Big Three (Netherlands)

For the other groups of entities known as "Big Three" or "The Big Three", see Big Three (disambiguation).
Ajax, Johan Cruyff Arena
Feyenoord, De Kuip
PSV, Philips Stadion

In Dutch sports, The Big Three (Dutch: De Grote Drie) (or The (Traditional) Top Three (Dutch: De (Traditionele) Topdrie)) or The Three Top Clubs (Dutch: De drie Topclubs)) are the nicknames for the three most successful rivalling football clubs in the Netherlands: Ajax from Amsterdam, Feyenoord from Rotterdam and PSV from Eindhoven.[1] Collectively they amounted to 78 of the 135 Dutch Football Championships ever played (as of 2025)[2], and 62 of a possible 68 championships since the introduction of the national Eredivisie in 1956 (as of 2025).[3] The three clubs generally end up sharing the top three positions and contending for the title.

None of the three clubs have been relegated from the Eredivisie either, having been participants in all editions since Dutch football was merged into a single top-level professional competition in the 1956–57 season.[4][5] The only other team not having relegated from the Eredivisie is FC Utrecht, which inherited the place from DOS in the highest Dutch league after the merger of DOS, Velox, and USV Elinkwijk per July 1970.[6]

Location of the three clubs in the Netherlands

Champions outside Big Three

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; however, the last time they clinched the national title was in 1914.[7]

After the Eredivisie was established in 1956, the only other champions, outside the “Big Three” clubs, were AZ Alkmaar (twice: 1981 and 2009), DOS (1958), Sparta Rotterdam (1959), DWS (1964) and FC Twente (2010).[8]

International successes

Ajax, Feyenoord, and PSV are the only Dutch clubs which have won European and international competitions.

Feyenoord won the European Cup in 1970, the UEFA Cup in 1974 and 2002, as well as the Intercontinental Cup in 1970. The club lost the match for the 2002 UEFA Super Cup and the final of the 2022 UEFA Europa Conference League.

Ajax won the European Cup three consecutive times in 1971, 1972 and 1973, and a fourth time after it was rebranded to the UEFA Champions League in 1995. Ajax also won the UEFA Cup in 1992, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1987, the Intercontinental Cup of 1972 and 1995, as well as the European Super Cup of 1972, 1973 and 1995. The club lost the European Cup final in 1969, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final in 1988, the 1987 UEFA Super Cup, and the UEFA Europa League final in 2017.

PSV won the European Cup of 1988 and the UEFA Cup in 1978. The club lost the matches for the 1988 Intercontinental Cup and the 1988 UEFA Super Cup.

Besides the “Big Three”, FC Twente and AZ Alkmaar also played in UEFA Cup finals, in 1975 and 1981. They were both runners-up to Borussia Mönchengladbach and Ipswich Town, respectively.

Trophies

Team Major national International
ED KB JCS National total CL CWC EL UECL USC IC International total Grand total
Ajax 36 20 9 65 4 1 1 – 2 2 10 75
PSV Eindhoven 26 11 15 52 1 – 1 – – – 2 54
Feyenoord 16 14 5 35 1 – 2 – – 1 4 39
Last updated following the 2025 Johan Cruyff Shield.

Footballers who have played for all three clubs

  • Ruud Geels (Feyenoord 1966–1970, Ajax 1974–1978, PSV 1981–1982)[9]
  • Ronald Koeman (Ajax 1983–1986, PSV 1986–1989, Feyenoord 1995–1997)[10]

Managers who have managed all three clubs

Miscellaneous

  • Jaap Stam (PSV: player 1996–1998[13]; Ajax: player 2006–2007[14]; Feyenoord: manager 2019[15])[16]
  • Peter Bosz (Feyenoord: player 1990–1996, director 2006–2009[17]; Ajax: manager 2016–2017; PSV: manager 2023–present)[18]
  • Frank Arnesen (Ajax: player 1975-81[19]; PSV: player 1985-88[19], assistent-manager and technical director: 1991-2004[20]; Feyenoord: technical director 2020-22[21])
  • Jan Wouters (Ajax: player 1986-91, manager 1999-2000; PSV: player 1994-96, assistant and interim manager 2006-09; Feyenoord: assistant manager 2015-18)[22]

See also

References

  1. ^ Goldblatt, David (2009). "Dutch Clubs: The Big Three". The Football Book. London: Dorling Kindersley. pp. 180–181. ISBN 9781405337380.
  2. ^ "Overzicht kampioenen 1889-2025". voetbalarchieven.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  3. ^ "Historie VriendenLoterij Eredivisie". KNVB.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  4. ^ "Groningen en Cambuur degraderen: deze clubs degradeerden nooit uit de Eredivisie". voetbalnieuws.nl (in Dutch). 8 May 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  5. ^ "FC Groningen niet alleen: meer historische clubs in de problemen". voetbalplus.nl (in Dutch). 4 April 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  6. ^ "Historie FC Utrecht". vi.nl (in Dutch). 28 August 2007. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  7. ^ "HVV: De vierde Nederlandse club met een ster op het shirt". KNVB.nl (in Dutch). 9 December 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  8. ^ "Historie VriendenLoterij Eredivisie". KNVB.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  9. ^ "Oud-topspits Ruud Geels op 75-jarige leeftijd overleden" [Former top striker Ruud Geels dies at age 75]. NOS.nl (in Dutch). 18 November 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  10. ^ "Ronald Koeman". soccernews.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  11. ^ "Hans Kraay sr. (81) overleden" [Hans Kraay sr. (81) dies]. NOS.nl (in Dutch). 27 October 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  12. ^ "Ronald Koeman nieuwe bondscoach Nederlands elftal" [Ronald Koeman new manager Netherlands national team]. KNVB.nl (in Dutch). 6 February 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  13. ^ "Jaap Stam: 'Die kale schedel maakte indruk'". helden.media (in Dutch). 26 March 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  14. ^ "Jaap Stam bij Ajax". afc-ajax.info (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  15. ^ "Stam stapt op bij Feyenoord: 'Beter voor iedereen'". ad.nl (in Dutch). 28 October 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  16. ^ "Jaap Stam - Profile". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  17. ^ "Bosz nieuwe technisch manager Feyenoord". vi.nl (in Dutch). 1 February 2006. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  18. ^ "Peter Bosz - Profile". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  19. ^ a b "Frank Arnesen - Profiel". voetbal.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  20. ^ "Frank Arnesen volgt Hans van Breukelen op bij PSV". omroepbrabant.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  21. ^ "Feyenoord neemt afscheid van technisch directeur Arnesen". espn.nl (in Dutch). 5 September 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  22. ^ "Jan Wouters - Profiel". voetbal.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 January 2026.
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