Each month in the "our heroes" section you will read about the club's greatest idols. Who are these heroes and what have they meant to the club? With this month: Ibrahim Afellay. The usually attacking midfielder or outfielder played 221 official matches for PSV and was often important in them. The Dutchman with Moroccan roots put many defenders to shame and excelled with his amazing dribbles.
Ibrahim Afellay, or 'Ibi as he is known to many, was born in Utrecht 37 years ago. He had an early taste of football. After several years of amateur football in Utrecht, he soon moved on to the youth academy of PSV. This turned out to be a good move. This is where his great, international football career began.
PSV period
Ibrahim Afellay grew into a key player at PSV. 'Ibi' Afellay played over 200 matches for PSV and managed to find the net 39 times. With perhaps one of his most important in the final match of the 2006/2007 championship battle. On the last match day, PSV took the championship with only one goal difference. That one goal came from Ibrahim Afellay, among others. Who also won the title "talent of the year" that season. Only the very best get this title and that is where Ibrahim belonged at that time. His good period at PSV was rewarded with an immediate transfer to Catalan top club FC Barcelona.
Prize-winner
Numerous clubs followed after PSV: the newly named FC Barcelona, Olympiakos Piraeus, FC Schalke 04 and Stoke City were the next destinations of 'Ibi'. By playing for several (top) clubs, Ibrahim's trophy cabinet is quite filled with trophies and medals. At three of the five clubs he played for, he managed to capture at least one prize. For example, he won the UEFA Champions League with FC Barcelona in 2010/2011. He also won the Spanish (2), Dutch (1) and Greek Cup (1). He also won plenty of championships. He became four times Eredivisie champion with PSV, once Spanish and Greek champion and as icing on the cake he also managed to win a Johan Cruijff Schaal - still called Super Cup at the time.
Orange Lion
In total, Ibrahim played 53 duels for the Netherlands. Under then head coach Marco van Basten, he made his debut in the Orange at the age of 20. He scored seven goals in the Orange shirt and also had a good career in the Dutch national team.
Opening own Cruijff Court
The Utrecht-born Afellay has family from Morocco. They come from the northern coastal city of Al Hoceima. He opened a Cruijff Court there the year he won the title "talent of the year" (2009). Thus, people from young to old can enjoy a well-constructed football field in Morocco.
In the heart
Ibrahim has always said that PSV has a special place in his heart. That did not just remain words, because after a fine foreign career, 'Ibi' returned to the old nest at PSV. He signed a one-year contract in 2019 and wanted to get started right away. After injury and bad luck at Stoke City, he was able to give his all at PSV for a while. More than a year later, 'Ibi' announced to put a point behind his career. A career full of memories and wonderful goals, many of which were scored in Eindhoven.