PSV, the proud Dutch football champions will kick-off their season with a match for the Dutch super-cup, against cupwinner Feyenoord, just before the regular Dutch league starts. As Dutch champion, they are allowed to play it at their home turf, the Philips stadium, on Saturday August 4^th at 18.00.

While the World-Cup is getting into the final stages, PSV is working hard behind the scenes to build the organization and their squad to make an attempt to reach the play-offs of the Champions League and to prolong their Dutch league title. Its been a turbulent couple of months for PSV, several important staff and even head- coach Philip Cocu, got lured away by teams from wealthier leagues, due to their great achievements. Also some of their best players moved, or may move on, to bigger leagues.

Of course the management has been, and still is working hard for proper replacements, of which the most noticeable (but not least likely) is the new head-coach Mark van Bommel. The previous coach of the U19 (youth) team, that also won the Dutch title, will take over from Cocu, after being assistant to his father in law, that has been coaching Australia during the world cup. Apart from a promising past as an (assistant) coach, he has a glorious past as a football player, for PSV winning several league titles, cups and playing many champions league matches. He also was successful with FC Barcelona, AC Milan and Bayern Munchen. Hence very experienced and all in all a man with a real PSV heart, with true passion and skill to be a worthy replacement of the successful Cocu.

Also the technical manager, the successful Marcel Brands who deserved a move to Everton, has been replaced, as well as the director of the PSV academy and various youth coaches. The good news is that PSV found worthy replacements, often by ex-players, of which we are welcoming home again, like the head of the youth academy, ex youth and assistant coach and former player, Ernest Faber.

So how well PSV will do is a difficult question to answer, especially seeing the many changes so far, and uncertainty what the exact squad will look like. We do know that they have an interesting program of practice matches, most noticeable, the home match against Valencia on July 28. So keep an eye on their agenda, and try to visit one of their matches or even a training at the beautiful Herdgang training ground, that is currently being further upgraded. Or come to see them compete for their first price of the new season and win the supercup (also know as Johann Cruyff schaal). As most games are sold out, this is a good opportunity.. and grab a drink on the way to the stadium in any of the nice bars in its proximity.

For Eindhovennews by Remco