PSV Eindhoven
Origin
The Eindhoven Football Club PSV was founded on 31 August 1913, at the end of a large Philips sports feast marking the 100th anniversary of Dutch independence. Originally PSV Football was one of 19 members of the Philips Sports Club (in Dutch abbreviated to PSV).The present Philips Stadium is still on the same location as when it was first built.
First successes
From 1914 onwards PSV takes part in league football. A few years later after a string of promotions PSV enters the top flight of Dutch football. The first National League championship is won in 1929. The first Dutch FA Cup is won in 1950. Five years later PSV is the first Dutch club to enter in the Coupe Europienne, the predecessor of the Coupe Europienne, In the 1956 - 1957 season PSV striker Coen Dillen wrote history by scoring 43 league goals that season. Until the present day the record is still standing.
70´s
During the mid seventies PSV has a golden era. With players like Willy van der Kuijlen, the Van de Kerkhof brothers, Jan van Beveren, Jan Poortvliet, Harry Lubse en Huub Stevens PSV wins 2 Dutch FA Cups and 3 League Championships. PSV also wins its first major European title on 9 May 1978. After a spectacular home match against French opponents Bastia ending in a 3-0 win for PSV, PSV wins the UEFA Cup.
The Teble
After that era PSV starts building a new team. During the late eighties, a squad is forming with a lot of international top players like Ruud Gullit, Ronald Koeman, Hans van Breukelen, Gerald Vanenburg, Wim Kieft, Sören Lerby, Frank Arnesen and Erik Gerets. Again PSV enters a period with great successes. From 1986 until 1992 PSV wins an amazing seven league titles and 3 times the Dutch FA Cup. The 1987/1988 season culminates in the biggest moment in PSV¹s history when they win the treble. On 25 May 1988 PSV play the final of the European Cup. After a thrilling match including extra time, opponents Benfica from Portugal are beaten on penalties. The European Cup comes to Eindhoven!
Talents
After winning the European Cup PSV manages to bring one of the world most talented players to the Philips Stadium; Romario de Souza Faria. During the early nineties he undoubtedly is the star player in The Netherlands. After his departure in 1993 his position is taken over by yet another great talent; Ronaldo Luiz Nazario de Lima. Again the PSV scouting team has proven its value. Ronaldo too turns out to be a worldclass player.
Late 90´s
In 1996 PSV wins the Dutch FA Cup for the seventh time. That year the Supercup (equivalent to the Charity Shield) is renamed Johan Cruijffschaal and the match for that trophy will from then on be played in the Amsterdam Arena. PSV wins the first edition of the Johan Cruijfschaal in 1996. In 1997 PSV wins the national league title for the 14th time and also the second edition of the Johan Cruijffschaal. In 1998 again qualifies for that trophy and they go on to win it for the third consecutive time.
2000-01 Season
Erik Gerets goes on with the rejuvenation of the team. In the UEFA Champions League PSV has drawn anew very difficult opponents. PSV suffers defeat in the first match of the national league, but does not lose the following 33 matches. Good results as well in the Champions League as in the UEFA Cup are not sufficient to qualify for the finals. However in the Amstelcup tournament PSV qualifies for the final round. In the second half of the season PSV remains the proud leader in the league. On 6 May 2001 PSV wins the 16th league title in Eindhoven.
2002 - 2003 Season
PSV started the 2002-2003 season with more or less the same squad; Michael Lamey, Arjen Robben and Remco van der Schaaf were the newcomers. In the winter break PSV closed deals with two South Korean players, Young-Pyo Lee and Ji-Sung Park. Trainer Erik Gerets was succeeded bij Guus Hiddink, who was already a very succesful trainer at PSV in the eighties, when the European Cup I in 1988 was won. PSV had a bright start to the new campaign; in the first half of the season they were only beaton by Feyenoord. And after the winter break PSV slumped to defeat only once more and again they lost out to Feyenoord. PSV eventually won the Dutch title for the 17th time, away at FC Groningen, in their final league game. Unfortunately PSV did not succeed in reaching the Champions League second round and neighter did they manage to qualify for the UEFA Cup tournament. The Eindhoven side was knocked out of the Dutch Amstel Cup bij FC Utrecht in the semi finals. As PSV have won the Dutch title, they are entitled to participate in the 2003-2004 Champions League edition.
