Football has been and still is one of the most popular sports among the Dutch people. Their love for football has given birth to amazing clubs and incredible players.
Some people in the Netherlands like to show their love and support towards their favourite team by being in the audience for their every match. Others will get a T-shirt or a tattoo with the team’s logo. And there are those who are even willing to place a bet on their team every single time they play.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the Big Three, or the three most famous football clubs, as well as the most honoured players in the Netherlands.
The Big Three
The Netherlands is the home of three amazing clubs, and those are PSV, Ajax, and Feyenoord. These three clubs have the greatest fan base, and they also generate the biggest revenue, in terms of ticket selling and betting. PSV is a football club based in Eindhoven, and it was founded in 1913. PSV is a part of the Eredivisie or the highest tier of the Dutch league. Playing in the PSV is only reserved for the most skillful and hard-working athletes.
Ajax and Feyenoord also belong to the Eredivisie. Ajax, Amsterdam’s most known football club, was founded even before PSV, in 1900. The club was named after a Greek hero, and it has proven to be one of the most successful football teams in the Netherlands. With 34 Eredivisie titles and 19 KNVB Cups, Ajax has shown that it’s a force not to be underestimated. Moreover, it’s one of the favourite clubs that the Dutch bet on while visiting top online casinos. The last one on our list but certainly not the least is the football club Feyenoord from Rotterdam. Back in 1908 when the club was first founded it was named Wilhelmina. Since then it has changed many names, but one thing remained the same. And it’s the fact that this club is always equipped by top-notch players and coaches that make their success possible.
The Best Football Players In the Netherlands
Some of the best football players of all time actually come from the Netherlands. And now we’ll see who these legendary players were.
Johan Cruyff
One of the greatest geniuses in the game of football that came from the Netherlands was Johan Cruyff. Cruyff set a new standard for football in the Netherlands. He is known for winning trophies not only for Ajax but also for Feyenoord and Barcelona.
Marco van Basten
Even though van Basten’s career didn’t last that long, he remains one of the most memorable strikes in the history of football. His score was 0,99, which means almost a goal per game.
Dennis Bergkamp
Dennis Bergkamp had a mind-blowing precision in front of the goal and was a genius with leading the ball past any opponent. During his career, he gave the audience some unforgettable moments while on the pitch.
Edwin van der Sar
This football player is unofficially the best keeper that the Netherlands ever had. Edwin van der Sar played for Ajax but also for Manchester United.
Ronald Koeman
Koeman started his career by playing as a midfielder, but he was also known across the football world as a powerful kicker and defender. Ronald Koeman has been acknowledged as the highest-scoring defender in the history of football.