The Champions Cup is back in action without a clear favorite

According to Vi.

Context

Anoush Dastgir, coach of Almere City FC, has 20 years of experience in the first division and is keen to improve the team's performance after a poor start to last season. His task is to strengthen the defense and develop the attacking potential that has already emerged in the playoffs. Success in the Champions Cup could be an important milestone for the team on the road to Copa Mundial 2026.

Why is this important

The Champions Cup provides teams with the opportunity to demonstrate their strengths at a high level. For Almere City FC coach Anoush Dastgir, this is a chance to strengthen his reputation and propel the team towards success after a poor start to last season. Given the club's ambitions, successful performance in the tournament could be an important step towards promotion and preparation for Copa Mundial 2026.

Key takeaways

• The Champions Cup is back in action without a clear favorite.
• The Champions Cup begins its matches again.
• Keuken Kampioen Divisie gaat zonder favoriet van start.

The Champions Cup kicks off again on Friday, with plenty of exciting matches expected this season. Heracles Almelo, NAC Breda and FC Volendam will return to this exciting competition, replacing ADO Den Haag, SC Cambuur and Willem II. Let's take a closer look at each team and their chances of success in the new season.

Almere City FC
Coach: Anoush Dastgir (36 years old)
Number of seasons in the first division: 20
Titles: 0
In the Champions Cup from 2025/26
Upcoming Talent: Marley Dors (21)
Top Rookie: Vesel Spil (Minnesota United)
Almere City remains ambitious and confident. After an unsuccessful start to last season, the team managed to show itself in the playoffs. The new main challenge for coach Dastgir is to strengthen his defense to improve his chances of direct promotion.

FC Den Bosch
Coach: Bart Schrader (42 years old)
Number of seasons in the first division: 48
Titles: 4
In the Champions Cup since 2005/06
Upcoming Talent: Devon de Cort (20)
Top Rookie: Hessel Eijkelboom (HNK Hardenberg)
FC Den Bosch is aiming to return to the playoffs, however, the loss of key players makes this difficult. Coach Schrader faces the challenge of forming a competitive team.FC Dordrecht
Coach: Paul Nuyten (33 years old)
Number of seasons in the first division: 49
Titles: 2
In the Champions Cup since 2015/16
Up and coming talent: Robin van Asten (18)
Top Rookie: Calvin Raci (Excelsior)
FC Dordrecht is in search of stability and coach Nuyten must rise to the challenge of building a team that can compete for top positions.

FC Eindhoven
Coach: Jan Portvliet (70 years old)
Number of seasons in the first division: 66
Titles: 0
In the Champions Cup since 1977/78
Up and coming talent: Theis Müller (19)
Top Newcomer: Xander Blomme (Go Ahed Eagles)
FC Eindhoven hopes to improve their position in the table with the help of a young squad and the experience of coach Portvliet.

FC Emmen
Coach: Menno van Dam (43 years old)
Number of seasons in the first division: 38
Titles: 0
In the Champions Cup from 2023/24
Up and coming talent: Peter Quispel (20)
Top Newcomer: Michael Bray (Rhoda JC)
FC Emmen is trying to get out of a difficult situation, and with new players the team hopes to regain confidence and stability.

De Graafschap
Coach: Thomas Duivenvoorden (39 years old)
Number of seasons in the first division: 42
Titles: 3
In the Champions Cup since 2016/17
Up and coming talent: Bjorn van Zyl (21)
Top Rookie: Clint Lemans (NAC Breda)
De Graafschap wants to return to its former glory and is aiming for an attacking style of play with a new coach.Helmond Sport
Coach: Frederic France (37 years old)
Number of seasons in the first division: 57
Titles: 1
In the Champions Cup since 1984/85
Up and coming talent: Livio Chichero (20)
Top Newcomer: Dean Huiberts (Pro Vercelli)
Helmond Sport wants to improve its results and become a more consistent team in the Champions Cup.

Heracles Almelo
Coach: Vincent Heilman (29 years old)
Number of seasons in the first division: 42
Titles: 4
In the Champions Cup from 2026/27
Up and coming talent: Mario Borak (20)
Top Newcomer: David Vicente (Real Murcia)
Heracles returned to the Champions Cup after a disappointing season and are looking forward to a successful run with a new squad.

MVV Maastricht
Coach: Andris Jonker (63 years old)
Number of seasons in the first division: 35
Titles: 2
In the Champions Cup since 2000/01
Up and coming talent: Yael Pavlirodihardjo (19)
Top Rookie: Tony Vinogradak (NK Triglav)
MVV is hoping to return to the elite and a new coach should help the team get back on track.

NAC Breda
Coach: Carl Hefkens (47 years old)
Number of seasons in the first division: 18
Titles: 1
In the Champions Cup from 2026/27
Up and coming talent: Pepijn Reulen (18)
Top Newcomer: Paul Gladon (Fortuna Sittard)
The NAC faces challenges after a disappointing season and the coach must build a team capable of challenging for the top positions.RKC Waalwijk
Coach: Sander Duits (42 years old)
Number of seasons in the first division: 14
Titles: 2
In the Champions Cup from 2025/26
Up and coming talent: Keyan Varaela (20)
Top Rookie: Jordi Weiss (Fortuna Dusseldorf)
RKC wants to return to the top of the table and with new players the team has a chance to succeed.

Roda JC Kerkrade
Coach: Rob Penderas (50 years old)
Number of seasons in the first division: 13
Titles: 1
In the Champions Cup from 2018/19
Up and coming talent: Xander van den Berg (21)
Top Newcomer: Bram Marsman (SK Cambuur)
Roda JC hopes for stability under the leadership of a new coach and work to improve results.

TOP Oss
Coach: Sjors Ulte (39 years old)
Number of seasons in the first division: 35
Titles: 0
In the Champions Cup since 1991/92
Up and coming talent: Mert Erkan (21)
Top Newcomer: Richard van der Venne (RKS Waalwijk)
TOP Oss wants to improve its position in the table and hopes for success in the new season.

Vitesse
Coach: Rudiger Reim (47 years old)
Number of seasons in the first division: 27
Titles: 2
In the Champions Cup from 2024/25
Up and coming talent: Mathijs Marsalk (21)
Main newcomer: Eduard Probst (SV Rödinghausen)
Vitesse strives to increase its success and show the best results in the new season.FC Volendam
Coach: Erwin van de Looy (54 years old)
Number of seasons in the first division: 42
Titles: 7
In the Champions Cup from 2026/27
Upcoming Talent: Jerason Hopel (18)
Top Newcomer: Nick Dudeman (Willem II)
FC Volendam wants to return to the elite after an unexpected decline and is counting on a strong squad.

What happens next

Almere City FC face a tough challenge in the Champions Cup and Dastgir must focus on improving his defense to ensure the team remains competitive. With talented players such as Marley Dors and Vesel Spil, the team has the potential to perform well. If Almere City can improve their defensive performance, it could lead to significant success in the upcoming matches and increase their chances of reaching the Copa Mundial final.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to the Champions Cup?

The Champions Cup starts again on Friday, with interesting matches expected and the return of teams such as Heracles Almelo, NAC Breda and FC Volendam.

Who confirmed the participation of the teams in the Champions Cup?

The participation of the teams was confirmed by their coaches and clubs, including Anoush Dastgir from Almere City FC and Bart Schrader from FC Den Bosch.

Why is the Champions Cup starting now?

The Champions Cup starts now to give teams that have returned to the competition the opportunity to demonstrate their strength and ambitions for the new season.

What changes took place in the teams before the Champions Cup?

Three teams have been replaced in the Champions Cup this season: ADO Den Haag, SC Cambuur and Willem II have been replaced by Heracles Almelo, NAC Breda and FC Volendam.

What's new in the teams before the start of the Champions Cup?

The teams have introduced new players such as Vesel Spiel to Almere City FC and Hessel Eijkelboom to FC Den Bosch, while also developing promising talents.

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