Ernest Faber, head coach of Heracles Almelo, delivered a stark assessment following his team’s relegation from the Eredivisie after a 2-0 home defeat to FC Volendam on Sunday, April 26, 2026. Speaking to Dutch media outlet De Telegraaf, Faber said, “Then it won’t amount to much with this club,” reflecting on the implications of the drop for the club’s future prospects.
The relegation marks the end of Heracles Almelo’s three-season stint in the Dutch top flight, during which the club consistently finished in 14th place in both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. Faber, who has been in charge since 2025, acknowledged the difficulty of the situation but emphasized the need for realism in evaluating the club’s position within the competitive landscape of Dutch football.
The match against FC Volendam, played at Erve Asito Stadium in Almelo, was temporarily suspended late in the game when Heracles supporters threw fireworks onto the pitch, prompting officials to halt play for safety reasons. Despite early pressure from Heracles in the first half, including a headed effort by Sem Scheperman that was cleared off the line by Henk Veerman, FC Volendam capitalized on their chances after the break. Anthony Descotte opened the scoring in the 55th minute after beating goalkeeper Remko Pasveer and Robert Mühren doubled the lead in the 62nd minute to secure the victory that confirmed Heracles’ relegation.
With the loss, FC Volendam moved out of 16th place in the Eredivisie standings, a position now occupied by Telstar. The teams finishing in 16th and 17th place will enter the promotion-relegation playoffs, while the 18th-placed side faces direct relegation. At the time of the match, with 31 of 34 games played, Excelsior and FC Volendam were tied on 31 points, Telstar trailed with 30 points, and NAC Breda sat with 25 points.
Heracles Almelo had previously been relegated from the Eredivisie in 2022 after a 17-year stay in the top flight but earned immediate promotion the following season. The club’s return to the Eredivisie in 2023 was marked by two consecutive 14th-place finishes, indicating a period of relative stability at the highest level before this season’s downturn.
Faber, a former PSV Eindhoven defender who earned one cap for the Netherlands national team in 1998, has built a coaching career that includes stints with Jong PSV, FC Eindhoven, NEC, Groningen, and Adelaide United, where he served as technical director from 2024 to 2025 before returning to Heracles Almelo in a dual role as head coach and technical director in 2025. His experience across multiple levels of Dutch football informs his perspective on the challenges clubs face when navigating relegation battles.
The Dutch football league system operates on a promotion and relegation structure between the Eredivisie and the Eerste Divisie, with the bottom two Eredivisie teams facing automatic relegation and the 16th and 17th placed teams entering playoff contention for the final Eredivisie spot. Heracles Almelo’s 18th-place finish confirms their descent to the second tier for the upcoming season.
As the club prepares for its return to the Eerste Divisie, attention will turn to squad planning, financial adjustments, and the strategic direction under Faber’s leadership. The immediate focus for Heracles Almelo will be on regrouping and building a competitive squad capable of challenging for an immediate return to the Eredivisie, though Faber’s recent comments suggest a sober assessment of the work required to achieve that goal.
For continued updates on Heracles Almelo’s journey in the Eerste Divisie and developments in Dutch football, fans are encouraged to follow official club channels and reputable sports news outlets.
