The third title in a row for PSV means, for the third time, a different way of achieving the championship. After the thrilling takeover of defending champion Feyenoord in 2023/2024 and the improbable escape last season, this time the third title had long been foreshadowed by a rock-solid run by PSV and a complete implosion among the rest of the competition.
After winning the Johan Cruyff Shield, PSV starts the season incredibly strong with three consecutive victories. However, disbelief is great when Telstar wins 2-0 at Philips Stadium on August 30: it is the promoted side’s first Eredivisie victory in 47 years. Until well into 2026, the defeat remains the only blemish on an otherwise excellent start to the season. Apart from a disappointing draw against Ajax on September 21 (the Amsterdammers levelled the score at 2-2 just before time after top signing Ruben van Bommel went off with a serious injury in the first half), nothing but victories followed. Including an impressive win in Rotterdam against league leaders Feyenoord (2-3). AZ had nothing to say in Alkmaar and was already 3-0 down within half an hour, eventually losing 1-5.
Feyenoord
The victory over Feyenoord on October 26 is very important. Thanks to PSV’s surprising defeat against Telstar, the Rotterdammers could have pulled away from PSV with a win, but because the three points went to Eindhoven, the opposite happened. Feyenoord proved to be weaker than expected and saw PSV first close the gap and, soon after, move straight ahead. From matchday twelve onwards, the national champion was the league leader. And it remained so.
Winter Champion
PSV wins away at Heerenveen and concludes 2025 with a 2-1 victory over FC Utrecht, despite a red card for Jerdy Schouten. The club is the winter champion with an unprecedentedly large lead over pursuer Feyenoord: 46 to 35 points. After the defeat against PSV at home, the Rotterdammers lost to Go Ahead Eagles, NEC, and Ajax, and drew against FC Twente. Because the clubs below Feyenoord also fail to mount a strong run, it is clear even before the winter that PSV will retain the title. Jokes are made about winter tyres for the flatbed truck and celebrating a championship with mulled wine, because no one sees this going wrong anymore.
Veerman
There is still some fear when Fenerbahçe comes calling for star player Joey Veerman just before Christmas, but after a few days, the midfielder decides to simply finish the season in Eindhoven. With ‘Peel Pirlo’ in the starting lineup, PSV steamrolls over Excelsior in January: 5-1. If they still harboured any illusions in Rotterdam, they squandered them themselves with a draw against Heerenveen and a defeat against Sparta. At PSV, things started to go a bit awry: against Fortuna Sittard it ended ‘only’ 1-2, but NAC walked away with a point in Eindhoven: 2-2.
The final blow
On February 1, however, PSV delivered the final blow to Feyenoord: the Rotterdammers were completely outplayed in Eindhoven. Barely fifteen minutes into the match, the score was already 3-0, and the travelling supporters decided to pack away their banners. Some subsequently sat in the tunnel leading to the station near the stadium so as not to witness their team’s humiliation firsthand. PSV did not score again but had made a statement: after 90 minutes, the ball advantage was 62 per cent for the home team against 38 per cent for the visitors. The title was now truly within their grasp, and that after 21 matches.
Will
No player wants to admit it, but everyone sees it: after the gala performance against Feyenoord, the absolute will to win is gone. Away at FC Groningen and at home against Heerenveen and AZ were victories, but FC Volendam, NEC, and Telstar once again proved too strong. PSV could have, and perhaps should have, been champions as early as March. On March 7 against AZ, following Ricardo Pepi’s late 2-1, there were high expectations for the championship that could have become a reality on March 15, but it ultimately became so on Sunday, April 5.
Finally, the trophy that had been in sight for months is once again in the possession of PSV, who nevertheless became the earliest champions ever. With a hat-trick in a row, the team plays Ajax in early May; while PSV Eindhoven is celebrating, Ajax sits in fifth place in the Eredivisie and is pulling out all the stops to avoid the Conference League play-offs.
Remco Faasen | Supportersvereniging PSV | News Brainport
