The last round of the football season 2006/07 has
been the most bizarre one in the history of Dutch football. Ask any PSV
fan 20 years later where he or she was on Sunday 29 April 2007 and you
immediately will get an answer. 29 April 2007 was the day that three
teams still could win the Dutch league, and that the team that didn't
had things in their own hand, became the winner. Journalists Peter van
Duyl, Wietse Dijkstra and Sjoerd Mossou wrote a serie of 6 articles for
the Dutch newspaper "Algemeen Dagblad" about what will be known in
history as a football thriller.
AD Sportwereld spoke with many people from the
teams involved and came with a remarkable reconstruction.
On the forlast matchday happens what almost no one though would be
possible. PSV looses in Utrecht the huge leadof
eleven points. With his equalizer in the 86th minute (1-1), Alje Schut
lets PSV plunge into mourning.
AZ, who beats Heerenveen by 3-1 (thanks to two goals by Simon Cziommer)
have - based on the goaldifference the best chance. This is also due to
the fact that Ajax fails to score a lot of goals in their match against
Sparta.
The players from Amsterdam score three times within 21 minutes. Coach
Henk ten Cate replaces defender ogararu for leftwinger Kenneth Perez,
hoping on more goals. This replacement works the other way around.
Sparta scores two times. In the final stage of the match, Ajax scores
another two times:5-2.
Another remarkable fact: the opponents of the teams that can win the
title have nothing to gain or loose after the 33rd round. Excelsior
lost 3-2 against Heracles and will play in the play-offs. Willem II
stays in the Eredivisie due to the 1-1 draw against RKC and Vitesse (a
1-1 draw against FC Twente knows that they play the play-offs for one
place in the Intertoto competition.
The position in the Dutch league after the 33rd
matchday:
PSV coach Ronald Koeman enjoys his breakfast together with his family
in his villa in Best. The atmosphere is still releaxed, although this
afternoon the champion of the Dutch football league will be
known.
PSV, who play Vitesse, don't have things in their own hands. To the
horror of Koeman, the team has lost a lead of eleven points in a few
months.
Things don't get better for the coach. He never was really populair in
Eindhoven, but after the defeat against NEC (2-1) the pressure is
really on.
After the match, Phillip Cocu had a meeting with the fans, one day
later the cars of the coach and the players are being bekogeld
with eggs. After the 1-1 at FC Utrecht, last week, a fan tried to sell
Koeman on the internet. Something the coach can smile about.
The Koeman family always watches the matches at the Philips Stadium in
Eindhoven. In most cases, Ronald jr. - the youngest son - waits for his
father at the stairs near the pressroom. He is always cuddled
by his father as he passes.
Today, everything is different. In Eindhoven and the surrounding areas
the atmosphere is different, a bit threatning even. Ronald and Bartina
Koeman already talked about it. "It is better for you to stay home
today, for I have no idea what will happen today." says father Koeman.
"It is the best for Mr. Kesler to come to tilburg, because we are going
to win the title." says Henk ten Cate cool as a cucumber, right after
the victory of Ajax over Sparta (5-2).
The coach of Ajax gives in the days before the outcome a masterclass on
'how to bluf and manipulate Ajax towards the title'. Of course, Ten
Cate talks to his friend Ton Lokhoff (coach of Excelsior) over the
phone. If they can give their best against leader AZ.
A few days before the deciding matchday, ten Cate asks his defender
John Heitinga to play his last trump-card. The coach is wondering if
something can be arranged with Excelsior. Just to motivate the players
as good as possible. Heitinga should make a phonecall, suggests the
Ajax coach.
The player, suspended for the last match, does what he is asked to do
and makes a phonecall to striker Andwélé Slory. Both players know
eachother well, they have the same manager. Heitinga and Slory, as well
as Wesley Sneijder, are beinig guided by Essel Sports Management, the
agency of Sören Lerby.
Former Ajax player Sjaak Swart works for the same agency. The Excelsior
players have understood that Mister Ajax himself will collect the
envelopes with the money. Captain Jos van Nieuwstadt shall devide the
loot, if they beat AZ.
Slory discusses the plan with the other players. At Woudestein (the
Exclesior Stadium), most players like the idea, although some are
sceptical about it. The bonus that Ajax is willing to pay is a lot of
money; € 2000,- after taxes each. A lot more than the € 350 the players
are used with Excelsior.
Although the money hasn't been earned yet, the players in Rotterdam
already talk about how to devide it. Should the players who actually
play the match against AZ earn more?Not everybody
agrees on that.
"Most players thought that the deal was made," knows Excelsior-keeper
Theo Zwarthoed. "But I've never thought we would get the money. I said
already from the beginning 'this won't work'. Why? I thought it was a
weird story and I have enough years of experience to know that the deal
was off."
At the same time in Tilburg, people are getting irritated by the
psychological trics that Ten Cate uses to focus on the last match. The
certainty that the coach predicts that the title will go to Amsterdam,
makes the blood boil with Willem II, Ajax' opponent on the last
matchday.
"Ajax was quite arrogant about Willem II," according to striker Geert
den Ouden, now playing for Excelsior. "We wanted to do everything to
prevent Ajax from winning the title."
The bonus proposed to Excelsior, is already days before the outcome
known to several players of several of the teams involved. On
Fridaynight p vrijdagavond is het onderwerp van gesprek in de kantine
van Excelsior '20 in Schiedam. AZ-striker Danny Koevermans (now playing
for PSV) and Excelsior-midfielder Sieme Zijm meet each other in the
canteen of the amateurclub Excelsior-20. Within minutes their
conversation is about the Ajax offer. "No matter what other people tell
you, the story is true." says Koevermans.
At Ajax, the story is a hot item as well, but not
with all the players. The proposal hasn't been discussed with all the
players. The majority of the players, amongst them the most prominent
ones, have no idea as the last matchday is about to begin.
The rumours about the Amsterdam offer have also reached Eindhoven. But
PSV has other concerns. After the draw last Sunday against utrecht, PSV
isn't koploper for the first times in months. PSV is clapped out. As a
boxer after a knock-out.
On the Monday after the draw in Utrecht, Ronald Koeman adresses his
players. Next he gathers his most important players: Heurelho Gomes,
Phillip Cocu, Timmy Simons and Jan Kromkamp. This way, the Eindhoven
squad tries to get on their feet again.
In the office of Ronald Koeman is a large desk and a couch. On the wall
a whiteboard with magnets. There, Koeman and his faithful assistent
Tonny Bruins Slot, exchange their thoughts about the situation. More
than once, the name of Johan Cruijff is mentioned.
When he still worked for Barcelona, Bruins Slot won the Spanish title
three times on the last matchday. When Bruins Slot, Jan Wouters and
Koeman talk about the match against Vitesse, the
'Cruijff-doctrine' is mentioned several times.
PSV is in third place since last Sunday. The pressure is on for AZ and
Ajax. What the Eindhoven squad needs to do is to heighten that
pressure. "Try to score 2-0 within the opening stages of the match.
This creates a lot of tension at the other matches." explains Bruins
Slot.
The coaches in Eindhoven are being helped by Phillip Cocu, playing his
last season with PSV. On Thursday het addresses the players in Dutch
ánd Spanish. Cocu emphasizes that PSV has to fight for their last
chance. The Brazilians Gomes and Alex have eye contact for a brief
moment. The two friends have the strange feeling that PSV, despite
everything, will win the title.
Also on Thursday, Koeman and Frits Schuitema meet. The chairman of PSV
heeft direct na het duel met FC Utrecht vraagtekens gezet bij de
positie van zijn trainer and Koeman wants to know what Schuitema means.
The conversation. Het gesprek verloopt stroef and when the coach drives
home he is convinced of one thing. If PSV has to play in the play-offs,
it isn't sure that Koeman will still be the coach.
Then the survivor in Koeman appears. On Friday he chooses the assault
and he blames Schuitema for not supporting him. "The chairman gives
room for speculations. This isn't good for the atmosphere."
In Amsterdam everything is quiet. Not a single player is allowed to
talk to the press this week. Not even if the appointment already has
been made. In stead of a training session next to the Amsterdam Arena,
Ten Cate chooses a relaxing walk in the Amsterdamse Bos. Away from fans
and journalists, Ajax hopes to focus on the match in a optimal
way.
In Alkmaar however, things are the most quiet. After the previous
matchday, AZ is the favourite to win the title. All preparations for a
huge party are being made. The invitations for the party are being send
and the pictures of the heroes of 1981, the one and only time that AZ
won the title, are being dusted.
However, Louis van Gaal isn't completely without worries. Only striker
Shota Arveladze knows what it is to win the title. All the other
players are young and inexperienced. Some of them play only for one
year in the Eredivisie.
But the coach is confident. In an interview with the Algemeen Dagblad,
van Gaal mentions the capabilities in the UEFA Champions League. "you
could say: AZ isn't ready for the high level of football in the
Champions League, but know that the guys have learned a lot." according
to the coach.
Van Gaal tries to prepare his team as normal as possible for D-Day. He
tries to get his players away from the paralizing effect of pressure.
This doesn't work with everyone. When striker Danny Koevermans tries to
weigh himself, he sees that he has lost three kilo's last week. All
because of the stress.
And so, three teams enter the deciding weekend. AZ with the stressful
knowledge that the entire country suspects a title, Ajax with a
fragilee self-made convidence and PSV full of doubts over the nearby
future.
On Woudestein, the excitement is tangible in and around the stadium. AZ
will win the title for the first time since 1981 and everyone that
wishes AZ well wants to be part of it. One fan from Alkmaar has already
took a tattoo with the date that AZ will win the title: 29 04 07.
The Excelsior fans don't mind. After the 3-2
defeat against Heracles last week, Excelsior has to play the play-offs,
whatever will happen today. And in the east part of Rotterdam, most
people prefer AZ over Ajax as the winner of the title.
The invasion of fan from Alkmaar, who want to pay a lot of money to
borrow an Excelsior seasonticket for one day, is very lucrative. On the
internet a lot of deals are being made.
Not only for the supporters of AZ seats in the stadium are rare, the
press faces the same problem. On the stands of the smallest stadium in
the Eredivisie specially reserved for the press, only 32 seats are
available. 86 journalists plus the 60 people involved for the
television coverage is an absolute record for Excelsior. Most
journalists have to find a seat in front of a tv in the nearby canteen
of the amateur section of Excelsior.
About one hour before the match in the Philips-stadium in Eindhoven,
Vitesse coach Aad de Mos looks around. There is nothing he hasn't seen
in football, nothing escapes his attention. But, according to the the
Hague-born coach of Vitesse, in the Eindhoven stadium hangs a special
atmosphere. As if a match for a European Cup will be played.
De Mos notices something else. There is no trace of the opponent PSV.
In most cases, football players meet eachother before the match in the
catacombs. Old teammates and friends shake hands, talk a bit. But
today, the reigning Dutch champion locked themselves in in their
dressing-room.
De Mos smiles. He is experienced enough to recognizes the way PSV are
focussing on the match and as a sportsman he can appreciate this. But
de Mos can't believe that AZ won't win the title. "The thought had
never crossed my mind."
Behind the red door of the PSV dressingroom, it is quiet. The
preparation of the match against Vitesse started earlier this week.
Koeman keeps his tactical speech rather short: From minute one, PSV has
to grab its opponent by the throath. A quick goal and then to score as
many goals as possible. Good luck, lads.
From the first minute, Louis van Gaal sees how AZ contorts before his
eyes. His team is very nervous, while Excelsior plays without no stress
at all. Especially Slory has a good start of the match and within the
first 15 minutes the striker passes defender Tim de Cler as if he isn't
there.
At that moment the Cruijff-doctrine proves its value. In Eindhoven, PSV
plays as if shot from a catapult. After 8 minutes, Alex scores 1-0. Two
minutes later Farfán scores 2-0.
The fans in Brabant begin to hope for a miracle and indeed. At
Woudestein, AZ is seized with fear.
The third time that Slory is too quick for AZ-back De Cler, goalie Boy
Waterman can only stop him at the cost of a red card and a penalty
kick. In the 21st minute, Luigi Bruins scores from the penalty spot.
'Doekoe, doekoe' ('money' in the Surinam language), yell the players of
Excelsior as Henrico Drost (2-1) and Johan Voskamp (3-2) shatter the
Alkmaar dream for good.
Due to the development of the situation in
Rotterdam, the bizarre last matchday concentrates on the duel
between Ajax en PSV. Hope in Eindhoven gets a real blow as
goalkeeper Gomes prevents Theo Janssen from scoring: 2-1.
By that time, De Mos is already annoyed for minutes at his own
goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic. The Serb takes his time, despite the
fact that Vitesse is behind. What is even worse, he provacates the fans
of PSV whereever and whenever possible. Half way the first half, rows
of supporters have gathered behind the goal of Stojkovic, tug at the
low fence, surrounding the fiels. The fence moves dangerously.
On the bench, De Mos already had made a remarkable descision. At half
time, he replaces Stojkovic for the young Piet Velthuizen. A descisoin
that raises some eyebrows in Amsterdam. "Stojkovic was provocing, of
course I was angry on him." explains de Mos. "At a certain stage I
thought: what will happen when the fans enter the field en the game
will be suspended! on a day like this! What had happened in that case?"
In Tilburg the atmosphere at the match of Willem II against
Ajax is extremely confusing. Especially because what happens outside
the field. Every time, people in the stadium start to cheer or to cry.
At one stage by the supporters from Brabant, where goals made by PSV
are celebrated in a nagging way, the next time from a section with
supporters from Ajax.
Everywhere in the stadium, textmessages are being received, most of
them with a huge delay, because the network is overloaded. Only
supporters with a radio at their ears enjoy the full confidence of the
rest of the audience.
The chaos on the stands paralizes the players on the field. Ajax
attacks, but without any confidence. When Urby Emanuelson scores, the
players from Amsterdam doubt between cheering and get the ball as
quickly as possible.
Willem II keeps fighting a ferocious battle, with the African warrior
Ibrahim Kargbo as the leading man. Without fear he goes to battle,
taking his teammates with him. For the team from Tilburg, nothing is at
stake, but captain Dennis van Wijk's team fights as if peoples lives
are at stake.
In the mean time, PSV in Eindhoven has got wings. The knowledge that
the title is won if they score two goals more than Ajax, is enough to
fire the team up once more. Just after half time Ibrahim Afellay score
3-1 and Farfán scores the fourth PSV goal:4-1.
Ajax receives those statistics as well. Ten Cate shouts that his team
has to score more. Every time, the Amsterdam players look at the
Tilburgse scoreboard, that relentlessy displays the situation at other
matches. The virual standing of who is the current leader of the league
is displayed as well. "The scoreboard drove me mad," Wesley Sneijder
explains. "Each time as the referee blew his whistle, you looked at it."
Goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg places the ball nervously in the feet
of opponent Cristiano, but shortly after that moment, Ajax scores.
Striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar profits of a mistake of keeper Peter Zois
(2-0) and the striker chases the ball. Both panic and happiness. What
to do next?
Ten minutes before the end of the match Phillip Cocu scores the 5th
goal and brings his team to the virtual title. Jan Kromkamp isn't the
only PSV player who thinks "is this enough or do we have to score
another goal?"
On the PSV bench, physiotherapist Ferd van Odenhoven checks and passes
the scores of the other matches. In the dug-out, tension and stress
takes over the leading characters. Ronald has seen almost everything in
his life but he is taken by the absurd events as well.
Koeman doesn't trust the situation in Tilburg. "They gonna score
another one!" he shouts. To be sure, PSV has to score one more time,
just to be sure. A discussion with Bruins Slot, who thinks that the
players from Eindhoven need to play a bit more safe, is the result.
Almost, the opinion of the assistant proves to be right. Just before
the end of the match, Vitesse player Fred Benson is run over in the
penalty area. No foul, accordinig to referee Vink.
As PSV has beaten Vitesse 5-1, the stadium is quiet. Players look at
each other and towards the bench. But nothing is sure, because at
Willem II, the match isn't over yet.
At the Goirleseweg in Tilburg, chaos is reigning. Ten Cate screams and
points towards his players and constantly looks over his shoulder to
physiotherapist Ricardo de Sanders, who listens to the radio. "Just one
more! Just one more!" Ten Cate shouts towards his players. But the
atmosphere is so confusing that they don't hear him.
The final opportunity is for Ajax in the dying
seconds of the match. Willem II-goalkeeper Zois is confused and picks
the ball up when one of his own players kicks it towards him. The
players from Amsterdam get a indirect free kick, about 12 meters from
the goal. Perez and Sneijder are near the ball, but the Spanish player
Roger takes the free kick. As a tiger, Kargbo throws himself in line of
fire and this helps PSV to win the title.
Eindhoven explodes, shakes and cries of joy. Right after the news from
Tilburg, PSC captain Timmy Simons hugs his coach Ronald Koeman. Next,
the coach walks in a straight line to the dressingroom where he,
together with medical assistent Mart van den Heuvel, lights a sigaret.
it is quiet inside, all tension is released. Tears are
everywhere.
While the players of Willem II walk cheering along
the stands, the Ajax players stumble towards the dressingroom. Passing
the flowers bought by Willem II. Just in case. As Ten Cate walks
towards the dressingroom, a lot of curses are being heard.
The disappointment with AZ is as least as big. The
injured Stijn Schaars cursus his colleague Luijckx (hired by Excelsior
from AZ) in front of the camera.
Funny comments are being made about the eventual bonus right after the
match. Although some journalists wonder why Excelsior was so filled
with joy.
Reaction:
Henk ten Cate doesn't want to say a lot about it.: "I don't see why
this is brought to the surface again," says the current Chelsea coach.
"I've only called Ton Lokhoff and I've asked him if Excelsior could
give everything." Slory, Ajax and Heitinga have nothing more to add.
"We've responded already in May and that's that." according to a
spokesman of Ajax.
The position in the Dutch league after the final
matchday:
The players of Excelsior are worried when they hear that not ajax, but
PSV has won the title. One day later, Slory can reassure his teammates.
Heitinga reassured him that the Amsterdam players stick to their words,
because Excelsior isn't the one to blame.
One week later, Excelsior player Robert Braber mentions the subject by
accident in an interview with the newspaper BN/De
Stem. "We haven't seen no money yet. It is said that Ajax wants to pay
less, because they didn't won the title," Braber explains in all
honesty.
A rel is born and at Ajax, manager Martin van Geel
speaks to five players: Stam, Huntelaar, Perez, Sneijder and Heitinga.
The first three are astonished when they hear that Heitinga indeed has
had contact with Slory.
In general it is thought that the entire plan made up by Ten Cate, but
the coach denies any involvement. Ajax covers the entire subject.
The KNVB starts an investigation and later on they say that a bonus
formally isn't forbidden. In the Netherlands, people react with raised
eyebrows on the entire matter. "When those boys from 020 (Ajax) were
real men, they had paid Excelsior." according to Danny Koevermans.
For a long time, the outcome of the last matchday is the talk of the
day. In Amsterdam, the worse play by Vitesse is still a matter of
discussion. "During half time, we believed in our chances," tells
Wesley Sneijder. "Until Vitesse suddenly opened all their gates."
The Vitesse players aren't happy with this opinion. "Nonsense!," says
Danko Lazovic, at that moment still playing for Vitesse. "If you play
against PSV, you can loose. And what if Ajax had scored one more goal?
Would Willem II have played a worse game then?"
Ronald Koeman is the most satisfied character of all. The coach has
been called names for days, but after winning the title, he is the fans
hero.
Koeman also is the clear winner of the duel with chairman Schuitema.
Both men meet at the office of Schuitema to talk about their problems,
after which the coach want the weekend to think about the whole
situation. In his house in Portugal, Koeman decides to stay with PSV. A
deal that is being put down in a contract a few days later in De Rosep
in Oisterwijk.
There, near Eindhoven Schuitema and Jan Reker inform the press, while
Koeman avoids the journalists. He drives to his villa in Best, gives
Bartina a kiss and the coach of the Dutch champion pours himself a good
glas of wine.
The Dutch sport show NOS Studio Sport has made a video compilation
about the last round of the 2006/07 season. This compilation is almost
14 minutes long, is in Dutch and can be watched below.
PSV also made a video compilation of the last matchday of the
2006/07 season. This compilation is almost 24 minutes long, is in Dutch and can
be watched below.
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