First Division. Two teams, way above the rest, entangled in battle for the title. The last two relegated, the 16th going to promotion/relegation play-off.
HFC Haarlem – last with measly 15 points. The club from which Ruud Gullit launched his famous career went down. Top row from left: Romano Sion, Dennis Purperhart, Leeroy Echteld, Rini Van Roos, Cees Baas, Orlando Trustfull.
Middle row: H. Elzinga (Elftalbegeleider), P.D. Heiliegers (verzorger), Raymond Atteveld, Michel Doesburg, Wout Holverda, Marcel Oost, Frank Dikstaal, Marcel Looyer, Mike Helenklaken, P.G. Van der Lem, (Hulptrainer), F.G. Gaus (materiaalverzorger).
Sitting: Robert Matthaei, Andre Stafleu, Arthur Numan, Edward Metgod, Brian Tevreden, Stefan Matthaei, Aad Mathot.
Their were still one or two players with promise and eventually becoming quite famous, but at the moment unable to help the team.
FC Den Bosch – 17th with 25 points and relegated.
NEC Nijmegen – 16th with 26 points. Going to promotion/relegation play-off, but, luckily, they prevailed over FC Emmen and remained in the top league.
MVV Maastricht – 15th with 27 points.
FC Utrecht – 14th with 27 points. Top row from left: Peter Hofman, Herman Verrips, Kevin Young, Robert Roest, Erik Willaarts, Johan de Kock, Jan-Willem van Ede.
Middle row: H. Vonk (ass.trainer), Erik van der Meer, Gert van Hanegem, Edwin de Kruyff, John Moore, Etienne Kelders, M. Ockhuysen (verzorger).
Front row: Marco Boogers, Bert Buizert, Rob Alflen, directeur Ooft, trainer C. Loffeld, Edo Ophof, Henny Lettinck, Gijs Steinmann.
Willem II – 13th with 27 points.
Sparta – 12th with 31 points. Top row from left: Edwin Vurens, Ron van de Berg, Gerald Sandel, Ronald Lengkeek, Marco Sas, Dennis De Nooyer, Raymond Libregts, Peter Houtman.
Middle row: Rob Baan (trainer coach), Gerard, de Nooyer, Jan Olde Riekerink, Marco Jochems, Michel Valke, Lodie Roembiak, Oni Louhenapessy, Ben Spork, John Schuurhuizen, Jan Nijman.
Front: Prince Polly Sampene, Piet Wijnberg, Gleen Helder, Eddy De Geoij, Lemy Stevens, Ronny Lutten, Rob Eger, Mike Snoei, H. Klamer.
Feyenoord – terrible season again. 11th with 31 points.
FC Den Haag – 10th with 33 points.
FC Groningen – 9th with 35 points. Top row from left: Wim Koevermans – Jan Veenhof – Barend Beltman – René van der Duin – Marco Koorman – Piet Wiersma – Claus Boekweg
Middle row: Hans Westerhof (trainer) – Eric Groeleken – Hendrikus Huisman – Harry Sinkgraven – Martin Koeman (manager) – Grafton Holband – Edwin Olde Riekerink – Theo ten Caat – Henk Hagenauw (verzorger)
First row: Geon Weering – Jan van Dijk – Jos Roossien – Theo Migchelsen – Johan Tukker – Patrick Lodewijks – Henny Meijer – René Eijkelkamp – Ulrich Wilson
RKC Waalwijk – 8th with 37 points. Top row from left: Pieter in ‘t Groen, Peter Treffers, Adri Bogers, Stanley Brard, Erik Gouda.
Middle row: Herman Teeuwen, Cees Schapendonk, André Hoekstra, Ad van de Wiel, Leo van Veen (trainer/coach).
Sitting: Edwin de Wijs, Ricardo Moniz, Nico Jalink, Marc van Hintum, Anton Joore, Leon Hutten.
Fortuna Sittard – 7th with 38 points.
FC Volendam – 6th with 39 points.
Roda JC – 5th with 41 points.
Vitesse Arnhem – 4th with 41 points.
Twente – 3rd with 42 points. Wonderful comeback, yet, not a title contender. Top row from left: Marcel Peeper, Per Steffensen, John Nijenhuis, Marco Roelofsen, Michael Dikken, Andre Paus, Wilfried Elzinga, Robin Schmidt.
Middle row: Ronald Spelbos, Paul Krijnsen, Frank Tempelman, Jan Gaasbeek, Andre Karnebeek, Sander Boschker, Erik ten Hag, Gert-Jan Duif, Jan Steenbeeke, Theo Vonk.
Front: Claus Nielsen, Pieter Huistra, Hans de Koning, Mika Lipponen, Fred Rutten.
And at the very top Ajax and PSV Eindoven fought between themselves for the title. One point was the whole difference between champion and second-best.
PSV Eindhoven lost the battle and finished 2nd with 48 points. Wonderful team led by Guus Hiddink, but aging – compared to their rivals, this may have been the decisive factor. Great scorers, though: 94 goals this season and Romario was rapidly becoming world-famous star. Which practically meant he will go to bigger club…
Top row from left: Stan Valckx, Michel Boerenbach, Soren Lerby, Wim Kieft, Erik Gerets, Berry van Aerle, Edward Linskens.
Middle row: Jerry de Jong, Adick Koot, Hans van Breukelen, Ivan Nielsen, Jan Nederburgh, Josef Chovanec, Kalusha Bwalya.
Sitting: Monne de Wit (fysio), Juul Ellerman, Hans Gilhaus, Kees Ploegsma (manager), Guus Hiddink (trainer), Hans Dorjee (trainer), Gerald Vanenburg, Jan Heintze, Mart van den Heuvel (verzorger).
Ajax clinched the title – their 23rd, but first after 1985 – with 49 points. Dramatic victory and well deserved. Leo Beenhakker at the helm, having more than competent help from Bobby Harms and Spitz Kohn. As for the squad – full of bright stars, some still young and still making their names. Players, who will define the 1990s – compared to PSV Eindhoven, which players defined the 1980s, Ajax was more formidable in time perspective. Such a wealth of talent, even the foreign players in the squad (Peter Larsson and Stefan Petersson from Sweden and Hungarian Pal Fischer) paled behind the shining Dutch. Ajax was back in full flight, ready to repeat the glorious early 1970s and perhaps do even better than Cruijff and company, but… they were not going to concur Europe next season: on September 27, 1989, Austrian goalkeeper Franz Wolhfahrt was hit and injured by a bar, thrown by a home supporter at an Ajax-Austria Wien UEFA Cup match. Ajax subsequently were banned from European competition for a year. And instead of them PSV Eindhoven was going to play in the European Champions Cup. Thus, Ajax had to bask only in local glory after 19 wins, 11 ties, 4 losses, and 67-23 goal-difference. PSV Eindhoven won more games then them – 20 – and greatly outscored them – 94 goals – but also lost more matches – 6 – and had much weaker defensive record, permitting 36 goals in their net.