Kanon
Template:Country data "Costa Rica"Template:Namespace detect showallTemplate:Country data "Jamaica"Template:Namespace detect showallTemplate:Country data "United States"Template:Namespace detect showall 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup Template:Country data "Curaçao"Template:Namespace detect showall Elson Hooi
Template:Country data "Cameroon"Template:Namespace detect showall 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Template:Country data "Burkina Faso"Template:Namespace detect showall Kilian Nikiema

Past Coaches

External links

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