SBV Vitesse

Stichting Betaald Voetbal Vitesse Arnhem, commonly known as Vitesse (Dutch pronunciation: [viˈtɛsə]) or internationally as Vitesse Arnhem, is a Dutch football club based in Arnhem, Gelderland. Founded on 14 May 1892, it is one of the oldest professional clubs in the Netherlands. Vitesse last competed in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of the Dutch football league system. Vitesse lost its professional football license in July 2025, but regained it in an appeal in September.

The club experienced its most sustained success in the 1990s, with a highest-ever finish of third place in the 1997–98 Eredivisie season. Vitesse have qualified for European competitions and won their first major trophy in 2017, lifting the KNVB Cup after a 2–0 victory over AZ Alkmaar. They were also cup finalists in 1912, 1927, 1990 and 2021.

Since 1998, Vitesse have played their home matches at the GelreDome, a 21,000-seat stadium featuring a retractable roof and pitch. Former players including Phillip Cocu, Roy Makaay, Nemanja Matić, Wilfried Bony, Martin Ødegaard and Mason Mount.

History

Vitesse, founded in 1892, is the second oldest professional football club still in professional football in the Netherlands, after Sparta Rotterdam who were formed in 1888. The roots of Vitesse actually pre-date Sparta by a year as in 1887, a club with the name "Arnhemsche cricket- en voetbalvereeniging Vitesse" was formed by a group of high school students who played their sport on the Rijnkade, overlooking the River Rhine in the city centre. Reluctant to choose a Latin or English name for the club as they felt those languages were too elitist, they picked the French word Vitesse, meaning "speed".