The Eredivisie season is officially over, and its time that we at Football-Oranje pick the players and teams who we believe have excelled this season.
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Player of the season: Memphis Depay (PSV)
After starring at the World Cup, Memphis could have left PSV last summer but decided to stay, determined to improve his scoring statistics and lift the Eredivisie trophy. It was this determination which made the winger so important to Phillip Cocu’s side as Memphis tormented Eredivisie defences, created numerous chances for his teammates, and most importantly finished as the league’s top scorer with 22 goals.
Never happy with himself if he doesn’t score or assist during a game, Memphis brought out the best in his teammates as PSV eased to the Eredivisie title ahead of Ajax, and qualified for the Champions League.
The 21-year-old’s was clearly the most talented player in the Eredivisie this season, and should go onto great things after sealing a big money move to Manchester United.
Young Player of the season: Anwar El Ghazi (Ajax)
One of the only bright spots for Ajax in a dreadful season was the emergence of explosive winger Anwar El Ghazi. The 20-year-old impressed boss Frank de Boer during pre-season and quickly established himself as a key member of the first team. Tall, quick and with delightful skills, El Ghazi caused havoc for most Eredivisie defences this season, scoring nine league goals and adding eight assists, while his undoubted highlight would have been scoring at the Nou Camp against Barcelona in the Champions League.
Already on the radar of clubs such as Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund, El Ghazi has had a great first year in the Eredivisie, and we look forward to his progress next season.
Revelation of the season: Mark Uth (Heerenveen)
After losing top scorer Alfred Finnbogason to Real Sociedad last summer, Heerenveen fans would have been wondering where the goals were going to come from this season, but Mark Uth stepped up superbly. The German was impressive during a loan spell with Heracles last season, but he has developed into an excellent all round forward for Heerenveen this campaign. Uth not only scored twenty goals, but also added eleven assists as Heerenveen just missed out on Europa League football through the play-offs.
Quick, skillful, strong and deadly in the box, Uth has been the revelation of the season, but sadly for Heerenveen fans, Hoffenheim have already swooped to bring the striker back to his homeland.
Disappointment of the season: Jean Paul Boetius (Feyenoord)
What a difference a season makes. Boetius was excellent for Feyenoord under Ronald Koeman last season, earning plaudits as one of the nations brightest talents and the winger even earned a Netherlands cap after some dazzling performances. Many tipped Boetius to be one of the stars of this season, but instead the 21-year-old has been a major disappointment, only scoring four goals, compared to ten last season, and adding only three assists, compared to ten as well.
Feyenoord’s poor form under sacked coach Fred Rutten, and failed contract talks have not helped Boetius, but he has a lot of work to do next season to get himself back to the level he was at last year. A change of scenery may be needed, with PSV heavily linked with Boetius as a replacement for Memphis Depay.
Team of the season: PSV
Too long in the shadow of rivals Ajax, PSV finally returned to the top of the Eredivisie for the first time since 2008. The Boeren were undoubtedly the team to beat from the start of the season, and while Ajax and Feyenoord dropped points constantly, Phillip Cocu’s side were ruthless, reaching a record points total of 88. Dazzling going forward with the likes of Memphis Depay, Georginio Wijnaldum and Luuk de Jong, while strong at the back thanks to the partnership of Karim Rekik and Jeffrey Bruma, they were a joy to watch.
PSV will return to the Champions League next season, but sadly this side will be broken up this summer, with Depay and Rekik already gone, while question marks surround the future of captain Wijnaldum. A summer of rebuilding will follow PSV’s best season in seven years.
Surprise package of the season: Willem II
The Tilburg club have been a yo-yo club between the Eerste Divisie and Eredivisie in recent years, but after their promotion last season they not only avoided relegation easily, but nearly made it to the Eredivisie play-offs for Europe, ending ninth.
Coach Jurgen Streppel did a wonderful job to make his side difficult to beat, with Willem II only losing four home games all season, and causing a number of shocks, such as the 2-1 win at Feyenoord and the 3-0 hammering of AZ Alkmaar. A successful campaign for Willem II, and a good platform to build on for next season.
Coach of the season: Phillip Cocu (PSV)
In only his second season in management, Phillip Cocu tasted his first major success, as the 44-year-old guided PSV to the Eredivisie title, and ended his former Oranje teammate Frank de Boer’s stranglehold on the division.
Cocu had a never say die attitude as a player, and it is a trait he has installed in his PSV squad, who came from behind in several games to earn crucial points on their way to the title. His PSV not only gained a record 88 points, losing only four games, and drawing once, but also scored 92 goals, showcasing Cocu’s attacking tactics.
Now considered one of the brightest young manager’s in Europe, Cocu’s name is already being linked with other jobs, Sunderland most recently, but with the test of Champions League next season, don’t expect Phillip to leave the Philips Arena any time soon.
Game of the season: PSV 4-3 Feyenoord
Goal of the season: Albert Rusnak (Cambuur v Go Ahead)
Dutchman abroad of the season: Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)
Could it really be anyone else? Robben was excellent for Bayern Munich during the Bundesliga season, with the winger scoring a personal best of 17 goals in 21 league games, while adding two in the Champions League.
The winger seems to be getting better and better with age, and it was no coincidence that Bayern Munich’s season ended disappointingly after the 31-year-old suffered an injury. Robben has also been the star man in the Netherlands squad this season, and was sorely missed during the draw with Turkey in March which has dented the Oranje’s hopes of automatically qualifying for next years European Championships.
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