PSV
Eindhoven 1985 through 1990-Phillips Electronics’ Euro Vision
By
1985, Dutch side PSV Eindhoven had not won the League title since 1978. The
year, when they also won the UEFA Cup vs. France’s Bastia with a side
containing Jan van Beveren, Willy van der Kuylen, Huub Stevens, Ernie Brandts
and the van der Kerkhof brothers.
During
this winless spell, they had to contend with Ajax winning most of the titles
with Feyenoord and even AZ’67 Alkmaar winning the title along the way.
Despite
regularly finishing near the top of the table, the title just seemed out of
reach.
They
did not fare any better in Europe despite qualifying regularly for the UEFA
Cup.
However,
a number of key signings in the summer of 1985 changed their fortunes in the
League and eventually led to European glory.
The
most important signing was of the young Ruud Gullit from Feyenoord, who many
predicted a bright future.
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Photo
From: Guerin Sportivo, April 26-May 2, 1989
(Ruud Gullit , 1986/87) |
The
disgraced former Belgium Captain, Eric Gerets, arrived from MVV Mastrischt on
his first step to rebuild his career following the Standard-Waterschei scandal.
Experienced
Danish midfielder Frank Arnesen, a former Ajax player, arrived from Anderlecht
to strengthen the midfield and little known English striker Rob McDonald
arrived from Groningen.
The
Manager, since 1983, was Jan Reker who had served for many seasons as Assistant
Manager.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, May 1988
(PSV Eindhove’s veteran Belgian defender Eric
Gerets) |
The
side already contained International goalkeeper Hans van Breukelen, who had
English League experience with Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest.
Along
with Gerets, the defense consisted of veterans Huub Stevens and Ernie Brandts.
Two holdouts from the 70s glory years.
The
rest were young defenders such as Berry van Aerle, who would go on to become a
full International, and a young Danish Jan Heintze, who would also go on to
represent Denmark Internationally.
Sweden’s
Captain Glenn Hysen was also part of the team, though he made little impact and
returned to Sweden.
The
rest of the squad comprised of veteran Willy van der Kerkhof, perhaps the most
famous link to the 70s era, and others such as Michel Valke, Ton Lokhoff, Rene
van der Gijp and Norwegian striker Hallvar Thoresen.
This
team led by Gullit ran away with the Dutch League title of 1985/86 season with
only a single loss.
Gullit
had perfectly adapted and scored 24 goals that season.
This
first League title in nearly a decade earned them entry in the Champions Cup
for the 1986/87 season.
Despite
winning the title, Jan Reker was relieved of his duties as Manager and replaced
by Hans Kraay.
For
the 1986/87, PSV strengthened its squad even further.
Gone
were veterans such as Stevens, Brandts and also Lokhoff and McDonald.
The
defense was strengthened by the arrival of Denmark’s Ivan Nielsen from rivals
Feyenoord.
Canada’s
Randy Samuel was also signed after the 1986 World Cup, though he made little
impact.
PSV
made a double signing from Ajax that weakened their archrivals in the League.
Young Internationals Ronald Koeman and Gerald Vanenburg were prized away with
better salaries.
That
season (1986/87), PSV retained their League crown, however, they were
eliminated in the first round of the Champions Cup by Bayern Munich.
Despite
being League leaders t the time, PSV also parted company with Hans Kraay in
March 1987 and appointed Assistant Guus Hiddink with a few months remaining.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, May 1988
(PSV Eindhoven Manager Guus Hiddink) |
Much
of the chatter that season was of the impending transfers of Gullit to AC Milan
along with Ajax striker Marco van Basten.
The
sum paid for Gullit (6 Million British Pounds) was the new World Record,
surpassing the 5 Million BP that Napoli paid to acquire Diego Maradona from
Barcelona in 1984.
The
sale of Gullit did not deter PSV Eindhoven’s ambitions.
With
the extra money, PSV made more key signings for another tilt at the Champions
Cup.
Along
with Gullit, van der Gijp, Koolhof and Valke also departed.
They
were replaced by Denmark veteran midfielder Soren Lerby from AS Monaco and
formerly of Ajax and star striker Wim Kieft, also formerly of Ajax (a running
theme), from Torino.
Promising
young striker Hans Gillhaus arrived from Den Bosch.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, May 1988
(PSV Eindhoven striker Wim Kieft) |
This
new look PSV with Guus Hiddink in his first full season in charge started the
1987/88 season in spectacular fashion.
They
won their first 17 League matches, half of an entire campaign.
They
ran away with the League title (third straight) once again with Kieft scoring
29 goals with Ajax a very distant second.
They
clinched the double by winning the Dutch Cup after defeating Roda JC Kerkrade 3
to 2.
In
the Champions Cup, Galatasaray and Rapid Vienna were defeated in the early
rounds.
They
were drawn with France’s Bordeaux in the Quarterfinals.
PSV
earned a creditable one to one away tie and qualified with the away goals rule
after a scoreless tie at home.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, June 1988
(Gerald Vanenburg and Elzo, May 25, 1988,
Champions Cup, PSV Eindhoven 0-Benfica 0 ) |
However,
the Bordeaux matches were overshadowed by Ronald Koeman’s declarations where he
praised teammate Hans Gillhaus for injuring Jean Tigana and essentially taking
him out of the game. He also went on to say their semifinal opponents Real
Madrid had more players with yellow cards, therefore they should be provoked to
lead to their suspensions for the second leg of the series.
These
statements earned him a suspension from the first leg of the series with Real
Madrid.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, June 1988
(Soren
Lerby and Antonio Veloso, May 25, 1988, Champions Cup, PSV Eindhoven 0-Benfica
0 )
|
The
Real Madrid matches were similar to the Bordeaux matches in the previous round,
one to one away tie and qualification through the away goals rule after a
scoreless tie at home.
PSV
won the treble, winning every competition it was involved in, after defeating
Benfica in the Final in a penalty kick shoot-out after a scoreless tie.
PSV
won the Champions Cup despite not winning a single one of their last five
matches, all ending in ties.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, June 1988
(PSV Eindhoven’s victorious squad, May 25, 1988,
Champions Cup, PSV Eindhoven 0-Benfica 0 ) |
PSV
Players: Hans van Breukelen, Ronald Koeman, Berry van Aerle, Gerald Vanenburg
and Wim Kieft were also part of the Holland squad that won the UEFA European
Championships the next month in West Germany.
The
following year (1988/89), PSV slowly started their decline despite still
dominating domestically.
Veterans
Willy van der Kerkhof and Frank Arnesen retired at the conclusion of the
previous season.
Stan
Valckx, Hendrie Kruzen, Juul Ellerman came in as reinforcements. Brazilian
striker Romario joined after the Olympics and Czechoslovakia Captain Jozef
Chovanec joined with the season well underway.
PSV
once again clinched the domestic double, however, they were not as impressive
as they had been in the previous seasons and Ajax was inching closer.
While
Chovanec stuggled, Brazilian goal scoring machine Romario adapted well and
scored freely, however, he was having problems with the rest of his teammates
and was accused of selfishness.
In
the Champions Cup, Real Madrid avenged the previous season’s elimination by
knocking PSV out in the Quarterfinals.
 |
Photo
From: Guerin Sportivo, April 26-May 2, 1989
(Ronald Koeman, March 1, 1989, Champions Cup,
PSV Eindhoven 1-Real Madrid 1 ) |
In
the summer, Ronald Koeman left PSV for Barcelona and PSV were further weakened,
despite the signings of Zambia’s Kalusha Bwalya and Danish striker Flemming
Povlsen from FC Koln.
Romario’s
serious injury midway through the season did not help matters.
Beset
by internal troubles, PSV finished as runner-ups in the League behind Ajax.
In
the Champions Cup, Bayern Munich eliminated them in the Quarterfinals.
Guus
Hiddink departed after that season, frustrated by the internal strife. Danish
veteran Soren Lerby retired and Wim Kieft left for France’s Bordeaux.
The
departures on and off the field signaled the end of an era and the end of the
club’s best team in its history.
Since
then, PSV is still a force domestically and have won numerous titles in the two
decades plus since.
On
the European front, they are not a force despite some satisfactory seasons
along the way.
Guus Hiddink has gone on to have a distinguished
Managerial career by managing many nations including Holland itself.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, May 1988
(PSV Eindhoven squad, 1987/88, top row, left to
right: Eric van Kessel, Berry van Aerle, Frank Arnesen, Willy van der Kerkhof,
Soren Lerby, Hallvar Thoresen, Eric Viscaal, Cemal Yilmaz, Adick Koot, Middle
row, left to right: Huub Stevens (assistant coach), van de ven (Physio), Randy
Samuel, Eric Gerets, Hans van Breukelen, Patrick Lodewijks, Ivan Nielsen,
Ronald Koeman, Willy van der Kuylen (assistant coach), Bottom row, left to right: Gerald Vanenburg,
Wim Kieft, Guus Hiddink (Manager), Kees Ploegsma (Technical Director), Hans
Dorjee (Assitant coach), Jan Formanoy (assistant coach), Hans Gillhaus, Jan
Heintze) |
