Month: December 2020

Portugal. Good period for the Portuguese football, but even at the best times it was a matter of three clubs – and Benfica, Sporting Lisbon, and FC Porto competed with each and nobody else. The picture completely changed in the second level – it was almost another world. Tiny venues, often games played on sand – not on grass. But nothings stopped the game.

Second Division was still divided into 3 zones and the winners were directly promoted. The second-best in each zone competed between themselves for the last promotional spot.

Norte. Nothing much – one team dominated the championship.

Rio Ave had excellent season – they did not lose even a single match! 19 wins and 11 ties, 52-19 goal-difference, 49 points. The nearest pursuer was 7 points behind. Standing from left: Carvalho, Santana, Sérgio, Brito, Duarte. Front: Álvaro, Juanico, Rui Lopes, Pinto, Pires, Alberto. Going back to top level football, but it was eternal struggle – going up, then down, then up again.

Varzim finished 2nd with 42 points and had a chance to get promoted.

Centro. The only competitive second division zone – 3 teams battled for 1st place.

Down the table there was a team with ‘perfect’ record: Mangualde finished 7th with 10 wins, 10 ties, 10 losses, and 33-33 goal-difference.

The three-team race ended somewhat surprising: Feirense missed a step or two and finished 3rd with 40 points. Agueda was 2nd with 42 points and had only to hope for the last qualification spot.

O Elvas clinched the first place with 43 points. Unheard of outside Portugal club, modest and small, which depended on tight defense and eventually won the championship. Getting promoted was perhaps wildest dreams coming true, but the boys made it with 18 wins, 7 ties, 5 losses, 42-15 goal-difference.

Sul. One team dominated, even more so than the winner of Norte.

Silves, 14th with 23 points, was one of the 4 relegated teams. That was Second Division though – playing on something like neighbourhood ground for Sunday kick-abouts, no grass at all. Test of character…

Sacavenense did much better on tough surface – 8th with 29 points.

Uniao Madeira finished 2nd with 39 points. Top position was not up to them at all, but still they got a chance to climb up.

Farense reigned supreme – 21 wins, 5 ties, 4 losses, 59-22 goal-difference and 47 points. Uniao was left 8 points behind. It was great to go back to First Division – at least they will play on grass again, if nothing else.

Varzim won the last promotion – for them, it was a rollercoster: one year in second division, then in the first, then again in second… the same on, and on, and on.

The Cup. A bit of surprise, but this surprise also made the final absolutely predictable: RBC Roosendaal reached the final. Nice – the 10th placed Second division team. But the other finalist was Ajax… only miracle could help RBC, but Cruijff was not exactly the man allowing miracles to happen. And on top of everything the final was played at Ajax’s stadium… so 3-0 was perhaps graceful loss for RBC.

RBC Roosendaal had nothing to be ashamed of – the difference of class was so great and there was nothing to do about it. They reached the Cup final and that was may be their greatest achievement ever. Too bad Ajax did not win the championship, but even without European tournament it was wonderful.

Winning the final was not big deal by itself, but winning the Cup was important – Ajax and Cruijff finished the season with a trophy. This squad had only one rival – PSV Eindhoven – and the battle with them was exciting. Most importantly, Ajax seemingly managed to build a team close to the legendary one from the 1970s. Holland was theirs, now it was time for reconquering Europe.

First Division. One outsider and two outstanding leaders, but PSV Eindhoven dominated the season. It was also marked by massive return of those playing in England. Particularly high scoring records at the top of the table.

SC Heracles’74 – last and out with 12 points. They distinguished themselves by winning more away than home games. 2 vs 1.

NEC Nijmegen – 17th with 23 points and relegated.

MVV Maastricht – 16th with 24 points. Relegated as well. Third row from left: Paul Penders, Jean Maas, Arie van Staveren, Chrit Baetsen, Marcel Spa, Huub Driesen, Eric Gerets (short spell, quickly joining PSV Eindhoven), Hans Linders.

Middle row: Frans Schobbe, Cor Bromm – coach, Reginal Thal, Toin van Mierlo, Marcel Adam, Bert van de Poppe, Bert van Marwijk, Gilbert Hautvast, Huub Smeets, Ron Weyzen – assistant coach, John Voorts.

Sitting: Berry Penders, Jos Schmeitz, Eric Merk, Eric van der Luer, Rob Delahey.

Excelsior – 15th with 25 points.

Twente – 14th with 27 points. Top row from left: Henk Eysink – physiotherapeut, Martin Koopman, John Scheve, Evert Bleuming, Willy Carbo, Ron Willems, Andre Paus, Niels Overweg – assistant coach.

Middle row: Jan Steenbeeke – masseur, Dick Schoenaker, Bert-Jan Janssen, Ulrich Wilson, Rene Roord, Theo ten Caat, Fred Rutten, Epi Drost – assistant coach, Fritz Korbach – coach.

Sitting: Michael Birkedal, Manuel Sanchez Torres, Theo Snelders, Marcel Fleer, Patrick Bosch, Martien Vreijsen.

Not enough good players for something better – only Schoenaker, Snelders, and Sanchez Torres.

VVV Venlo – 13th with 27 points. Top row from left: Veggel – masseur, F. Verbeek, P. Berkens, J. Taihuttu, J. Rutten, J. Roux, L. Gilkes, H. Ringels, W. Hooreman.

Middle row: W. Teeuwen – manager, G. Kopp, H. Coort, W. Jacobs, R. Libregts, R. Reynierse, E. van Berge Henegouwen, P. Corbijn, C. burhenne, M. Verlijsdonk, G. Janssen, G. van Rosmalen.

Sitting: J. van Aerts, H. Winkelmolen, F. Nijssen, S. Vergoossen – coach, J. Versleijen – assistant coach, S. Valckx, J. Versleeuwen, W. van den Beek.

FC Utrecht – 12th with 32 points. Third row from left: John v. d. Linden, Jan v. d. Akker, Ton du Chatinier, John van Loen, Ton de Kruyk, Gerrit Plomp, Herman Verrips.

Middle row: Gijs v. d. Bidt, Gert Kruys, Peter v. d. Waart, Edwin Godee, Jan-Willem van Ede, Jan Lecker, Wim Rijsbergen, Ben Rietveld, Martin Ockhuyzen.

Henk Vonk – assistant coach, Fred Tuinman, Johan v. d. Hooft, Nol de Ruiter – coach.

Wim Rijsbergen playing his last days here – and, seemingly, helping enough.

Haarlem – 11th with 32 points. Top row from left: P. Keur, J. Bockling, C. Baas, C. Verkaik, M. Metgod.

Middle row: J. van Doorneveld – coach, R. Talan, R. Moniz, R. Hesp, L. Nijholt, M. Liesdek, Th. Immers – assistant coach.

Sitting: W. Balm, R. Attefveld, R. Collewijn, E. Metgod, K. Masefield, A. Leysner, R. Matthaei.

Go Ahead Eagles – 10th with 33 points.

AZ’67 – 9th with 34 points. Sinking… There still were few well-known players, but nothing like what Alkmaar had at its great days – Kees Kist (33 years old), Peter Arntz (32 years old), Gerrie Kleton (32 years old). It was much lower lever, no doubt – the English import David Loggie used to play for York City…

Fortuna – 8th with 34 points. Top row from left: H. A. Jessen, Mario Eleveld, Wim Koevermans, Anne Evers, Roger Houtackers, John Linford, P. Bruls.

Middle row: Dick Voom – assistant coach, Wilbert Suvrijn, Theo van Well, Tiny Ruys, Rene Maessen, Gerrie Schrijnemakers, Jos Nordang, Roger Reijners, Frans Thijssen, Bert Jacobs – coach.

Sitting: Wouter Holverda, willy Boessen, Andre van Gerven, Chris Korver, Arthur Hoyer, Rob Philippen.

Frans Thijssen back from Englsih glory and getting too old now.

Sparta – 7th with 37 points. Top row: Oomen, Schuurhuizen, v.d. Weel, Noortwijk, Dilberto, De Kant, Veldhoen.

Middle row: Nijmen, Klamer, Andriessen, De Goey, Fraser, Lengbeek, van Gaal, Vonk.

Sitting: Schmidt, Blind, Olde Riekernik, Eijer, Tiktak, v. Polanen, Tebbens.

Van Gaal was still playing along with bright young talent Blind and de Goey. One will retire soon and become famous coach, the other will move to the big clubs and also become stars. Sparta was just a donor, unfortunately.

FC Den Bosch – 6th with 37 points. Most famous was their coach Rinus Israel. On the field – Hans Gilhaus was great promise, but still too young.

Roda JC – 5th with 39 points. Third row from left: Norbert Keulen, Hennie Meijer, Marco Grassi, R. Frolichs, Jos Daerden, Rene Trost, Jimmy Calderwood.

Middle road: Frans Korver – coach, John de Jong, Hans Cremer, Ron Jans, Jan Nederburgh, Harry Klein, Martin van Geel, Peter van de Veen.

Sitting: Eugene Hanssen, Edwin Gorter, Rene Hofman, Jos Smits, Pierre Blatter, Rinie Verwest, Michel Haan.

Their best years, but such a squad could no go really high – the Englishman Calderwood was the their most recognizable player.

FC Groningen – 4th with 40 points. Top row from left: Jan Jaap Kooistra, Ron van den Berg, Stoffer Bakker, John de Wolf, Mark Verkuyl, Adri van Tiggelen.

Middle row: Han Berger – coach, Paul Mason, Johan de Kock, Pieter Beuzenberg, Edwin Bakker, Pieter Huistra, Harris Huizingh, Sief Ronde – assistant coach.

Sitting: Henk Hagenauw, Rob McDonald, Sjaak Storm, Steve Goble, Jos Roossien, Jan van Dijk, John Visser.

Wonderful season, but to keep even this level – good, but far from challenging the big clubs – they needed the impossible: to keep players like van Tiggelen and de Wolf. To keep their imports too.. Rob McDonald may not have been great player in the large scheme, but attractive enough for PSV Eindhoven to grab him.

Feyenoord – 3rd with 44 points. Too strong for the rest of the league, but in the same time much weaker than the other two big clubs. The last title came with Cruijff, who was never accepted by Feyenoord fans, and was often booed – the sign of weakness was in continuing using former Ajax stars: there were three of them this season – Johnny Rep, Tscheu La Ling, and Simon Tahamata. Perhaps the fans were not hostile to them, but it was a story of inability to either bring up own talent or hire stars from elsewhere – to keep up, Feyennord had to look to Ajax’s veterans… In general, it was aging team – including the 3 Danish national team players Nielsen, Eriksen, and Sorensen.

Ajax – 2nd with 52 points. Officially, Spitz Kohn was the coach – in reality, it was Cruijff, whose lack of proper credentials needed a bit of trickery – he had different position on paper. The team was wonderful and there was direct link with the greatest Ajax – Cruijff and van Dord coaching and Arnold Muhren back from England. Enough for inspiration, it seems – Ajax scored astonishing 120 goals this season. But it was good only for distant second place with 52 points.

PSV Eindhoven won the championship without letting any challenge: 27 wins, 6 ties, only 1 lost match, 100-22 goal-difference, and 60 points. Massive gap between them and Ajax – 8 points! Great scorers, best defenders, well-rounded, still having live link with the great squad from the 1970s – Willy van de Kerkhof, fresh great recruits – van Breukelen, Gerets, and most importantly Gullit. The advantage the had over Ajax was not that much talent, but experience – PSV was wonderfully coming to its peak as team and that was coming along with the peaks of their key players.