Eredivisie 2014-2015/Preview
txt by FFT UK
Star signings
Ajax made the first big signing of the summer by bringing in the highly-rated 17-year-old striker Richairo Zivkovic from Groningen, the same journey made by Luis Suarez in 2007. Zivkovic will be joined in Amsterdam by defender Nick Viergever, who excelled at AZ Alkmaar last season, and Arek Milik, on loan from Bayer Leverkusen. PSV Eindhoven have lost Tim Matavz to Augsburg, while Feyenoord might only dip into the market if their World Cup stars are poached by bigger clubs.
The race for the title
Since Frank de Boer replaced Martin Jol at Ajax in 2010, the club have won the Eredivisie four times in a row. The Amsterdam outfit’s domination seems complete, but their biggest rivals have been knocking on the door. Last year, when Feyenoord finished four points back in second, the title was in the balance until the last few games.
Battling at the bottom
Newly promoted Dordrecht and Excelsior will have to work hard to remain in the top flight, while NAC Breda, who missed the drop last year despite failing to win any of their last 11 games, may have their work cut out again. Willem II, runaway winners of the Eerste Divisie, have been yo-yoing between the top two leagues for years and could struggle again at the highest level.
The gaffers
Should Frank de Boer manage to record his fifth Eredivisie win in a row, it seems unlikely that he will stick around to try for number six. He will be ready for a new challenge next year. At Feyenoord, newly appointed boss Fred Rutten will be looking to prove he’s a worthy successor to Ronald Koeman, who has left for Southampton. Phillip Cocu is now in charge at PSV, and he will be looking to replicate the remarkable success of his former Oranje team-mate De Boer.
Look out for...
Ajax’s title challenge last season almost faltered against Roda JC in December, but was saved by debutant left-back Jairo Riedewald. The 17-year-old scored two unlikely goals in the last minute to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win. Riedewald, who went on to make five first-team appearances, could not celebrate his good fortune after the game, though – he had school exams coming up.
Ajax made the first big signing of the summer by bringing in the highly-rated 17-year-old striker Richairo Zivkovic from Groningen, the same journey made by Luis Suarez in 2007. Zivkovic will be joined in Amsterdam by defender Nick Viergever, who excelled at AZ Alkmaar last season, and Arek Milik, on loan from Bayer Leverkusen. PSV Eindhoven have lost Tim Matavz to Augsburg, while Feyenoord might only dip into the market if their World Cup stars are poached by bigger clubs.
The race for the title
Since Frank de Boer replaced Martin Jol at Ajax in 2010, the club have won the Eredivisie four times in a row. The Amsterdam outfit’s domination seems complete, but their biggest rivals have been knocking on the door. Last year, when Feyenoord finished four points back in second, the title was in the balance until the last few games.
Battling at the bottom
Newly promoted Dordrecht and Excelsior will have to work hard to remain in the top flight, while NAC Breda, who missed the drop last year despite failing to win any of their last 11 games, may have their work cut out again. Willem II, runaway winners of the Eerste Divisie, have been yo-yoing between the top two leagues for years and could struggle again at the highest level.
The gaffers
Should Frank de Boer manage to record his fifth Eredivisie win in a row, it seems unlikely that he will stick around to try for number six. He will be ready for a new challenge next year. At Feyenoord, newly appointed boss Fred Rutten will be looking to prove he’s a worthy successor to Ronald Koeman, who has left for Southampton. Phillip Cocu is now in charge at PSV, and he will be looking to replicate the remarkable success of his former Oranje team-mate De Boer.
Look out for...
Ajax’s title challenge last season almost faltered against Roda JC in December, but was saved by debutant left-back Jairo Riedewald. The 17-year-old scored two unlikely goals in the last minute to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win. Riedewald, who went on to make five first-team appearances, could not celebrate his good fortune after the game, though – he had school exams coming up.
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