Jurgen Streppel |

The votes proved that there was only one manager worthy of our first annual ‘Manager of the Season’ award. All staff were asked to name their top three managers. Each first pick received three points, second place received two points and one point was awarded for the third pick. The results are below…

Winner – PHILIP COCU (PSV) 15 points

Great players, do not make great managers right? In only his second full year as coach, former international midfielder Philip Cocu guided PSV to their 22nd Eredivisie championship title. As an inexperienced manager, Cocu has led a team with an average age of 23, to an emphatic league victory winning by gigantic 17 points over bitter rivals Ajax.

Next season perhaps sees Cocu’s biggest challenge, a Champions League campaign and trying to retain the Eredivisie shield without some important cogs in this season’s wheel. Memphis Depay has already departed, whilst big money moves for Georginio Wijnaldum and Jetro Willems are surely round the corner. Cocu will have a large amount of money to spend, but former international team-mates Frank de Boer and Giovanni van Bronckhorst will be building squads themselves for a title fight.

2nd – EDWIN VAN DE LOOI (FC Groningen) 8 points

The 43-year-old from Huissen, clinched his trophy for the Pride of the North defeating PEC Zwolle in the KNVB Beker final earlier this month, the first time in the clubs history. A eighth place finish was a great achievement after losing many big names last summer, and another punt at the Europa League next season is to look forward too.

3rd – RON JANS (PEC Zwolle) 3 points

The beginning of the season was a great start for Jans and Zwolle, defeating Ajax in the Johan Cruyiff Schaal. A KNVB Beker final defeat was not to be shamed of, and finishing in the top six, the highest in their history is an unbelievable turnaround from the little team that couldn’t a few years back.

OTHERS

HENK DIJKHUIZEN (Excelsior) 1 point

JURGEN STREPPEL (Willem II) 1 point

FRED RUTTEN (Feyenoord) 1 point

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WillemII

Eerste Divisie champions last season, Willem II return to the top flight but Will Burns thinks the Tilburg side face an uphill battle to retrieve their Eredivisie status.

The prime example of a ‘Yo-Yo club’, the boys from Tilburg broke a 24-year long Eredivisie stay in 2010/11 when they finished 18th to be sent down to Eerste Divisie. However, the bounced right back up the next season, only to be relegated again in 2012/13. Under Jurgen Streppel, they have regained their top flight status, however, I feel with his lack of familiarity at the top level and the failure to bring any experienced Eredivisie players they could be down again this campaign.

Unable to secure a permanent deal for last year’s 26-goal striker Ruud Boymans was a major disappointment. Although, Israeli international striker Ben Sahar, a former Chelsea youth arrives on a free from Hertha Berlin to fill the void. Talented Greek goalkeeper Kostas Lamprou has grew tired warming the bench at Feyenoord and joins a season-long loan as does AZ defender Jonas Heymans. Ajax loanee Fabian Sporkslede wraps up the new arrivals from Streppel without any great old heads to lead the team.

One thing Willem II will use to their advantage will be the counter attack. The speed of Moroccan playmaker Ali Messaouad and 20-year-old lightning quick winger Terrell Ondaan will terrify defences. Unfortunately, without any great shakes in defence and not enough talent throughout the squad, I fear for Willem II and a return to lower division awaits.

TRANSFERS INS AND OUTS

IN: Ben Sahar (Hertha Berlin), Fabian Sporkslede (Ajax), Jonas Heymans (AZ Alkmaar), Kostas Lamprou (Willem II).

OUT: Kees van Buuren (Sparta Rotterdam), Mats van Huijgevoort (FC Den Bosch), Mitch van der Ven (FC Eindhoven), Norair Mamedov (Almere City), Ruud Boymans (FC Utrecht).

MANAGER – JURGEN STREPPEL

Leading Willem II to the Eerste Divisie title in only his second job was a great feat by Streppel. A former manager and player at Helmond Sport, at only 45, his inexperience may cost him this job by May.

KEY PLAYER – TERELL ONDAAN

Formerly on the books at Ajax, Ondaan electricified the Eerste Divisie last season which caught the attention of Adrie Koster, the coach of Jong Oranje, who called up the 20-year-old winger for his international debut. Ondaan has great pace and is technically gifted which could work his way into the thoughts of one of the big boys of the Eredivisie by the season’s end.