Starting this season, the Eredivisie CV will award the Willy van der Kuijlen trophy to the Eredivisie's top scorer. With this, the Eredivisie provides a lasting tribute to the all-time top scorer who recently passed away at the age of 74.
Skiete Willy
Willy van der Kuijlen was born on December 6, 1946, in Helmond and began his football career at the local HVV. At the age of 17, Van der Kuijlen made the move to PSV and in eighteen seasons reached 528 premier league matches. With three league titles, a UEFA Cup and two KNVB cups in his pocket, Van der Kuijlen completed another season at MVV and in Belgium at Overpelt. Many a goal net fell at the touch of a fireball from the feet of Van der Kuijlen. With both left and right, he regularly produced poeiers, giving rise to the nickname Skiete Willy. Thirteen times the striker was PSV's top scorer and three times in the Eredivisie. In total, he shot 311 times with focus and remains the Eredivisie's all-time top scorer. On April 19, 2021, Van der Kuijlen, also known as Mister PSV , died at the age of 74.
Fitting tribute
According to Jan de Jong, director of the Eredivisie, the award is a fitting tribute: "Mister PSV, besides being a great footballer, was always a true gentleman. A jewel in the crown that is called Eredivisie. Brabant's modest. Unjustified based on his incredible qualities. This is posthumously a fitting tribute. His name remains forever attached to the Eredivisie's top scorer. If only it will be a very long time before someone will shoot his record out of the books. If that is ever going to happen". Toon Gerbrands, on behalf of PSV, experiences it as an honor and a recognition for Willy van der Kuijlen: "A great initiative of the Eredivisie CV. Top sport is about performance and the figures Willy van der Kuijlen has achieved as a player are unique and inimitable. Football is strong in honoring its heroes. This is another great example of it. Class!" Daughter Wendy van der Kuijlen let it be known on behalf of the family that she is tremendously honored: "We are completely overwhelmed by all the beautiful words and initiatives that have come to us in recent weeks. Our dad lived for football, which has brought 311 goals. His favorite quote was not for nothing: 'The most beautiful color is that of grass.' This trophy is a crowning achievement. We as a family are immensely proud of that."
The Willy van der Kuijlen trophy
This season's top scorer already has a chance to win the first Willy van der Kuijlen trophy. The trophy is a replica of the official Skiete Willy statue in Eindhoven. This statue was unveiled by PSV in 2004 on the east side of Philips Stadium.