Frits Philips

'Mister Frits' runs like a thread through PSV's history. As a five-year-old, Frits Philips (of April 16, 1905) performed the kickoff in 1911 at the first match of the Philips Elftal, the forerunner of today's PSV. He was the son of co-founder Dr. Anton Philips and died in 2005 at the age of 100.

Until then, he experienced the rich history up close. He attended the official foundation on August 31, 1913, and was actively involved with the club as a supporter throughout his life. Among his fellow supporters, club people, administrators and also in the press, he was considered a primal supporter, a monument of PSV.

Legendary
Mr. Frits is legendary in many ways; he was the last Philips at the top of the company. Already at age 25, after graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering, father Anton gave him full managerial responsibility as a company director. First as assistant company manager, later as managing director. In World War II, circumstances put him in charge of the Philips factories in occupied territory as a barely 35-year-old. His father and the entire staff had sought refuge in England. Frits did not want to abandon his staff. The occupiers threatened him with death several times for his lack of cooperation. He even ended up in prison, was released, but soon had to go into hiding until the liberation of Eindhoven in September 1944. From 1961 he was the face of the multinational until his retirement in 1971. He then served as chairman of the Supervisory Board until 1977.

Involvement
Because of his involvement with the city of Eindhoven and his easy contact with people from all walks of life, he became an icon of the city, of which he became an Honorary Citizen. On April 16, 2005, all of Eindhoven celebrated his hundredth birthday, showing once again how popular he was among PSV supporters, city residents and (former) Philips people.

Death
Frits Philips experienced eighteen PSV national titles as a supporter. His last one was in 2005, in the summer before his death. After the presentation of the championship trophy, captain Mark van Bommel walked into the stands to show the trophy with the club icon to the audience. A memorable moment in the history of the club and Mister Frits. Later that year, on December 5, he died at his estate De Wielewaal. In 2007, a beautiful statue of Mister Frits was unveiled on the Market Square in Eindhoven.