2025–26 SC Telstar season

The 2025–26 season is the 63rd season in the existence of Sportclub Telstar and their first season back in the Eredivisie since the 1977–78 campaign, following promotion from the Eerste Divisie in the preceding season. In addition to the domestic league, the club is also participating in the KNVB Cup.

Telstar confirmed their initial warm-up programme on 28 June, scheduling friendlies against ADO '20, Heerenveen, Rijnsburgse Boys, Cambuur, Samsunspor, Jong Sparta and Qatari side Al-Shamal, with a one-day triangular tournament at Katwijk also added to the diary.^[2] On 26 July, VV Katwijk hosted the "Visserijtoernooi" at Sportpark De Krom, contested as 2×30-minute matches between Katwijk, Koninklijke HFC and Telstar; Telstar won both fixtures to take the trophy.^[3]

Squad building began early. In February, Telstar pre-contracted defender Nigel Ogidi Nwankwo from Quick Boys, followed in May by striker Milan Zonneveld from the same club and, in June, forward Patrick Brouwer.^[4][5][6] Neville Ogidi Nwankwo, brother of Nigel, arrived on loan from Utrecht on 3 July, and goalkeeper Daan Reiziger signed later that month after leaving Cambuur.^[7][8] Early August brought further reinforcement as experienced utility defender Dion Malone and midfielder Dylan Mertens both penned deals, while on 18 August Almere City's Jochem Ritmeester van de Kamp joined on loan.^[9][10] The window concluded with the permanent signing of forward Kay Tejan from USL Dunkerque for a reported €230,000 and a two-year contract.^[11]

There were also notable departures. Top goalscorer from the season before, Youssef El Kachati, moved to fellow Eredivisie club NEC, while veterans Mitch Apau and Tom Overtoom ended their professional career and joined amateur sides Spakenburg and Rijnsburgse Boys respectively.^[12][13][14]

Results across July and early August showed encouraging signs. Telstar opened with a 6–1 win at ADO '20, drew 1–1 with Heerenveen in a 120-minute run-out, and defeated Rijnsburgse Boys 2–0. They then beat Cambuur 2–0 in Stiens in a game staged over three periods (45'–25'–45'), before a 3–3 draw with Samsunspor in Driel. The Visserijtoernooi in Katwijk brought two short-format victories—2–0 over Koninklijke HFC and 1–0 against Katwijk—followed by a heavier 5–0 reverse at Jong Sparta. Pre-season closed with a 2–1 comeback win over Al-Shamal in Maurik, with Soufiane Hetli converting a penalty before Milan Zonneveld struck the winner.^{[15][16][17][18][19][3][20][21]} Notably, former Eredivisie and Netherlands international Adam Maher trained with Telstar and featured in pre-season friendlies, but did not sign a contract during pre-season.^[22][23][24]

Having secured promotion to the Eredivisie for the first time since 1978, Telstar began the 2025–26 season under head coach Anthony Correia, who had overseen their return to the top flight.^[25] Their opening match took place on 10 August 2025 away to Ajax at the Johan Cruyff Arena, where they were beaten 2–0 on their return to the top flight.^[26][27]

Telstar's first home fixture followed on 15 August against PEC Zwolle at the renamed BUKO Stadion (formerly Sportpark Schoonenberg), which had undergone renovation and a conversion from artificial turf to natural grass.^[28][29] The match ended in another 2–0 defeat, with Koen Kostons scoring both goals for Zwolle.^[30]

Telstar collected their first point of the campaign on 23 August with a 2–2 home draw against fellow promotees FC Volendam. Soufiane Hetli opened the scoring—Telstar's first Eredivisie goal in 47 years—before Patrick Brouwer doubled the lead, but a late Anthony Descotte brace denied the club a first top-flight victory since 1978.^[31] That win arrived a week later, when goals from Tyrone Owusu and Brouwer, along with several key saves by goalkeeper Ronald Koeman Jr., secured a 2–0 away victory over defending champions PSV.^[32][33]

Results in September were mixed. On 14 September, Telstar lost 3–1 at home to Fortuna Sittard, conceding twice late on as Makan Aïko scored a brace.^[34] Six days later, they were beaten 2–0 away by Groningen,^[35] before recording a 4–2 home victory over cup holders Go Ahead Eagles on 28 September—their first home win of the season. Goals from Kay Tejan, Nils Rossen, Jochem Ritmeester van de Kamp, and Soufiane Hetli secured the victory, with Tyrese Noslin heading a shot off the line late on to preserve the lead. The result meant that Telstar, on their return to the top flight, had beaten both the reigning champions and the domestic cup holders within their first two months back in the Eredivisie.^[36] On 5 October, before the international break, Telstar lost 2–1 away to AZ in a North Holland derby. Mexx Meerdink opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 15th minute after a foul by Neville Ogidi Nwankwo on Matěj Šín, before Šin doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time. Tyrese Noslin pulled one back midway through the second half after being set up by Tejan, but despite late pressure Telstar were unable to find an equaliser.^[37]

After the October international break, Telstar remained competitive but struggled to turn performances into points. They lost 3–2 at home to Heerenveen on 19 October, before a 1–0 defeat away to Sparta Rotterdam left the newly promoted side anchored near the bottom of the table.^[38]

A run of draws then helped steady the campaign. Telstar drew 2–2 with Excelsior on 1 November in a match marked by an extensive tribute inside BUKO Stadion to a recently deceased local supporter, with head coach Anthony Correia describing the impact on the club and wider IJmond region.^[39] Further draws followed against Twente (0–0), Utrecht (1–1) and, after the turn of the year, Heracles and NEC, reflecting a side increasingly accustomed to Eredivisie level but often falling just short of decisive moments.^[40]

Telstar ended 2025 with a key 1–0 away win over relegation rivals NAC Breda, a result highlighted locally as a boost heading into the winter break and one that lifted them to 15th place at the halfway point of the season.^[40]

In the first league match of 2026, Telstar suffered a 3–2 home defeat to Ajax on 11 January after falling 3–0 behind, but the closing stages—played after a red card for winter signing Cedric Hatenboer—nearly produced a comeback that left Ajax head coach Fred Grim openly critical of his side's game management.^[41]

Results remained tight through late January. Telstar lost 1–0 at home to AZ on 25 January, with NH noting Telstar's missed chances and the sense that the hosts had not rewarded themselves despite sustained pressure.^[42] On 8 February, Telstar earned a 1–1 draw away to Go Ahead Eagles thanks to a stoppage-time equaliser, extending a pattern of narrow margins at both ends of the pitch.^[43]

As of 3 February 2026^[44]

On 28 June, Telstar announced their initial pre-season schedule, with matches against ADO '20, Heerenveen, Rijnsburgse Boys, Cambuur, Samsunspor, Jong Sparta Rotterdam, and Al-Shamal.^[2]

On 26 July, VV Katwijk hosted a one-day triangular pre-season tournament at Sportpark De Krom in Katwijk, marketed as the Visserstoernooi or Visserijtoernooi (Dutch: "Fishermen's Tournament"). The participants were Katwijk, Koninklijke HFC and Telstar. Each pairing played a 2 × 30-minute match (i.e. 60-minute games in total).^[3]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

The league fixtures were released on 24 June 2025.^[70]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

As an Eredivisie side, Telstar will enter the KNVB Cup in the first round.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

• Italics indicates the player has been loaned in.
• Strikethrough indicates the player has been transferred to another club.
• Players with no appearances are not included on the list

As of match played 27 February 2026

As of match played 27 February 2026

Includes all competitive matches. The list is sorted by squad number when disciplinary points / points per card / number of cards are equal. Players with no cards not included in the list.