Спарта Роттердам / Sparta Rotterdam

Full name Sparta Rotterdam

Nickname(s) Kasteelheren (Lords of the Castle)
Founded April 1, 1888
Ground Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel (The Castle),Rotterdam
Capacity 11,026
Chairman Hans van Heelsbergen
Manager Wiljan Vloet
League Eredivisie
2005-06 14th

Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Until the 2002/2003 season it had always played at the highest level, but it was relegated from the top-level Eredivisie in 2002. Sparta has returned to the Eredivisie for the 2005-06 season. The average attendance in 2004/05 was 5,700 people.

Sparta has won six national titles (1909, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1915 and 1959) and three national cups (1958, 1962 and 1966). Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior (est. 1902) and Feyenoord (est. 1908), all playing in the major league Eredivisie.