Historical Crests FC Groningen

Name: ​ ​ ​FC Groningen

Nickname(s): ​ The Pride of the North

Founded: ​ 1971

Stadium: ​ ​ Euroborg (Groningen)

Capacity: ​ 22,550

FC Groningen Crest History

The club was founded in 1971 following the professional separation from GVAV (Groninger Voetbal en Atletiek Vereniging), one of the most important football clubs in northern Netherlands. 

During the 1970s, FC Groningen adopted shield-based crests featuring the club's green-and-white colours. These early emblems emphasised the club's regional roots and helped create a visual identity distinct from GVAV. The green colour soon became the defining feature of the club, earning supporters the nickname Trots van het Noorden ("Pride of the North").

Throughout the 1980s, the monogram became firmly established as the symbol of FC Groningen. Its minimalist appearance distinguished it from the more traditional crests used by many Dutch clubs and reflected the club's modern ambitions.

The most controversial chapter in the club's visual history arrived in 1993. Seeking a more ambitious and dynamic image, FC Groningen introduced a redesigned crest featuring a Pegasus, the mythical winged horse, positioned above the traditional circular logo. The symbol was intended to represent strength, progress and aspiration, giving the club a more powerful visual identity.

Despite the club's intentions, the Pegasus crest proved deeply unpopular with supporters. Many fans felt the mythical horse had no connection to Groningen, the club's history or the culture of the northern Netherlands. The redesign was often criticised for abandoning the simplicity and uniqueness of the classic monogram that supporters strongly identified with.

As a result, the Pegasus era was short-lived. After only a few years of criticism and debate, FC Groningen abandoned the experiment in 1996 and restored the traditional G-C monogram. The return of the classic crest was warmly welcomed by supporters and reinforced the importance of the logo within the club's identity.

In 2012, FC Groningen introduced a redesigned version of its iconic crest. The club restored several elements from the classic 1996 logo while refining the overall design for improved use in print, embroidery and digital media. The result was a cleaner and more balanced badge that remained completely faithful to the traditional circular G monogram that supporters strongly identified with.

FC Groningen Club History

Founded on 16 June 1971, FC Groningen was created as the professional successor to GVAV (Groninger Voetbal en Atletiek Vereniging), a club that had represented the city of Groningen in Dutch football since the early twentieth century. The formation of FC Groningen was intended to provide the northern Netherlands with a stronger professional club capable of competing at the highest level of Dutch football.

From its foundation, FC Groningen adopted the green-and-white colours that would become synonymous with the club and the wider region. Representing both the city and province of Groningen, the club quickly established itself as the leading football institution in the north of the Netherlands and earned the nickname Trots van het Noorden ("Pride of the North").

The 1980s marked the club's emergence as a significant force in Dutch football. Under chairman René Eijkelkamp and later Hans Nijland, Groningen attracted talented players and regularly competed near the top of the Eredivisie. The club enjoyed several memorable European campaigns and became one of the strongest teams outside the traditional Dutch elite.

One of the most famous players to wear the green-and-white shirt during this era was Ronald Koeman, who began his professional career at Groningen before moving on to Ajax, PSV, Barcelona and the Dutch national team.

A difficult period culminated in 1998, when the club suffered relegation to the Eerste Divisie. The setback was a major disappointment for supporters, but Groningen responded quickly by securing promotion back to the Eredivisie after just one season.

The early 2000s saw the beginning of a new and stable era. Groningen became known for excellent scouting, player development and sensible financial management. The club regularly qualified for European competition and established itself as a consistent upper-half Eredivisie side.

Several future stars emerged during this period. Arjen Robben, one of the greatest Dutch players of his generation, began his professional career at Groningen before moving on to PSV, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Later, Luis Suárez also made a major impact at Groningen before earning a transfer to Ajax and eventually becoming one of the world's leading strikers.

A significant milestone arrived in 2006 with the opening of the Euroborg Stadium, replacing the historic Oosterpark Stadion. The modern venue provided the club with improved facilities and quickly became one of the most atmospheric stadiums in Dutch football.

The greatest achievement in FC Groningen's history came in 2015, when the club won the KNVB Cup for the first time. Groningen defeated PEC Zwolle in the final to secure its first major trophy and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. The victory remains the club's most important success and a defining moment for supporters.

After decades of stability in the top flight, FC Groningen suffered a major setback in 2023, when the club was relegated from the Eredivisie after 23 consecutive seasons at the highest level. The relegation was a shock to supporters and one of the most difficult moments in the club's history.

The response was immediate. During the 2023–24 season, Groningen secured promotion back to the Eredivisie at the first attempt, demonstrating the resilience and ambition that have long characterised the club.

FC Groningen's biggest rival is SC Heerenveen, with matches between the two clubs known as the Derby van het Noorden ("Derby of the North"). The rivalry is one of the most important fixtures in northern Dutch football and reflects the sporting competition between the provinces of Groningen and Friesland.

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