PSV Eindhoven: Guus Hiddink and the Glory Days; Arjen Robben, Mark van Bommel Alma Maters
Philips Sport Vereniging (or PSV Eindhoven), known sometimes just as PSV, are a Dutch sports club and one of the big three professional football clubs from the Netherlands, with Ajax and Feyenoord being the other two. PSV have been very successful domestically, having won the Eredivisie title on more than 20 occasions in their illustrious history. The club has also won a European Cup, in 1988, and a UEFA Cup in 1978, which is something that separates them from other Dutch clubs, since this achievement is only matched by the other two big clubs, i.e. Ajax and Feyenoord.
PSV play their home games at the Philips Stadion. Since the club was established in 1913, they have played at the exact same place, with renovations being done to keep up with the changes required over time. The stadium currently seats 35,000 spectators, and there are plans to extend the capacity by another 10,000 to profit from the increasing demand for season tickets for the clubs matches.
The 1970s were very fruitful for PSV, as they produced some amazing players and also did well on both the domestic and European front. Although their bitter rivals Ajax over-shadowed their achievements during this decade, PSV still did quite well. Winning the domestic league three times, the Dutch cup twice and the UEFA Cup victory in 1978 against French opponents SC Bastia meant that the club raised its profile in the Netherlands and around Europe as a team to watch.
Guus Hiddink has been, perhaps, the clubs more influential and successful manager in two separate spells at the club. The first time he was at the club, from 1987-1990, he led PSV to three domestic league titles, three Dutch Cups and their only European Cup victory in 1988. The success in Europe also meant that PSV became only the second team to win the Treble, i.e. all three major trophies in the same season, after Ajax had done so earlier.
In his second spell as the club's manager, Guus Hiddink led PSV to three more Eredivisie titles in the space of four years, another Dutch cup as well as impressive finishes in the UEFA Champions League, though they were never able to win the title again after the 1988 triumph under the same manager.
Over the years, a number of very talented players have come through the ranks at PSV. Unlike Ajax, which has been the source of Dutch Legends, PSV have also helped develop a number of foreign players into the most recognizable figures in world football. Ronaldo and Romario of Brazil are two names that stand out, as both played at PSV on their way to becoming world class players. A number of the current crop of Dutch players has also come from PSV, including the Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben and his teammate Mark van Bommel. Ruud Gullit and Ruud van Nistelrooy are two other players that have had amazing careers after starting off with the Dutch side.
The last season for PSV was disappointing, as they finished third behind Ajax and the Champions F.C. Twente. The club will be looking to improve their form, under the guidance of Team Manager Fred Rutten, in the coming season and secure a place in the Champions League, which will bring in much needed revenue to finance new sales, and increase the capacity of their stadium.
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