KNVB Cup

KNVB Cup
Founded1898 (1898)
RegionNetherlands
Teams110
Qualifier forUEFA Europa League
Johan Cruyff Shield
Current championsGo Ahead Eagles (1st title)
Most championshipsAjax (20 titles)
BroadcasterESPN
Websitetotoknvbbeker.nl
2025–26 KNVB Cup

The KNVB Beker (pronounced [ˌkaːʔɛɱveːˈbeː ˈbeːkər]; English: KNVB Cup), branded as the Eurojackpot KNVB Beker for sponsorship reasons, is a competition in the Netherlands organised by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) since 1898.[1] It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup. The tournament consists of all teams from the top four tiers of Dutch league football (Eredivisie, Eerste Divisie, Tweede Divisie and Derde Divisie), as well as the 24 semi-finalists (or replacements) of the six KNVB District Cups. The finals of the tournament traditionally takes place in De Kuip, and has been held there every season since the 1989 final. The winners of the cup compete against the winners of the Eredivisie for the Johan Cruyff Shield, (equivalent to a super cup) which acts as the curtain raiser for the following season.

History

Early history

The first attempt to hold a knock-out competition open to all clubs in the Netherlands was made in 1894, with the winners receiving a trophy offered by H.M.C. Holdert, former president of V.V.A. (Amsterdam).[2] Seven teams entered and the first ever cup match in the Netherlands was thus held on 11 February, between Haarlem and HFC, ending in a 3–1 win to the latter.[2] However, no other match was played due to the withdraws of several teams, and the lack of interest shown by the clubs caused Holdert to withdraw his trophy, so the final between HFC and R.A.P. was canceled,[2] but four years later, in January 1898, Holdert offered another cup, to be contested just like the English FA Cup, and thus the KNVB Cup was conceived during a board meeting of the Dutch Football Association, in The Hague, on 19 January 1898.[3] Initially, it was decided to stage a competition for this new trophy already in the ongoing 1897–98 season, but the board had to cancel it after a prolonged stretch of bad weather in the first weeks of February had led to numerous match postponements in the western leagues.[3]

The tournament finally began the following season, 1898–99. The first final was played on 9 May 1899 between RAP Amsterdam and HVV Den Haag, and ended in a 1–0 victory for the former thanks to a goal from Jan Hisgen in extra-time.[4][5][6]

In 1946, the trophy was changed to one made out of silver, which was extremely rare in the immediate aftermath of World War II. That trophy remains in use today.

Recent history

In 2018, a trophy colored in gold was commissioned to commemorate the 100th edition of the tournament.[7]

Name changes

Like many national cup competitions, the name of the tournament has changed with sponsorship. From 1995, the competition went from being the KNVB Beker to being known as the Amstel Cup after the then sponsor Amstel. On 16 August 2005, the name was changed to the Gatorade Cup after the drinks company Gatorade. In 2006, the name returned to being the KNVB Beker with Gatorade remaining as the principal sponsor.

On 12 January 2018, it was announced that TOTO would be the name sponsor of the KNVB Cup, until the 2021–22 season. The competition was renamed the TOTO KNVB Beker with immediate effect.[7]

European competition

Up until 1998, the winner of the cup entered into the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, but with the abandonment of that tournament, the winner now goes into the UEFA Europa League. If the winning team has finished in the top two of the Eredivisie and thus gained entry into the UEFA Champions League, the berth will be redistributed to that season's Eredivisie.

In 1998, both KNVB Cup finalists, Ajax and PSV, gained entry in the Champions League, so a third-place play-off was played between the beaten semi-finalists, SC Heerenveen and FC Twente, to determine who would take the Cup Winners' Cup place.

Past finals

Season Winners Scorers Result Runners-up Scorers Venue Att.
1898–99 RAP Amsterdam Hisgen 116' 1–0 (a.e.t.) HVV Den Haag Heemstede
1899–1900 Velocitas Breda (2) Clifford 65' 80'
Altinck du Cloux 70'
3–1 Ajax Leiden Van Zanten 15' Rotterdam
1900–01 HBS Craeyenhout Bekker
Mijer
Lagerwey
4–3 (a.e.t.) RAP Amsterdam Kampschreur
Hartoch
Glaser
Haarlem
1901–02 Haarlem Van den Berg
Pennink
2–1 HBS Craeyenhout Bekker Heemstede
1902–03 HVV Den Haag Van den Berg 8' (o.g.)
J. Heyning 49'
Lotsy
J. de Sol
E. Sol
D. Heyning
6–1 HBS Craeyenhout Van den Broeck d’Obrenau Sportpark De Diepput
1903–04 HFC Holdert 80' (pen.)
Van der Vinne 83'
Henny 85'
3–1 HVV Den Haag Froger 30' Sportpark De Diepput 1,000
1904–05 VOC Rotterdam (2) Jerris
Van Duijn
H. Breuning pen.
3–0 HBS Craeyenhout 2 (2) Sportpark De Diepput
1905–06 Concordia (2) Thomée 17'
Slingelandt
3–2 AC & VV Volharding (2) Baggelaar 87' Valkenboschlaan
1906–07 VOC Rotterdam (2) J. Hörburger
H. Breuning
A. Hörburger
C. Breuning pen.
4–3 (a.e.t.) Voorwaarts (2) Nieuwenhuizen
? 89' (pen.)
Sportpark De Diepput
1907–08 HBS Craeyenhout 2 (2) Feijtes 10'
?
De Jong
3–1 VOC Rotterdam (3) Verduin 88' Rotterdam
1908–09 Quick Den Haag 2 (Res.) Goedhart
Schaaf
2–0 VOC Rotterdam (2) Dordrecht
1909–10 Quick Den Haag 2 (Res.) Loos 15'
Richelle
2–0 HVV Den Haag 2 (Res.) Delft
1910–11 Quick Den Haag Remus 45' 1–0 HFC Haarlem Haarlem
1911–12 Haarlem Houtkooper 44' 50' 2–0 Vitesse Amsterdam
1912–13 HFC Laan 10' 60' 65'
Francken 75'
4–1 DFC Kleijn 20' Het Houten Stadion 6,000
1913–14 DFC Sunderman
De Wijs
Bouman
3–2 Haarlem Houtkooper
Schravendijk
Het Houten Stadion 8,000
1914–15 HFC Seignette 45' 1–0 HBS Craeyenhout Het Nederlandsch Sportpark
1915–16 Quick Den Haag Van Riemsdijk 60' 2–1 (a.e.t.) HBS Craeyenhout Poortman 75' Sportpark Houtrust
1916–17 Ajax (2) Lucas 20'
Van Doort 21'
De Natris
Brokmann pen.
5–0 VSV Velsen (3) Het Nederlandsch Sportpark
1917–18 RCH (2) Bloemheuvel 30'
De Koning 35'
2–1 VVA Amsterdam Seemann 47' Het Nederlandsch Sportpark
1918–19 Not played
1919–20 CVV (2) Van de Steen
Van Oyen
2–1 VUC Den Haag (2) Van de Waal Dordrecht
1920–21 Schoten (2) Ruys
Ruil
2–1 RFC (2) ? Utrecht
1921–24 Not played
1924–25 ZFC Zaandam Hoogmoed 3'
Potse 10'
Schoen 40' 60'
5–1 Xerxes (2) Van Rooij 20' (o.g.) Utrecht
1925–26 LONGA (2) Thijsselink pen.
Pallandt
Ghering
5–2 De Spartaan ? Utrecht 3,000
1926–27 VUC Den Haag Dill 50' 75'
Klein 56'
3–1 Vitesse Van Bochove 10' Arnhem 6,000
1927–28 RCH Van der Bend 30' (o.g.)
De Groot 70' (o.g.)
2–0 PEC Zwolle (2) Sportpark Berestein 400
1928–29 Not played
1929–30 Feijenoord Barendregt 35' 1–0 Excelsior Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel 10,000
1930–31 Not played
1931–32 DFC De Smit 35' 46' 75'
Punt 74'
Ruisch 105'
5–4 (a.e.t.) PSV De Visser 2' 40'
Van den Broek 50'
Hunting 73'
Koning Willem II Stadion 5,000
1932–33 Not played
1933–34 Velocitas Groningen Peterse 84' (pen.)
Bonsema 87'
Van de Velde 91'
3–2 (a.e.t.) Feijenoord Burg 77'
Paauwe 80'
Utrecht 5,000
1934–35 Feijenoord Paauwe 55'
Groenendijk 57' 67' 80' 85'
5–2 Helmond (2) Drouwen 42'
Van der Velden 61'
Kromme Zandweg 12,000
1935–36 Roermond Pijpers 30' 82'
Pubben 38'
Imkamp 68'
4–2 KFC Bouthoorn 55' 70' Vught 200
1936–37 FC Eindhoven Kruger 87' 1–0 De Spartaan (2) Sportterrein aan de Spaarndammerdijk 4,000
1937–38 VSV Velsen Sterk 40' 42' 46'
Bot 60'
4–1 AGOVV Kluin 5' Utrecht 3,000
1938–39 FC Wageningen Zittersteijn 45' 95' 2–1 (a.e.t.) PSV Hunting 50' Stadium Eendracht Arnhem 3,500
1939–42 Not played
1942–43 Ajax Stoffelen 3' (pen.)
Fischer 24'
Van Dijk 62'
3–2 DFC Mijnders 41'
In ’t Veld 65'
Olympic Stadium 35,000
1943–44 Willem II Willy Engel
Wim Engel
Van Loon
9–2 Groene Ster (2) Haas
Klamerek
Sportpark Aalstenweg
1944–1947 Not played
1947–48 FC Wageningen 0–0
(2–1 p)
DWV (2) Olympic Stadium 20,000
1948–49 Quick 1888 Schipperheijn 11' 1–1
(2–1 p)
Helmondia Nicholson 12' Sportpark Aalstenweg 18,000
1949–50 PSV Bijen 30' 100'
Fransen 43' 87'
4–3 (a.e.t.) HFC Haarlem Smit 25'
Pastoor 70'
Roosen 73'
De Kuip 12,000
1950–56 Not played
1956–57 Fortuna'54 Appel 14' 80' 81'
Angenent 78'
4–2 Feijenoord Schouten 1'
Aad Bak 42'
De Kuip 35,000
1957–58 Sparta Bosselaar 8'
Karregat 20' (o.g.)
Geel 38'
Verhoeven 69'
4–3 FC Volendam (2) Smit 18' 70'
Tol 41'
Olympic Stadium 18,000
1958–59 Venlo Teeuwen 23'
Sleven 32'
Klaassens 56'
Schatorjé 70'
4–1 ADO Den Haag Timmer 7' Zuiderpark 25,000
1959–60 Not played
1960–61 Ajax Groot 78' 82' 88' 3–0 NAC Breda De Meer 16,000
1961–62 Sparta Van Miert 105' 1–0 (a.e.t.) DHC Delft (2) Het Kasteel 12,000
1962–63 Willem II Louer 35'
Aarts 46'
Senders 81'
3–0 ADO Den Haag Zuiderpark 18,000
1963–64 Fortuna'54 0–0
(4–3 p)
ADO Den Haag Philips Stadion 10,000
1964–65 Feijenoord Bouwmeester 88' 1–0 Go Ahead Eagles De Kuip 31,000
1965–66 Sparta Madsen 60' 1–0 ADO Den Haag De Kuip 24,000
1966–67 Ajax Cruyff 64'
Nuninga 99'
2–1 (a.e.t.) NAC Breda Vesters 88' De Meer 21,000
1967–68 ADO Den Haag Schoenmaker 23'
Aarts 28'
2–1 Ajax Keizer 48' Zuiderpark 17,500
1968–69 Feijenoord Wery 27' 1–1 (a.e.t.) PSV Radović 71' De Kuip 55,000
Van Hanegem 47'
Wery 84'
Replay
2–0
De Kuip 60,000
1969–70 Ajax Keizer 22'
Cruijff 69'
2–0 PSV De Vliert 30,000
1970–71 Ajax Cruijff 62' 81' 2–2 (a.e.t.) Sparta Kowalik 39'
Visser 74'
De Kuip 63,154
Mühren 4'
Johan Neeskens 52'
Replay
2–1
Walbeek 47' De Kuip 60,068
1971–72 Ajax Cruyff 34'
Mühren 61' (pen.)
Keizer 72'
3–2 FC Den Haag Van Eeden 68'
Mansveld 85' (pen.)
De Kuip 60,000
1972–73 NAC Breda Bish 10'
Brouwers 75'
2–0 NEC Nijmegen De Kuip 45,801
1973–74 PSV Deijkers 10'
R. van de Kerkhof 40'
Edström 53'
Van der Kuijlen 51' 58' 90'
6–0 NAC Breda De Kuip 38,000
1974–75 FC Den Haag Van Leeuwen 67' 1–0 FC Twente De Kuip 21,000
1975–76 PSV Edström 98' 1–0 (a.e.t.) Roda JC De Kuip 32,760
1976–77 Twente Drost 96'
Mühren 105'
Jeuring 110'
3–0 (a.e.t.) PEC Zwolle (2) De Goffert 26,000
1977–78 AZ Van Rijnsoever 56' 1–0 Ajax Olympic Stadium 38,248
1978–79 Ajax Clarke 42' (pen.) 1–1 (a.e.t.) Twente Meutstege 14' (o.g.) De Kuip 29,553
Clarke 27'
Tahamata 47'
Schoenaker 66'
Replay
3–0
29,274
1979–80 Feyenoord Petursson 39' (pen.)
De Leeuw 71'
Petursson 75'
3–1 Ajax Arnesen 19' De Kuip 50,340
1980–81 AZ Tol 24'
Spelbos 59'
Nygaard 74'
3–1 Ajax Vanenburg 53' Olympic Stadium 32,591
1981–82 AZ 0–1 FC Utrecht Wouters 5' Galgenwaard 10,000
Oberacher 18'
Kist 47' 57' (pen.) 76'
Tol 77'
5–1 Carbo 27' Alkmaarderhout 12,000
1982–83 Ajax Lerby 47'
Schoenaker 66'
Ophof 86'
3–1 NEC Nijmegen Mulderij 56' De Meer 7,700
Vanenburg 46' 52'
Cruyff 69'
3–1 Grim 60' De Goffert 24,000
1983–84 Feyenoord Houtman 72' 1–0 Fortuna Sittard De Kuip
1984–85 FC Utrecht Van Loen 90' 1–0 Helmond Sport (2) Galgenwaard 18,000
1985–86 Ajax Bosman 46' 80'
Silooy 67'
3–0 RBC Roosendaal (2) De Meer 23,000
1986–87 Ajax Bosman 11' 83'
Van Basten 104' 106'
4–2 (a.e.t.) FC Den Haag Boere 43'
Morley 66'
Zuiderpark 8,600
1987–88 PSV Gerets 52' 85'
Lerby 90+2'
3–2 Roda JC H. Smeets 22'
R. Smeets 64'
Willem II Stadion 8,500
1988–89 PSV Romário 2'
Ellerman 45' 53'
Kieft 79'
4–1 Groningen Meijer 78' De Kuip 9,483
1989–90 PSV Valckx 30' (pen.) 1–0 Vitesse De Kuip 34,000
1990–91 Feyenoord Witschge 8' 1–0 BVV Den Bosch (2) De Kuip 52,000
1991–92 Feyenoord de Wolf 28'
Taument 43'
Kiprich 53'
3–0 Roda JC De Kuip 48,000
1992–93 Ajax Davids 7'
Overmars 45' 89'
Pettersson 71'
Bergkamp 82'
Petersen 87'
6–2 Heerenveen (2) Regtop 35'
Cămătaru 90'
De Kuip 45,000
1993–94 Feyenoord Heus 7' (pen.)
Van Loen 80'
2–1 NEC Nijmegen (2) Dekker 90' De Kuip 43,000
1994–95 Feyenoord Taument 7'
Obiku 82'
2–1 Volendam Wasiman 47' De Kuip 48,146
1995–96 PSV Cocu 7'
Vink 14'
Veldman 65' (o.g.)
Jonk 87'
Van der Doelen 90'
5–2 Sparta Rotterdam Van der Meer 45'
D. de Nooijer 79' (pen.)
De Kuip 35,000
1996–97 Roda JC Sibon 4'
Senden 16'
Van der Luer 48'
Schops 56'
4–2 Heerenveen Korneev 12'
Talan 83'
De Kuip 48,000
1997–98 Ajax Babangida 25'
Litmanen 38' 61' 84'
Arveladze 79'
5–0 PSV De Kuip 22,500
1998–99 Ajax Grønkjær 12' 15' 2–0 Fortuna Sittard De Kuip 25,000
1999–2000 Roda JC Peeters 19'
Van der Luer 89'
2–0 NEC Nijmegen De Kuip 40,000
2000–01 Twente 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)
PSV De Kuip 45,000
2001–02 Ajax Mido 21'
Wamberto 90'
Ibrahimović 93'
3–2 (a.e.t.) FC Utrecht Gluščević 56' (pen.) 76' De Kuip 37,000
2002–03 FC Utrecht de Jong 39'
Gluščević 49' 57'
Kuyt 81'
4–1 Feyenoord Kalou 73' De Kuip 45,000
2003–04 FC Utrecht Van den Bergh 66' 1–0 Twente De Kuip 48,000
2004–05 PSV Bouma 45'
Cocu 51'
Park 74'
Vennegoor of Hesselink 90'
4–0 Willem II De Kuip 35,000
2005–06 Ajax Huntelaar 48' 89' 2–1 PSV Lamey 53' De Kuip 30,770
2006–07 Ajax Huntelaar 51' 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(8–7 p)
AZ Dembélé 4' De Kuip 42,200
2007–08 Feyenoord Landzaat 8'
de Guzmán 36'
2–0 Roda JC De Kuip 51,177
2008–09 Heerenveen Popov 27'
Kalou 112'
2–2 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)
Twente Elia 54'
Hersi 118'
De Kuip 45,000
2009–10 Ajax de Jong 6' 7' 2–0 Feyenoord Amsterdam Arena 37,283
Suárez 4' 82'
de Jong 64' 77'
4–1 Tomasson 72' De Kuip 35,000
2010–11 Twente Brama 45'
Janssen 56'
Janko 117'
3–2 (a.e.t.) Ajax De Zeeuw 18'
Ebecilio 40'
De Kuip 45,000
2011–12 PSV Toivonen 21'
Mertens 56'
Lens 63'
3–0 Heracles Almelo De Kuip 50,000
2012–13 AZ Maher 12'
Altidore 14'
2–1 PSV Locadia 31' De Kuip 50,000
2013–14 PEC Zwolle Thomas 8' 12'
Fernandez 22' 34'
Van Polen 50'
5–1 Ajax Van Rhijn 3' De Kuip 42,500
2014–15 FC Groningen Rusnák 64' 75' 2–0 PEC Zwolle De Kuip 46,193
2015–16 Feyenoord Kramer 42'
Elia 75'
2–1 FC Utrecht Leeuwin 51' De Kuip 45,592
2016–17 Vitesse Van Wolfswinkel 81' 88' 2–0 AZ De Kuip 46,105
2017–18 Feyenoord Jörgensen 28'
Van Persie 57'
Toornstra 90+3'
3–0 AZ De Kuip 46,084
2018–19 Ajax Blind 38'
Huntelaar 39', 67'
Kristensen 76'
4–0 Willem II De Kuip 45,709
2019–20 Final between Utrecht and Feyenoord not played due to COVID-19 pandemic De Kuip N/A
2020–21 Ajax Gravenberch 23'
Neres 90+1'
2–1 Vitesse Openda 30' De Kuip 0
2021–22 PSV Gutiérrez 48'
Gakpo 50'
2–1 Ajax Gravenberch 23' De Kuip 47,500
2022–23 PSV T. Hazard 67' 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(3–2 p)
Ajax Branthwaite 42' (o.g.) De Kuip 40,650
2023–24 Feyenoord Paixão 59' 1–0 NEC Nijmegen De Kuip 42,140
2024–25 Go Ahead Eagles Deijl 90+9' (pen.) 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p)
AZ Parrott 54' (pen.) De Kuip 42,972

Number of titles

Club Titles Runners-up Winning years
Ajax 20 8 1917, 1943, 1961, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1979, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2019, 2021
Feyenoord 14 4 1930, 1935, 1965, 1969, 1980, 1984, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2008, 2016, 2018, 2024
PSV Eindhoven 11 8 1950, 1974, 1976, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1996, 2005, 2012, 2022, 2023
AZ 4 4 1978, 1981, 1982, 2013
Quick (H) 4 1909, 1910, 1911, 1916[n 1]
FC Twente 3 4 1977, 2001, 2011
FC Utrecht 3 3 1985, 2003, 2004
Sparta Rotterdam 3 2 1958, 1962, 1966
HFC 3 1904, 1913, 1915
ADO Den Haag 2 6 1968, 1975
HBS Craeyenhout 2 5 1901, 1908[n 2]
Roda JC 2 4 1997, 2000
Haarlem 2 3 1902, 1912
DFC 2 2 1914, 1932
VOC Rotterdam 2 2 1905, 1907
Willem II 2 2 1944, 1963
Fortuna'54 2 1957, 1964
Wageningen 2 1939, 1948
RCH 2 1918, 1928
Vitesse 1 4 2017
PEC Zwolle 1 3 2014
NAC Breda 1 3 1973
HVV Den Haag 1 3 1903
Heerenveen 1 2 2009
Go Ahead Eagles 1 1 2025
FC Groningen 1 1 2015
VSV Velsen 1 1 1938
VUC Den Haag 1 1 1927
RAP Amsterdam 1 1 1899
Venlo 1 1959
Quick 1888 1 1949
FC Eindhoven 1 1937
Roermond 1 1936
Velocitas Groningen 1 1934
LONGA 1 1926
ZFC 1 1925
Schoten 1 1921
CVV 1 1920
Concordia 1 1906
Velocitas Breda 1 1900

Notes

  1. ^ Includes two for second team.
  2. ^ Includes one for second team.

Media coverage

The broadcast rights are included in the KNVB broadcast rights package, which also include the Johan Cruyff Shield.

Netherlands

The KNVB Cup is currently broadcast live by the ESPN channels.

International

Country/Region Broadcaster
 Albania SuperSport
 Kosovo
 Argentina DSports
 Chile
 Colombia
 Ecuador
 Peru
 Uruguay
 Venezuela
 Austria Sportdigital
 Germany
 Switzerland
Sport Klub
 Belgium Play Sports (Dutch)
RTL-TVI (French)
 Bulgaria Ring
 Brazil N Sports
 China ZhiBo8
 Cyprus Cablenet
 Indonesia RTV
 Israel Charlton
 Middle East and North Africa Dubai Sports
 Portugal DAZN
 Slovakia Arena Sport
Türkiye Sıfır TV
S Sport
D-Smart
 United States ESPN

References

  1. ^ "TOTO KNVB Beker". KNVB. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Netherlands 1893/94 - Holdert-beeld". RSSSF. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Netherlands 1897/98 - Holdert-beeld". RSSSF. 30 December 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Nederlandse voetbalbeker 1898-99" [Dutch Football Cup 1898-99]. Voetbalkroniek (in Dutch). 23 November 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  5. ^ "1899: R.A.P. wint den holdertbeker" [1899: R.A.P. wins the holding cup]. TOTO KNVB Beker (in Dutch). 31 January 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  6. ^ "Ook in de eerste bekerfinale stond een ploeg uit Amsterdam" [A team from Amsterdam also appeared in the first cup final]. sportgeschiedenis.nl (in Dutch). 16 April 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  7. ^ a b "TOTO nieuwe naamgever KNVB Beker en Gouden Trofee" [TOTO new namesake KNVB Cup and Golden Trophy]. KNVB (in Dutch). 12 January 2018. Archived from the original on 2 November 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.