900 Reasons to Love Utrecht

FC Utrecht has always been, and will always be, one of the most influential and resilient clubs in all of the Netherlands. It is the only club outside Dutch soccer's "Big Three" to have never been relegated from the top-flight Eredivisie, even though it has competed in the league for more than 50 years. This is largely due to its special connection with both its incredible city and its own players, allowing the club to overcome hardship, commemorate tragedy, and celebrate success.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲’𝘀 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯
FC Utrecht's early years saw steady growth, but in the '80s the club ran into various financial difficulties, and bankruptcy seemed inevitable. The municipality of Utrecht decided to save the team by covering its debts with the help of local support, allowing it not only to avoid insolvency but also to compete in Europe for the first time that same year.
In 2003, the club faced bankruptcy again due to an underestimation of the costs resulting from the renovation of the new stadium. Once again, the municipality of Utrecht decided to buy various properties from the team, including the new stadium, in order to avoid insolvency.

On November 11, the city of Utrecht celebrated the 900th anniversary of being granted its city rights. FC Utrecht decided to celebrate its unique connection with the city by adding a special "Utrecht 900" badge to the center of the chest of the jersey. The badge is placed close to the beating heart of both the players and the fans; without them, the team would not exist.

𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀
FC Utrecht shares a close bond with its players, starting with David Di Tommaso. French defender and fan favorite, Di Tommaso joined the club in 2004 and won the "Player of the Year" award in his first season. Tragically, Di Tommaso died suddenly at age 26 on November 29, 2005, due to cardiac arrest. The club retired his No. 4 jersey and named its Player of the Year trophy the "David Di Tommaso Trophy" in his honor.
The club faced tragedy again in 2011 when Romanian fullback Mihai Neșu suffered a spinal cord injury during a training session, leaving him in a wheelchair ever since. The tragedy formed an everlasting bond between the club and the player. After his accident, Neșu started a personal foundation dedicated to helping young people and adults with neuromotor disabilities in Romania.

The same 900th-anniversary worn and signed shirts are currently up for auction, including two special Mihai Neșu shirts. The proceeds will be donated to the Mihai Neșu Foundation—own a piece of the game and show your support.