Willy van der Kuijlen

No player will ever match Van der Kuijlen's achievements at PSV. The striker is and will forever remain the top scorer of PSV and the Eredivisie. For eighteen seasons, 528 league games, he has worn the red and white of PSV, which rightfully earns him the title 'Mister PSV'. An honorary title that Van der Kuijlen, humility itself, also carries with verve after his active career, first as youth and assistant coach and later as scout and club icon. Never does Skiete Willy, of course also Member of Merit of PSV, feel too big for anything. His most important trademark will forever remain cutting, shooting, scoring, especially a lot of scoring; Willy van der Kuijlen is forever Mister PSV.

Brabant football prodigy
Van der Kuijlen grew up in Helmond, where he created a furor in the first team of HVV at an early age. In 1963-1964, Van der Kuijlen made his name by scoring 31 goals in 26 matches for the first division club. In the Van der Kuijlen household, people have long been convinced of Willy's talent. His father orders him to abandon his training as a tiler and try to earn his money as a professional football player, something that is not yet a done deal at that time. PSV wants him a season earlier, but after his goal-scoring exploits for the Helmond amateurs, the Philips Stadium is completely convinced. The whole of the Netherlands wants to bind "the Brabant football miracle" to them, but he ultimately chooses PSV.

Ups and downs
The marriage between Willy and PSV is not always a happy one. Van der Kuijlen scores often, becoming top scorer of the Eredivisie in 1966, 1970 and 1974, but he sometimes has trouble with the high expectations of the outside world and he clashes with trainers more than once. The arrival of Kees Rijvers in 1972 clears the air. He gives Willy the confidence he so desperately needs. Rijvers placed Van der Kuijlen on his previously hated left side, next to the Swede Ralf Edström. It turns out to be a golden move. A deadly pair is born. In four seasons, Van der Kuijlen scores 106 times. Real Madrid beckons, but Van der Kuijlen remains loyal to PSV, as he will for the rest of his life.

Recognition at last
Willy's modesty stands in the way of an impressive international career. He regularly clashes with "the boys from Amsterdam. In 1974, when the Netherlands plays the World Cup in West Germany, he thanks for the honor. In the end, he did not even play a single major tournament. The counter remains stuck at 22 international matches (7 goals), far too few for one of the best Dutch football players ever. Fortunately, Van der Kuijlen was appreciated by Rijvers, who even appointed him captain in 1977. As captain, he becomes Dutch champion for the third time and the club wins a European prize for the first time in its history. SC Bastia is defeated 3-0 in the UEFA Cup final, partly due to a goal by Van der Kuijlen, over two games.