Football United

AFC Ajax are favourites to reclaim the Eredivisie title after avoiding the asset-stripping which looks to have weakened their traditional rivals.

Strong Ajax
While PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord have both lost key players, Ajax have largely managed to keep their squad intact, save for the departures of Jelle Van Damme and Petri Pasanen. Hatem Trabelsi may yet follow, but a bigger concern for coach Ronald Koeman is how to incorporate his talented young midfielders, Rafael van der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder, into the same side.

PSV worry
PSV, second last season, have had no such luck, losing their entire attack in Arjen Robben, Mateja Kezman and Dennis Rommedahl. The signing of SC Heerenveen striker Gerald Sibon and the arrivals of South Americans Jefferson Farfán and Alex and United States international DaMarcus Beasley have provided few grounds for optimism so far.

Cocu leadership
On the plus side, Phillip Cocu will bring leadership qualities having returned to the club from FC Barcelona, and another new face in midfield is Hungarian Csaba Fehér. He was bought as a replacement for Mark van Bommel, though Van Bommel remains for now.

Hiddink change
Three players are competing to succeed Ronald Waterreus in the PSV goal: Heurelho da Silva Gomes, Nathan Coe and Edwin Zoetebier. Off the pitch, coach Guus Hiddink has become technical manager, with daily training left to his assistants Fred Rutten and René Eykelkamp.

Gullit return
Ruud Gullit is back as coach of Feyenoord, the club he once graced as a player. Gullit's appointment followed the departure of Bert van Marwijk, and his goal will be to win Feyenoord their first league title since 1999. The Rotterdam fans may have to be patient, however.

New faces
Feyenoord have lost Robin van Persie to Arsenal FC and Kees van Wonderen to retirement, but the incomings at De Kuip should ensure a better showing than last term. Bart Goor, Gábor Babos, Pascal Bosschaart, Romeo Castelen, Karim Saïdi and Gerson Magraõ all joined in the summer.

Verbeek in charge
Fourth last season, Heerenveen have parted company with their coach of almost 20 years, Foppe de Haan, with Gert-Jan Verbeek taking charge. Their prospects of repeating last year's form have been hindered by the sales of Sibon, Richard Knopper, Hans Vonk and Erik Edman. Youssouf Hersi, Tomasz Rzasa and Denis Calincov are the new additions.

Title challengers
Of the other possible challengers, AZ Alkmaar have signed the Willem II trio of Kew Jaliens, Joris Mathijsen and Tarik Sektioui, while SBV Vitesse have strengthened with Richard Knopper, Abubakari Yakubu, Stijn Vreven and Igor Gluscevic.

Coaching changes
There are new coaches at several clubs. Erwin Koeman has replaced Martin Jol at RKC Waalwijk. Rini Coolen has taken over at FC Twente, and Robert Maaskant's departure for Willem II means RBC Roosendaal have turned to Jan van Dijk.

Kruys to Graafschap
Even the newly promoted clubs enter the campaign with new hands at the helm. Gert Kruys left second division champions FC Den Bosch for another promoted side, De Graafschap, and in his place Den Bosch appointed Henk Wisman.

Super Cup surprise
The season begins with Roda JC's home match against Vitesse on Friday, and if the result of the curtain-raising Super Cup is anything to go by, it could yield some surprises. FC Utrecht beat Ajax in that game, although the defending champions could well be celebrating again come May 2005.

Source: Uefa.com