Dutch footballer of the year press classification 1979-1994

Hello,

The primary sports newspaper makes a footballer of the year rating since the 1978/1979 season. The first three editions are seen as pilot editions and they weren't completely happy about their first attempt in 1978-79 (but they were happy with the eventual winner).

Other than that, it has a few other features to keep in mind. To name a few:

• Missing games is punished hard. Treshold was between 1978 and 1994 editions the 31 games mark and even then someone has an advantage if he plays all 34 games.
• They don't mind to give a 4 out of 10 for a fairly invisible game without doing nothing wrong per se. If a players causes a few dangerous turnovers, a 2 out of 10 mark was in sight. It is above all a consistency award even though they obviously do look at the technical ability of players and their contribution for the team.
• Relate the ranking of players to where the team finishes. Sometimes a team finished second or first but their players become grossly underrated in the list.

I miss the 1987-88 season list though, which was won by Gerald Vanenburg.

Despite the limitations, it is interesting to see how they were ranked before they went abroad and how they were ranked in multiple seasons, in case they had played more than 30 games.
I will post the top 30 and also note how the ones nominated by the players (the "PFA award") ended in the list.

Something similar, though with a different methodology, exists for the Belgian league, which was posted here.
http://www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/belgian-golden-shoe-soulier-dor-1954-2010.1853033/

N.B. I still plan to complete the win/loss thread.

1978/79 Eredivisie

1. Frank Arnesen (Ajax) 114 points
2. Pim Doesburg (Sparta) 112 points
2. Theo de Jong (Roda) 112 points
4. Jan Peters (AZ) 111 points
5. Jan Poortvliet (PSV) 110 points
6. Wim Jansen (Feyenoord) 109 points
7. Epi Drost (Twente) 107 points
7. Piet Schrijvers (Ajax) 107 points
7. Ben Wijnstekers (Feyenoord) 107 points
10 Jan Peters (Feyenoord) 105 points
10. Kees Kist (AZ) 105 points
12. Dick Schneider (Go Ahead) 104 points

Note: Soren Lerby of Ajax won 'talent of the year' award with 10 points advantage.

1979/80 Eredivisie

1. Jan van Beveren (PSV) 81 points
2. Luuk Balkestein (Sparta) 75
3. Hans van Breukelen (Utrecht) 74
4. Pim Doesburg (Sparta) 73
5. Piet Schrijvers (Ajax) 72
6. Willy v.d. Kerkhof (PSV) 71
7. Hans Galjé (Den Haag) 69
8. Soren Busk (MVV) 68
8. Ruud Krol (Ajax) 68
10. Soren Lerby (Ajax) 67
10. Dick Mulderij (Vitesse) 67
12. Peter Gerard (MVV) 64
12. Hugo Hovenkamp (AZ) 64
12. Heini Otto (Twente) 64
15. Jan Jongbloed (Roda) 63
15. Dick Schoenaker (Ajax) 63
15. Halvar Thoresen (Twente) 63
15. Ben Wijnstekers (Feyenoord) 63
19. Michel v.d. Korput (Feyenoord) 62
19. Kristen Nygaard (AZ) 62
19. Huub Stevens (PSV) 62
22. Louis van Gaal (Sparta) 61
22. Kees Kist (AZ) 61
22. Cees Schapendonk (MVV) 61
22. Martin Koopman (Go Ahead) 61
27. Toine van Mierlo (Willem II) 60
27. Johnny Metgod (AZ) 60
27. Harry Schellekens (NEC) 60

1980/1981 Eredivisie

1. Johnny Metgod (AZ) 64
2. Doesburg (PSV) 62
2. Peters (AZ) 62
2. Arnesen (Ajax) 62
2. Schrijvers (Ajax) 62
6. Hovenkamp (AZ) 61
7. Drost (PEC) 60
7. Lerby (Ajax) 60
9. Van Breukelen (Utrecht) 56
10. Wildbret (Utrecht) 54
11. Suvee (Wageningen) 52
11. Zondervan (Twente) 52
13. Gritter (Twente) 51
13. Thoresen (Twente) 51
15. Sanchez-Torres (Twente) 50
15. Jonker (AZ) 50
17. Van Gerwen (Twente) 49
17. W. v.d. Kerkhof (PSV) 49
17. Nygaard (AZ) 49
17. Treytel (AZ) 49
21. Tol (AZ) 48

Those were, to state it again, the pilot editions with the latter two being a better reflection as the first edition. They made some big changes after the first edition and after two further seasons they were happy with the results.

As addition to the points I made earlier:

• Like in most lists: defenders and goalkeepers have an advantage.
• It is also a fruitful exercise to look at who are the best rated players within a team instead of within a league. Who supposedly helped to properly function the team and provided consistency? Who carried the (mediocre) team?
• Ranking is based on points and more games means more points although they drop the two worst ratings of a season. Not playing counts as a 1 out of 10 and therefore it was still an advantage to play all 34 games.

Next lists are the 'official' editions.

1981/1982 Eredivisie

[I write it down in the way it appeared in the newspaper]

1. Martin Haar (Haarlem) 111
2. Olsen (Ajax) 107
3. Peters (AZ) 105
4. Poortvliet (PSV) 103
5. Van Breukelen (Utrecht) 101
6. Lokhoff (NAC) 100
7. Schoenaker (Ajax), Balm (Haarlem) 99
8. R. Koeman (Groningen) 98
9. Doesburg (PSV), Sanchez-Torres (Twente), Tukker (Groningen), Lerby (Ajax), Marijnissen (Roda JC) 97
10. Smits (Roda JC), Boeve (Ajax), Jonker (AZ), Masefield (Haarlem), Thoresen (PSV) 96
11. Schellekens (NEC), Formannoy (Sparta) 95
12. Endeman (Go Ahead) 94
13. Oude Wesselink (Go Ahead) 93
14. Metgod, Gullit, Leysner (Haarlem) 92
15. Advocaat, Van Tiggelen (Sparta), Hovenkamp (AZ), Jansen (Ajax) 91
16. Baetsen (MVV), Metgod (AZ) 90
17. Wouters (Utrecht), Wijnstekers (Feyenoord), Waalderbos (Groningen) 89

Other noteworthy names:

18. Kist (AZ) 88
21. Schrijvers (Ajax) 85
22. Kieft, Rijkaard (Ajax) 84

[Kieft was European Golden Boot winner of 1981/82 season!]

[if someone wants to know the ranking of another name, give me a call - I have about 200 names listed here]

Eredivisie 1982-83

1. Schrijvers (Ajax) 110 points
2. Versfeld (Helmond Sport); Lerby (Ajax) 104
4. Olsen (Ajax); Maessen (Fortuna Sittard), Kruys (Utrecht) 102
7. Metgod (Haarlem) 100
8. Strom (Excelsior); Hiele, Valke (Feyenoord); Hofman (Roda JC); Van Gaal (Sparta); Keukens (Groningen) 99
14. Doesburg (PSV) 98
15. E. Koeman (Groningen); Drost (PEC Zwolle); Van Tiggelen (Sparta) 97
18. Nielsen (Feyenoord); Van Aerle, Lokhoff, Thoresen (PSV); Eriksen (Roda JC) 96
23. Smits (Roda JC); Holverda (Sparta) 94
25. Vanenburg (Ajax); R. Koeman (Groningen); Degens (Roda JC) 93
28. Leenheer, Ridderhof (Excelsior); Gullit (Feyenoord); Leysner (Haarlem); Schellekens (NEC); Brandts, Poortvliet (PSV); Calderwood (Roda JC); Van Ede (Utrecht) 92

Other noteworthy names:
37. Wijnstekers (Feyenoord) 91
52. Haar (Haarlem); Blind (Sparta) 87


Again, this is a points-based system. More games = more points even though they 'neutralized' the two worst grades.

1983/1984 Eredivisie

[they shifted here from a 1 to 5 mark to a 1 to 10 scale but that was only a matter of representation]
1. Cruyff (Feyenoord) 237 points
2. Van Gaal, Blind (Sparta) 230
4. Schrijvers (PEC) 229
5. Maessen (Fortuna Sittard) 225
6. Holverda (Sparta) 224
7. Silooy (Ajax), Balm (Haarlem) 223
9. Valke (PSV) 221
10. Wijnstekers (Feyenoord) 220
11. Hoyer (Fortuna Sittard) 218
12. Van der Horst (Den Bosch); Van Noortwijk (Sparta) 217
14. Hiele (Feyenoord) 216
15. Gullit (Feyenoord); Masefield (Haarlem); Smits (Roda JC) 215
18. Van Geel (Roda JC) 214
19. Van Grinsven (Den Bosch); Verschoor (Haarlem) 213
21. Thoresen (PSV); Schellekens (Groningen) 212
23. Van de Berg (Sparta) 211
24. Formannoy (Willem II) 209
25. Koeman (Ajax) 208
26. Vanenburg (Ajax); Leenheer (Excelsior); Nielsen (Feyenoord); Olde Riekerink (Sparta) 206
30. De Wit (Utrecht) 205

Other notable names (in contrast to previous two lists I have only the first 42 names here instead of first 200):
31. Van Aerle, Brandts (PSV) 204
36. Jongbloed (GA Eagles); Poortvliet (Roda JC) 203


The football player association nominated three players for the 1984 calender year:

- Van Basten
- Gullit
- Vanenburg

Gullit won the vote among colleagues (also former but still active Eredivisie players could vote).

[note: average rating of Van Basten was 6.97 which had put him somewhere in the top 10 if he had played between 30 and 34 games (between 216 and 236 points). Average rating of Cruyff was 7.18 (33 games) and of Gullit it was 6.51 (33 games)]

1984/1985 Eredivisie

1. Rijkaard (Ajax) 231
2. Snelders (Twente) 230
3. Sanchez Torres (Twente) 227
4. Van Grinsven (Den Bosch) 221
5. Van Herpen (Den Bosch); Van Tiggelen (Groningen); Metgod (Haarlem) 220
8. Van Ede (Utrecht) 217
9. Lokhoff (PSV); Hanssen (Roda JC); Van Noortwijk (Sparta) 216
12. Been (Feyenoord) 215
13. Roossien (Groningen) 214
14. Hofman (Roda JC); Vreijsen (Twente) 213
16. Suvrijn (Fortuna Sittard); Vermeulen (MVV); Van Geel (Roda JC) 212
19. Van Goozen, Rutjes (Excelsior) 210
21. Van der Padt (Excelsior); Van Staveren (MVV) 209
23. Van der Waart (Den Bosch); Van Dijk (Groningen) 208
25. Silooy (Ajax); Hiele (Feyenoord) 207
27. Van de Kerkhof (PSV) 206
28. Galjé (Ajax); Verkaik (Haarlem); Delahaye (MVV) 205

Other noteworthy names (I have only the first 50 names):
31. Van Basten (Ajax), Brandts (PSV) 204
37. Van Breukelen (PSV) 203


At the end of 1985 calender year the players representation board (consisted of 12 football players as well, elected by the players themselves) came again with the nominees. It were the same as the year before, a decision they tried to defend.

- Van Basten
- Gullit
- Vanenburg

This time Van Basten won with a landslide - he had played a good amount of games as well (Ajax won the title that season and Van Basten became again topscorer but some press voices argued that Rijkaard deserved this prize as well).

The press was a bit critical of this award because supposedly the various cliques voted for players who belonged to 'their' group. I.e. a line of division existed between countryside and city; PSV and Ajax etcetera.

Sorry for the inconvenience,

It seems they did list the players who played less than 30 games in a year in some years like Rijkaard in this season. He played 27 games in this season. Obviously, that is 7 games short of a 'full season' and those were seven games where he did not gain points.

In all years it is correct though that they 'neutralized' the worst two/three grades.

In any case, it is important to keep in mind how many games a player played that season. Someone who played all 34 has a considerable advantage.

1985-1986 Eredivisie

1. Gullit (PSV) 245 points
2. Vanenburg (Ajax); Tahamata (Feyenoord) 230
4. Scholten (Den Bosch) 228
5. Hiele (Feyenoord) 227
6. Menzo (Ajax); Van Herpen (Den Bosch); Van Breukelen (PSV) 226
9. Van der Padt (Excelsior); Mason (Groningen) 224
11. Roox (VVV) 222
12. Molenaar (Feyenoord) 219
13. Storm (Groningen) 218
14. Daerden (Roda JC) 216
15. Van 't Schip (Ajax) 215
16. Suvrijn (Fortuna Sittard) 214
17. Silooy (Ajax); Stroomberg (Excelsior); Tukker (Heracles) 213
20. Van Tiggelen (Groningen); Gorter (Roda JC); Blind (Sparta) 212
23. Eijer (Sparta) 211
24. De Koning (AZ67); Leenheer (Excelsior); Van Geel (Roda JC) 210
27. Koeman (Ajax); Metgod (Haarlem); Brookhuis (NEC) 209
30. Gillhaus (Den Bosch); Van den Berg (Groningen); Wouters (Utrecht) 208

Other noteworthy names (I have 100 names in total on the list):
34. Heintze (PSV) 206
35. Rijkaard (Ajax) 205
52. Gerets (PSV) 195
54. Valkx (VVV) 194
82. Valke (PSV) 182
85. De Wit (Ajax) 181
86. Van Basten (Ajax); Thoresen (PSV) 180
93. Nielsen (Feyenoord) 178
97. Mühren (Ajax) 176

[Give a call if you want to know the rank for a name not listed here]


Nominees for the 'PFA award' (same methodology - see previous posts) were:

- Rijkaard
- Gullit
- Van Basten

Gullit won this vote too and that meant that he won both awards (newspaper ranking serves as basis for the other one).

In spoiler tags a few comments about Gullit and European Golden Boot winner Van Basten:

Van Basten (26 games) reached his highest level during the Ajax years in this season and won the European Golden Boot. In this consistency ranking however is the 'points per match' superior for Gullit (34 games): 7.20 for Gullit and 6.92 for Van Basten.

Gullit reached at this age (born 1 September 1962) his physical prime and frequently took on a role as libero in his first PSV year. Downside was that UEFA banned him for six European games.

Gullit out muscled and outran everyone which led Ajax-coach Cruijff to making the remark that this was, I cite, "cheating". Also Feyenoord coach Israel for the 1986-87 season shared this view: "He is a good footballer but part of his effectiveness has no relationship to football." Cruijff predicted that he would be dominant in any European league besides the Bundesliga. He also predicted that Gullit would meet resistance to maintain the same level. In his words: "If he stays in the Netherlands he will meet the Dutch mentality: if you behave normal you act still crazy enough. If he moves abroad he will discover that fancied Brazilians, Germans and Italians receive a different reception and treatment as a relative nobody star from Holland."
Maybe his reasoning lacked substance or sense but he was right that Gullit slowed down in the following 1986-87 season when he had a few problems with the coach but also injuries. He was slightly less frightening in the subsequent season.

1986/1987 Eredivisie

1. Rijkaard (Ajax) 245 points
2. Koeman (PSV) 241
3. Heintze (PSV) 238
4. Menzo (Ajax); Gullit (PSV) 235
6. Metgod (Haarlem) 229
7. Rutten (Twente) 225
8. Roox (VVV) 224
9. Tahamata (Feyenoord) 222
10. Diliberto (Sparta) 220
11. Stam (Den Haag) 219
12. Snelders (Twente) 218
13. Van Breukelen (PSV); Meijer (Roda JC) 217
15. Wouters (Ajax); De Goey (Sparta) 216
17. Van Grinsven (Den Bosch) 215
18. Vanenburg (PSV); Brandts (Roda JC); Reijnierse (VVV) 214
21. Mason (Groningen); Hanssen (Roda JC); Verhagen (VVV) 213
24. Otto (Den Haag); Hoekstra (Veendam) 212
26. Storm (Groningen) 211
27. Van der Gouw (Go Ahead Eagles); Jans (Roda JC); Plomp (Utrecht) 210

Other noteworthy names (top 100 available):
35. Gerets (PSV) 207
38. Suvrijn (Roda JC) 205
43. Wijnstekers (Feyenoord) 204
46. Van 't Schip (Ajax) 202
59. Bosman (Ajax), Valckx (VVV) 197
69. Elstrup (Feyenoord) 193
81. De Wolf (Groningen) 190
84. Silooy (Ajax) 188
92. Van Basten (Ajax) 184
93. Valke (PSV) 183
95. Blind (Ajax) 182

'PFA award' had three nominees:
- Vanenburg
- R. Koeman
- Van 't Schip

Koeman won the award.

1987/1988 Eredivisie

Although this was one of the most successful years in the history of Dutch football, I don't have the rankings for this season.

I know the overall winner though: Gerald Vanenburg

I also know the 'PFA nominees':

- Ronald Koeman
- Gerald Vanenburg
- Wim Kieft

Koeman received the favor of his colleagues for the 1988 calender year. Almost topscorer of 1987-88 season (a broken foot ruined this story), European Cup winner (converted succesfully the penalty kick in shoot-out), national champion, domestic cup winner and of course European champion.

I didn´t know Van Basten was ranked so low on his Eredivisie years. I remember people often saying that he was the best young dutch talent on that days.

At the end I'll make an overview how he compared vis-a-vis his main competitors for the topscorer award.

1988/1989 Eredivisie

1. Vanenburg (PSV) 240 points
2. Paus (Twente) 224 points
3. Hesp (Fortuna Sittard); Koeman (PSV) 222
5. Nederburgh (Roda JC) 221
6. Peeper (Haarlem) 220
7. Huistra, De Koning (Twente) 219
9. Lokhoff (Feyenoord); Liesdek (Fortuna Sittard); Boerebach (Roda JC) 215
12. Boogers (Utrecht) 214
13. De Haan (MVV); Plomp (Utrecht) 213
15. Meijer (Groningen); Balm (Twente) 210
17. Van Duren (Den Bosch); Cooke (PEC Zwolle); Schilder (Volendam) 208
20. Reijners (Fortuna Sittard); Metgod (Haarlem); Abma (PEC Zwolle); Godee (Willem II) 207
24. Menzo (Ajax); Gerets (PSV) 205
26. Delahaye (MVV); Roox (VVV) 204
28. Boessen (Fortuna Sittard); Roossien (Groningen) 203
30. Jans (Veendam); Van Loen (Volendam) 202

Other noteworthy names (top 100 list)

36. De Goey (Sparta) 199
52. Blind (Ajax); Numan (Haarlem) 189
58. Heintze (PSV) 187
83. Metgod (Feyenoord) 177


'PFA award' had three nominees for 1989 calender year:

- Jan Wouters
- Gerald Vanenburg
- Romario

Colleagues voted for Romario (who wasn't listed in the top 100 'consistency' list above by the way).

1989/1990 Eredivisie

1. Sturing (Vitesse) 240 points
2. Blind (Ajax) 227
3. Van Ede (Utrecht) 226
4. Hesp (Fortuna Sittard) 225
5. Gerets (PSV); De Goey (Sparta) 224
7. Van der Gouw (Vitesse); Otto (Den Haag) 222
9. Van Grinsven (Den Bosch) 220
10. Van 't Schip (Ajax); Thijssen (Vitesse) 218
12. De Koning (Twente); Van den Brom (Vitesse) 216
14. Hiele (Feyenoord) 214
15. Brookhuis (NEC); Hanssen (Roda JC); Bos (Vitesse) 213
18. Bogers (RKC) 212
19. Metgod (Haarlem); Van Breukelen (PSV) 211
21. Wilson (Groningen) 210
22. Roossien (Groningen); Arts (NEC) 209
24. Brard (RKC) 208
25. De Kock (Utrecht); Schilder (Volendam) 207
27. Van Eck (Den Bosch) 205
28. Winter (Ajax) 204
29. De Haan (MVV); Hoekstra (RKC) 203
31. Heintze (PSV); Laamers (Vitesse) 202

Other noteworthy names (top 100 names):
49. Wouters (Ajax) 191
55. Lerby (PSV) 188
63. Menzo (Ajax) 185
71. Kieft (PSV) 182
87. Witschge (Ajax) 176

'PFA award' had three nominees:

- Jan Wouters
- John van 't Schip
- Romario

Jan Wouters won the award

Good to note: Dennis Bergkamp (25 games in 89/90) was unanimously voted as 'big prospect of the year', ahead of his teammate Witschge.

Menzo was voted as best goalkeeper by his colleagues, ahead of Van Breukelen and Ruud Hesp.

1990/1991 Eredivisie

1. Meijer (Groningen) 237 points
2. Blind (Ajax) 230
3. Metgod (Sparta) 226
4. Brands (RKC); Hesp (Fortuna Sittard) 223
6. Heintze (PSV) 221
7. De Koning (Twente) 220
8. Bergkamp (Ajax); De Goey (Feyenoord) 217
10. Van Ede (Utrecht) 216
11. Arts (NEC); Latuheru (Vitesse) 215
13. Van den Brom (Vitesse) 213
14. F. de Boer (Ajax); Hiele (SVV); Steur (Volendam); Jansen (Willem II) 212
18. Wouters (Ajax) 211
19. Teeuwen (RKC); Eijer (Vitesse) 210
21. Roossien (Groningen) 209
22. Otto (Den Haag); Mrkela (Twente) 208
24. Lodewijks (Groningen); Goulooze (Heerenveen); De Kock (Utrecht); Veldman (Willem II) 207
28. Witschge (Ajax) 206
29. Van der Linden (NEC) 205
30. Van Geel (Willem II) 204

Other noteworthy names:
31. Van der Gouw (Vitesse) 203
34. Van Breukelen (PSV) 202
44. Van 't Schip (Ajax) 195
48. Winter (Ajax); Valckx (PSV) 193
50. Metgod (Feyenoord) 192
69. Popescu (PSV) 187
74. Vanenburg (PSV) 185
97. Menzo (Ajax) 168

'PFA award' had three nominees for 1991 calender year:

- Bergkamp (Ajax)
- Kieft (PSV)
- Wouters (Ajax)

Bergkamp won this vote.

Van Breukelen was voted as best GK ahead of De Goey and Menzo; Gaston Taument (Feyenoord) was talent of the year.

1991/1992 Eredivisie

1. Johnny Metgod (Feyenoord) 234 points
2. Valke (Sparta) 232
3. Brands (RKC) 225
4. De Goey (Feyenoord) 223
5. Menzo (Ajax); Kieft (PSV) 222
7. Hiele (SVV/Dordrecht90) 221
8. Stam (Den Haag) 218
9. Van der Gaag (Sparta); Van der Gouw (Vitesse) 217
11. Maessen (Fortuna Sittard) 216
12. Lodewijks (Groningen); Van Ede (Utrecht) 214
14. Bolesta (Roda JC) 213
15. Hesp (Fortuna Sittard); Visser (MVV); Van den Brom, Sturing (Vitesse) 212
19. Van Breukelen (PSV) 211
20. Van Kessel (De Graafschap); Agu (MVV) 210
22. Olde Riekerink (Groningen); Teeuwen (RKC) 208
24. Bergkamp (Ajax); Laamers (Vitesse) 207
26. Olijslager (De Graafschap); Metgod (Sparta); Mulder (Twente) 205
29. D. de Nooijer (Sparta); Roest (Utrecht) 204

Other noteworthy names (top 100 available):
39. Van Aerle (PSV) 198
43. Overmars (Willem II) 197
45. R. de Boer (Twente) 196
50. Popescu (PSV); Cocu (Vitesse) 195
56. Taument (Feyenoord) 191
61. Winter (Ajax); Heintze (PSV) 188
67. F. de Boer, Pettersson (Ajax) 187
74. Numan (Twente) 185
78. Rob Witschge (Feyenoord) 183

'PFA award' had three nominees for 1992 calender year:

- Bergkamp
- Wim Jonk
- Romario

Bergkamp won the award for a second consecutive time (Jonk finished second and Romario third).

Marc Overmars of Willem II was talent of the year and Van Breukelen goalkeeper of the year.

1992/1993 Eredivisie

1. Overmars (Ajax) 231 points
2. De Kock (Utrecht) 223
3. Brands (RKC) 222
4. F. de Boer (Ajax) 221
5. Van Ede (Utrecht); Grim (Cambuur Leeuwarden) 220
7. Van Grinsven (MVV); Cocu (Vitesse); Zoetebier (Volendam) 219
10. Van der Gouw (Vitesse) 218
11. Metgod (Feyenoord); Laamers (Vitesse) 217
13. Arts (Twente) 216
14. Lanckohr (MVV); Hesp (Fortuna Sittard) 215
16. Latuheru (Vitesse) 214
17. De Goey (Feyenoord); Van Hoogdalem (RKC); Bos (Vitesse) 213
20. Meijer (MVV) 211
21. R. de Boer (Ajax) 208
22. Witschge (Feyenoord); Metgod (Sparta); Smolarek (Utrecht) 206
25. Vurens (Twente) 205
26. Taument (Feyenoord); Ensink (Go Ahead Eagles) 204
28. Visser (MVV); Vermeulen (Vitesse); Maessen (Fortuna Sittard) 203


Other noteworthy names (top 100 list available):

39. Blinker (Feyenoord); Waterreus (Roda JC) 194
49. Blind (Ajax) 189
63. Bergkamp (Ajax) 182
67. Vink (Ajax) 180
69. Van Tiggelen (PSV) 179
74. De Wolf (Feyenoord) 177
82. Van Gastel (Willem II) 171
86. Pettersson (Ajax); Mols (Twente) 168
96. Valke (Sparta) 166
99. Davids, Silooy (Ajax) 165



'PFA award' for 1993 calender year had three nominees:

- Jari Litmanen
- Ronald de Boer
- Hans Gillhaus

Litmanen won the award.


Best goalkeeper was Ed de Goey and talent of the year was Clarence Seedorf.
[Seedorf was then 17 years old and one of the youngest debuting players ever in the league - made immediately an impression]


In spoiler tags also a few comments about Litmanen who is to be honest a favorite of mine and one of the select few Ajax players who I can appreciate (so you know I'm biased here):

The impact and role of Litmanen was very recently very well described by himself and friend Danny Blind in a television programme. A Finnish documentary is made about Litmanen and that one makes a name in the Netherlands too.

Blind told how well he immediately took over the "Bergkamp role" behind the three forwards (right-winger; center forward; left-winger). Litmanen was originally attracted as a so called "number 6" but in the 1992/93 season Van Gaal tried Litmanen on Bergkamp his place when Bergkamp could not play. Litmanen did well.

According to Blind and himself the adaptation in the 1993/94 season went rapidly because there was a minor difference with Bergkamp: Bergkamp was a forward converted into a midfielder, Litmanen a central midfielder converted into a so called 'shadow striker'. Because Litmanen was schooled as midfielder, his "natural tendency was to guard the interest of the team first, his natural disposition was to make the team-interest his own interest and immediately understand the core patterns of the team." For that reason, he understood the Ajax way of playing very fast. However, as Blind put it "he was a midfielder who despite of that still made those 20 necessary goals in a season."

Litmanen himself confirmed this view.

Also a short comment about the relatively low ratings of Bergkamp in these lists (1991-1993) despite playing a considerable amount of games in most seasons:

As said, this is a consistency ranking and they did not mind to give a 4 out of 10 for a invisible game.
Van Gaal had a good explanation why Bergkamp was invisible in some games (apart from scoring a goal): the opposition knew Bergkamp was making a name for himself around Europe (see Ballon d'Or ranking in 1992 and 1993) so they even guarded him closer. This granted space however for attack oriented defenders like Frank de Boer and Danny Blind. Van Gaal stimulated those two to join the attack if Bergkamp was shut down. Obviously, those two were good players too, who only could move forward because of their reliability, but this also helps to explain a little bit why Blind and De Boer ended high in the rankings of quite a few years.

It needs to be said though that Bergkamp was criticized and less sparkling in the last few months of his last season at Ajax.

The final points are just avg. rating * games played?
What were Romario's points in each season?

OK, here is the last one I have so far. If someone wants to process these rankings in something else I don't mind to PM the original photocopies by the way.

Maybe I will go ahead with the 'PFA award' thing but I need to find out whether I can get these complete and until which year.

Unfortunately, of the 1993/1994 season ranking I only got the first 30 names.

1993/1994 Eredivisie

1. De Goey (Feyenoord) 232 points
2. Overmars (Ajax) 224
3. Helder (Vitesse) 223
4. Karelse (NAC); Van de Leur (Roda JC) 219
6. Cocu (Vitesse); Van der Gouw (Vitesse) 218
8. Boschker (Twente) 216
9. Zoetebier (Volendam) 215
10. F. de Boer (Ajax) 213
11. Metgod (Sparta) 212
12. Van Hoogdalem (Roda JC); Veldman (Sparta); Van Ede (Utrecht) 211
15. Hoogma (Twente); Jansen (Willem II) 210
17. Grim (Cambuur); Van Breukelen (PSV); Bogarde (Sparta); De Kock (Utrecht) 209
21. De Visser (Heerenveen); Waterreus (Roda JC) 208
23. Lanckohr (MVV); Numan (PSV) 206
25. Heering (Go Ahead Eagles); Reiziger (Groningen) 204
27. Van der Sar (Ajax); Silooy (Ajax); L'Ami (Heerenveen); Gillhaus (Vitesse) 203


PFA award nominees for 1994 calender year:

- Rijkaard
- Litmanen
- Ronald de Boer

The press predominantly emphasized that all three nominees played for Ajax. The columnists expressed the view that Rijkaard deserved this prize and that his colleagues should see the form he showed in the whole 1994 year. The argument 'he never won the PFA award and a player like him deserves to see his name appearing in the list alongside Koeman, Van Basten and Gullit' was also expressed.

Winner was however Ronald de Boer. Rijkaard indeed came second.

Clarence Seedorf became again talent of the year, this time as 18 year old.

Van der Sar was goalkeeper of the 1994 year. It was suggested that De Goey his error in the 1994 World Cup quarter-final against Brazil cost him dearly, as well as the interview he made after the game. De Goey said directly after the match that he was "happy to go home" and see his "wife and kids again".
Some rants against Brazil and their two offside goals also became the conclusion for the 1994 calender year in the heads of a few journalists.

Once again:

You indeed get points for each additional game played. The ratings are added and become 'points'. Hence: a 6, a 7 and a 9 becomes 22 points.

Hence, someone who played 34 games has a big advantage.

However, they had a method to neutralize the two or three worst ratings of a season. Another reason why someone with 33 games had an advantage over someone with 29 games.

The best way to calculate average rating is: total points / amount of games played.

That gets a rough rating.

In case of Romario: he was unlike Van Basten never listed among the first 100. Partially because he did not play enough games, partially because of his ratings.

I can calculate what approximately his maximum average rating was by looking at the total amount of points of the guys at 'rank 100' and divide it by the amount of games played by Romario.

Romario had at best these points:

In 1988/1989 the guys Driessen and Eijer had 169 points.

In 1989/1990 the guys Helmond, Verrips and Hermes had also 169 points

In 1990/1991 four guys had 168 points

In 1991/1992 five guys had 177 points [no typo]

In 1992/1993 six guys had 165 points


In all those seasons I have the full top 100

You can calculate for your yourself what his average rating was at best. Approximately, that is (because they have a method to neutralize the worst two/three ratings).

Looking quickly at how they rate subs:

For both 88/89 and 92/93 they only gave no rating to players if he played less than 15 minutes. Can't find their protocol for subs that quick for other seasons but I guess that it did not vary much, in case it varied.

Superb job here, mate