Football Season Guide

Coming from 5 dull years, during which they finished second 4 times, while bringing home 2 KNVB Cups and 2 Johann Cruijff Schaals only, last season PSV offered themselves a triumphal campaign. Just-arrived coach Peter Bosz led them to clinch their long-yearned-for 25th Dutch title together with their 14th Johann Cruijff Schaal. They literally took the Eredivisie by storm setting a record of 17 wins out of the initial 17 games. Although they slightly slowed their rhythm down after the winter break, proving beatable by Feyenoord in the KNVB Cup and by NEC Nijmegen in the league, PSV well-deservedly triumphed in the end, holding both the best attack – with 111 goals scored - and defence – having conceded just 21 times. Following such a season, the management saw no real reason for big changes over the summer. In fact, just 1 regular left in seasoned Brazilian centre-back Andre Ramalho, whose contract was not renewed after 3 seasons in Eindhoven. His place in the heart of the defence should be taken by newly-arrived 21-year-old Flamingo, who made his name at Utrecht last season. Centre-back Bella-Kotchap, who injured himself too soon in the campaign, and left-back Van Aanholt, who lost his starting status to Dest come the winter break, were both let go back to their parent clubs and will not be particularly missed. Just-mentioned left-back Dest, who was doing very well before picking up a serious knee injury in April, and was properly replaced so far by versatile Mauro Junior, will be out for some time but was signed permanently from Barcelona. However, PSV made their major summer investment signing permanently from Bayern Munich attacking midfielder Tillman, who produced 9 goals and 11 assists last season despite not being a starter. Last but not least, with back-up winger Lozano, whose return in Eindhoven last summer was far from memorable, set to leave for San Diego at the turn of the year, PSV signed Driouech a 21-year-old winger who had an excellent season at Excelsior.