The 20/21 Eredivisie season begins this Friday and we will preview the expectations of each Eredivisie club. In this article, we look at Fortuna Sittard.
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Fortuna Sittard was sitting in the bottom three when the season was ended early and will be relieved that they will once again be playing in the Eredivisie this season.
The club, which is being linked to a Turkish takeover, is now managed by their former player Kevin Hofland and will be looking for a more stable campaign in mid-table. They have added several players to the squad and Fortuna Sittard could be one of the surprise packages of the season.
Transfers
It has been a busy summer for Fortuna Sittard with eleven new players arriving at the club. Ex-AZ star Mats Seuntjens and Ben Rienstra have added some Eredivisie experience, along with Zian Flemming, who comes in from PEC Zwolle. George Cox has been signed on a permanent deal, while Emil Hansson (Hannover 96), Yanick van Osch (PSV), Sebastien Polter (Union Berlin), Roel Janssen (VVV) and English youngster Veron Parkes (West Ham United) bolster the squad.
Fortuna Sittard have also lost a number of key players with striker Amadou Ciss joining Amiens in France, while Wessel Dammers is now a Groningen player. Most significantly, midfielder Mark Diemers has departed for Feyenoord.
Head Coach
Fortuna Sittard will now be coached by their former player Kevin Hofland, who took charge in April.
It is the first managerial position for the former Netherlands international, who is a legend in Limburg. It remains to be seen if he can be a success as a head coach.
Key Players
Mats Seuntjens returns to the Eredivisie after a spell in Turkey and will become a key player for Fortuna Sittard.
The 28-year-old is an attacking midfielder, who also played as a striker at times for AZ Alkmaar, and he can add goals to Fortuna Sittard.
Ben Rienstra is another key addition for Fortuna Sittard as they look to replace the creativity that has been lost with Mark Diemers departure.
Young Players to watch
Veron Parkes is an 18-year-old midfielder, who has joined the club from West Ham United. Could the Englishman make an impact at the club, just like George Cox has?
Former Feyenoord youngster Emil Hansson (22) is back in the Eredivisie after a loan spell with RKC Waalwijk last season. The winger will be looking to finally live up to his promise.
Pre-season
It has been a widely successful pre-season so far for Fortuna Sittard, who has beaten RKSV (9-1), Dordrecht (2-1), Groene Star (2-1), and VVV Venlo (2-1). Their only defeat was a 2-1 loss at FC Twente and they ended the pre-season with a comfortable 8-0 win over BSV Limburgia.
Strongest line-up
Wehking, Donkor, Essers, Van Beijnen, Cox, Ugur, Rienstra, Seuntjens, Semedo, Hanssen, Polter
Predicted finish
Fortuna Sittard are another side that is capable of finishing in mid-table but could also be dragged into a battle at the bottom.
15th and 16th have been Fortuna’s positions in the last two seasons, but Kevin Hofland will be aiming higher and the signings of Seuntjens and Rienstra could help them to a more comfortable spot. However, someone will have to score the goals up front with Polter the man handed the task of replacing Ciss.
Fortuna Sittard look stronger than some of the sides around them and if Hofland can prove himself as a coach, there is no reason why they cant finish around 12th-14th.
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