Eredivisie 2023/24: How Marinus Dijkhuizen has turned Excelsior into the Netherlands’ big overachievers – tactical analysis

After relegation at the end of the 2018/19 Eredivisie season Excelsior returned to the Dutch top division for the 2022/23 season. The club survived last season, finishing 4 points above the relegation playoff position at the end of the campaign. So far this season, they have been enjoying a very good start, with the club sitting 5th after the first seven matchdays of the season, 5 points behind city rivals and current Eredivisie champions Feyenoord. 

Now into his second spell in charge of the club after re-taking charge in 2020, Marinus Dijkhuizen is getting everything to click early in this campaign, with only one loss in the first seven matches of the season. This tactical analysis and scout report will take a look at both the attacking and defensive tactics that have been behind this early success for the Rotterdam side. 

Making the most of the width of 4-3-3 in attack

Looking at the Excelsior shape going forward, Dijkhuizen’s side look to attack out of a 4-3-3 formation, with the fullbacks on both sides looking to drive forward and become part of the attack. The width will either come from them or the wingers, with the other than becoming more narrow and inverted to open the space in the wide channel. 

The Dutch side have also been dangerous in attacking transition, with their ability to break quickly with numbers going forward a key tendency in attack for them. In the Eredivisie this season, Excelsior have played 408 long passes, the most in the division. This illustrates their tendency to play more direct when in possession, making their attacking transition even more critical to create chances. 

The data viz graphic above shows the progressive passes that Excelsior have played this season thus far. As we see from the graphic, those passes are more concentrated in the wide areas, with minimal ball progression from passes occurring in the attacking middle third of the pitch. More importantly, the pink shows progressive passes into the penalty area, with a vast majority of Excelsior’s also coming from the wide channels. 

With 14 goals already this season through the first 7 matches, Dijkhuizen has been able to transform his side into a more consistent attacking threat, with their goal tally this season already almost half of last seasons (32). The star man this season has without a doubt been Nikolas Agrafiotis, with the forward already netting 5 times this season. He has been able to form a very good attacking trio with Couhaib Driouech and Derensili Fernandes either side of him in attack, with these two also causing havoc for opposition defences.