Big Three (Netherlands)
The Big Three (Dutch: De Grote Drie) is the nickname of the three most successful sports clubs in the Netherlands. The football teams of AFC Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven have a great rivalry, and are usually the main contenders for the title. Combined they share a total of 70 out of 127 Dutch Football Championships ever played and generally end up sharing the top three positions. None of them have been relegated from the Eredivisie either, having been participants in all editions since 1956–57 season; the lowest position any of them has earned is 14th, PSV, while Ajax and Feyenoord's lowest positions has been 13th.
Several other clubs outside the big three have won the Dutch league, with HVV Den Haag having the fourth most national titles behind the Big Three in the Netherlands with 10 in total. Today, the chief competitors of the three are AZ and FC Twente.[1][2][3][4][5]
Trophies
Team | Major National | International | Grand Total | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ED | KB | JCS | National Total | CL | CWC | EL | USC | UIC | IC | International Total | ||
Ajax | 33 | 18 | 8 | 59 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 71 |
PSV | 23 | 9 | 11 | 43 | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | 2 | 45 |
Feyenoord | 14 | 12 | 2 | 28 | 1 | - | 2 | - | 3 | 1 | 7 | 35 |
- Last update following the 2015-2016 season.
Footballers who have played for the three clubs
- Ruud Geels (Feyenoord 1966–1970, Ajax 1974-1978, PSV 1981–1982)
- Ronald Koeman (Ajax 1983–1986, PSV 1986–1989, Feyenoord 1995–1997)
Managers who have managed the three clubs
- Hans Kraay Sr. (Ajax 1974–1975, Feyenoord 1982-83, PSV 1986-87)
- Ronald Koeman (Ajax 2001–2005, PSV 2006–2007, Feyenoord 2011–2014)
See also
- Big Three (Belgium)
- Big Three (Costa Rica)
- Big Three (Greece)
- Big Three (Peru)
- Big Three (Portugal)
- Big Three (Turkey)
References
- ↑ Jurre de Ruiter (13 July 2013). "Ajax en PSV op woensdag, Feyenoord donderdag". Voetbal Primeur. Archived from the original on 25 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- ↑ ANP (6 July 2013). "Eenvoudige oefenzeges voor Ajax, PSV en Feyenoord". NU.nl. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- ↑ redactie (22 May 2007). "HVV in rijtje met Ajax, PSV en Feyenoord". AD.nl. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- ↑ Robin van der Kloor (31 October 2010). "Nederland verliest laatste van de Grote Drie" (in Dutch). Elsevier.nl. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- ↑ redactie (18 May 2011). "Negende halve finale zonder Grote Drie". Voetbal International. Retrieved 1 September 2013.