The modern full-back has become a shapeshifter. The job once began and ended on the touchline, dealing with the opposition’s winger and swinging in a couple of crosses. Then came the attacking full-backs, who were forgiven defensive lapses if they broke the line with acceleration and a cutback. The role...
Anis Hadj Moussa (176cm/5’9”, 68kg/149lbs) is one of the most exciting up-and-coming left-footed right wingers in Europe today. The Algeria international may well be his country’s natural successor to Riyad Mahrez on the right-hand side, with Hadj Moussa having come off the bench to replace the national team captain, Mahrez,...
It was always going to be tough to replace Erik ten Hag after the Dutchman headed west to take over at fallen giants Manchester United. Ten Hag bowed out as a three-time Eredivisie champion, leaving his successor with massive shoes to fill at the Johan Cruijff Arena. CEO Edwin van...
Who Is Erik Ten Hag? Following the sacking of Marcel Keizer in December 2017, Erik ten Hag took over as the manager of Ajax. Since his appointment, he has won the Eredivisie title in the 2018-19 season and the KNVB Cup. This is on top of a well-documented run to the...
For any club arriving in the Premier League, the question of how to stay there can be reduced to one word: stability. That stability begins at the back, and at the very core of the defensive unit is the goalkeeper. In recent years, most newly promoted sides have chosen to...
The Dutch Eredivisie is already approaching its fourth matchday, and after three games, a huge surprise has emerged at the top. Instead of the usual names like Ajax Amsterdam, PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord Rotterdam or AZ Alkmaar, NEC Nijmegen are leading the league heading into the weekend. Scoring 12 goals while conceding...
Welcome to another instalment of our budget-friendly series. Last week, we released a list of four budget-friendly strikers who could join middle- or low-level clubs in Europe's top-five leagues. Now, we're moving on to midfielders. The idea is the same: to find affordable midfielders with decent attributes, numbers or qualities...
If there is one young player generating real excitement in Belgian football, it’s 17-year-old Noah Fernandez. Currently developing at PSV Eindhoven’s acclaimed youth academy, Fernandez is already making waves as one of Belgium’s brightest U17 talents. While primarily an advanced playmaker, he offers versatility across central midfield, attacking midfield, and...
Santiago Giménez is set to join AC Milan, coming from Feyenoord, at the moment of writing this article, with the transfer deal confirmed by numerous trusted sources. This move will pave the way for Álvaro Morata’s departure to the Turkish side Galatasaray, as Giménez will replace the Spanish international with...
With 17 matchdays in the books, the Eredivisie is in the middle of a three-week pause for its annual winter break period. While league play is on hold and 2024 is coming to an end, we thought it'd be worth taking a closer look at some of the league's breakout...
PSV are currently leading the Eredivisie with 42 points, seven points above the second-placed FC Utrecht. Offensively, they are so excellent that they are the top scorers with 56 goals, while the second top scorers, Feyenoord, have scored only 35 goals. One of their strengths is set pieces, especially corners. They are the top...
As we move into the November international break this week, Sem Steijn is the current Eredivisie top-scorer with eight goals registered in eleven games. It's hardly a surprise for those who follow Dutch football, who already saw him among the top five scorers in the league last year with 17...
Ajax's 0-2 away victory over Feyenoord marked a strong statement under manager Francesco Farioli, showcasing disciplined, well-organised tactics, as we will see in this match analysis. In this tactical analysis and scout report, we’ll break down Ajax’s tactical approach, emphasising Farioli’s key strategic choices. Then, we shift to a pre-match...
Who Is Jorrel Hato? Finding new talent at Ajax used to be a given; the Dutch titan’s footballing academy has been among the most prominent places for the next big things in the sport for years. However, even the top franchises experience bad times. Ajax was no different, and even...
Back in May, Heerenveen made an exciting decision about who would replace the previously announced outgoing Kees van Wonderen as their new head coach. They appointed Robin van Persie, a Dutch footballing legend and the nation's all-time leading scorer. Although van Persie had been coaching at youth level with Feyenoord...
FC Utrecht have been a revelation this season in the Dutch Eredivisie. After seven rounds, the club sits in second place in the standings, with six wins and a draw and are so far off to one of the best starts in the club's 54-year history. After finishing in seventh...
Who is Dick Lukkien? FC Groningen have undergone a bit of a renaissance under their current manager Dick Lukkien. With the club having suffered their first relegation in a quarter of a century just months after taking the job for the following season, it was a difficult situation that the...
Who Is Dick Lukkien? FC Groningen have undergone a bit of a renaissance under their current manager Dick Lukkien. With the club having suffered their first relegation in a quarter of a century just months after taking the job for the following season, it was a difficult situation that the...
Who Is Jorrel Hato? Finding new talent at Ajax used to be a given; the Dutch titan’s footballing academy has been among the most prominent places for the next big things in the sport for years. However, even the top franchises experience bad times. Ajax was no different and even...
PSV Eindhoven have gotten off to a brilliant start to the 2024/25 domestic season in the Netherlands. With five wins from five in the Eredivisie and a whopping twenty goals scored, Peter Bosz's defending Dutch champions could hardly be doing better. In this analysis, though, rather than examining the side's...
