Best XI of all time 

An alert goalkeeper who helped Oranje win Euro ’88, van Breukelen played in excess of 300 times for PSV after signing from Nottingham Forest. In Eindhoven, he was part of a richly successful team and won six Eredivisie titles and three KNVB Cups. The Utrecht-born stopper is most famous for a fantastic penalty shootout save which won PSV the European Cup against Benfica in 1988. Nowadays, van Breukelen works as an entrepreneur and also serves on the PSV board

Hans van Breukelen

A rampaging right-back, Gerets is widely considered one of the greatest Belgian footballers of all-time. During an illustrious spell at PSV, Gerets was affectionately nicknamed “Lion” due to his long flowing hair and beard. Gerets won six Eredivise titles as a player, in addition to two KNVB Cups, and remains the only PSV captain ever to lay hands on the European Cup. Currently, Gerets manages Lekhwiya SC in Qatar.

The grizzled Stevens was a combative defender who took no prisoners. A brave-hearted winner, Stevens helped PSV to three Eredivisie titles and one KNVB Cup triumph during his eleven year spell. He also starred for the UEFA Cup-winning PSV side of 1978, producing a valiant display in the Final. After retiring, Stevens embarked on a distinguished coaching career, most notably with PSV, Schalke 04 and Hamburg. Now, he is head coach of PAOK Salonika.

Stam may have spent only two seasons at the Philips Stadion, but his fantastic performances helped the club win one Eredivisie title and KNVB Cup whilst also opening the door to a distinguished career throughout Europe. PSV received a then-record £10.6m transfer fee for the robust defender, who went on to play for Manchester United, Lazio, Milan and Ajax, where he currently serves as a coach.

A whole-hearted, defensive-minded full-back, Heintze made over 500 appearances for PSV during two separate spells. Heintze is perhaps the most-decorated PSV player of all-time, having won nine Eredivisie titles, three KNVB Cups, three Johan Cruyff Shields and one European Cup during sixteen years of loyal service. Heintze is now a commercial real-estate developer in the Eindhoven area.

 Eric Gerets

Huub Stevens

 Jaap Stam

Jan Heintze

A consummate box-to-box midfielder, Willy van de Kerkhof was an integral part of some great PSV and Oranje teams. Along with twin brother Rene, Willy represented Oranje on 63 occasions, including World Cups in ’74 and ’78. At PSV, van de Kerkhof also won six Eredivisie titles, in addition to three KNVB Cups and, of course, the 1988 European Cup. The great Pele named Willy one of the top 125 living footballers in 2004, a fitting tribute to a fine player. He currently works for his own business networking firm in Eindhoven.

When I first began watching PSV, Mark van Bommel embodied the heart and soul of the club. He was tenacious, driven and passionate; a fine captain who was often misunderstood by the British media. After arriving from Fortuna Stittard in 1992, van Bommel played a vital role in PSV winning four Eredivisie titles, one KNVB Cup and four Johan Cruyff Shields. A current coach within the PSV youth system, van Bommel also played for Barcelona, Bayern Munich and AC Milan before returning and ending his career in Eindhoven last term.

A clean-spirited maestro, Cocu was born and raised in Eindhoven before starring for PSV in numerous spells and capacities. A centurion for Oranje, Cocu is a fan favourite at the Philips Stadion, having won four Eredivise titles and two KNVB Cups in a career which also took him to Barcelona. I remember Cocu mostly for his second spell at the club, a magical time during which he was club captain. Nowadays, Cocu is manager at PSV, having coached within the academy since retirement.

Willy van de Kerkhof

Mark van Bommel

Phillip Cocu

A standard-bearer for a future lineage of exceptional PSV strikers, van der Kuijlen was awarded a statue at the main entrance of the Philips Stadion, a fitting tribute to his incredible legacy. In seventeen years, Mr PSV scored a 311 goals for the club, an untouchable record which is unlikely ever to be broken. The clinical striker won three Eredivisie championships, two KNVB Cups and was a scorer in triumphant 1978 UEFA Cup Final.

Ruud Gullit is one of the greatest Dutch footballers who ever lived. In an illustrious career highlighted by Euro ’88 success and European Footballer of the Year honours in 1987, Gullit used PSV as a springboard on to the world stage. The silky-skilled midfielder was versatile and dynamic, scoring 53 goals in just 75 PSV games, whilst providing innumerable assists. A defining image from the Eredivisie during this era has Gullit streaming effortlessly through midfield for PSV, with dreadlocks dancing and toes twinkling. The former Oranje captain now works occasionally within the football media.

The Doelpuntenmachine, Kežman is my all-time PSV idol. I grew up watching him score at an obscene rate in the early Millennium, earning worldwide recognition and shooting PSV to two further Eredivisie championships. A move to Chelsea sullied Mateja’s reputation in Britain, but his 105 goals in 122 PSV appearances earn him a place in my legendary lineup. Kežman retired in 2011, and is now working as a sports agent.

Willy van der Kujlen

Ruud Gullit

Mateja Kežman

Share on Facebook