Heracles Almelo (Dutch:[ɦeːˈraːkləsˈɑlməloː]) is a Dutch professional football club based in Almelo, founded in 1903. The club competes in the Eredivisie, the top tier of Dutch football, but will play in the Eerste Divisie from the 2026–27 season following relegation. The club has won the Dutch national title twice, in 1927 and 1941. Heracles won the 2004–05 Eerste Divisie, gaining promotion to the Eredivisie for the first time in 28 years. The club remained in the top flight for 17 seasons before suffering relegation at the end of the 2021–22 season. Heracles secured an immediate return to the Eredivisie by winning the 2022–23 Eerste Divisie, but were relegated again three years later.
In 2012, they reached the KNVB Cup final for the first time, losing to PSV in the final. The club's main rival is Twente.
History
The club was founded on 3 May 1903 as Heracles, after the demigod son of Zeus. They changed their name on 1 July 1974 to SC Heracles '74 and finally settled on the current name in 1998.
Heracles finished sixth in the Eredivisie during the 2015–16 season, qualifying for the end of season European play-offs. The club first defeated Groningen and then Utrecht and thus qualified for the first time in club history for European football, starting in the third qualifying round of the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League.[1]
A run of three consecutive losses saw Heracles end the 2021–22 season in sixteenth place, condemning them to the promotion/relegation play-offs. The club were relegated to the Eerste Divisie after losing 6–1 to Excelsior on aggregate in the semifinals.[2] Less than a year later, the Heraclieden sealed an immediate return to the top flight, with a 3–0 home win over Jong PSV securing them a top two finish in the 2022–23 Eerste Divisie and only a week after PEC Zwolle had done so.[3][4] On 19 May 2023, Heracles won their third Eerste Divisie title after defeating Jong Ajax in the last round of play.[5][6]
Stadium
Heracles Almelo currently play at the Asito Stadion in Almelo. The Asito Stadion was built in 1999 with a capacity 6,900, this was expanded in 2005 to hold 8,500. After renovation of the stadium at the beginning of 2015–16 season, it currently holds 13,500 spectators.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
