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

File:Philips Stadion - PSV Eindhoven, 2008-1.jpg

PSV, Philips Stadion

In Dutch sports, The Big Three (Template:Lang-nl) (or The Traditional Top Three (Template:Lang-nl)) is the nickname for the three most successful rivalling football clubs in the Netherlands: Ajax from Amsterdam, Feyenoord from Rotterdam and PSV from Eindhoven. Collectively they amounted for 73 of the 130 Dutch Football Championships ever played, and the three generally end up sharing the top three positions and contending for the title. 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 have been 13th.

Ajax

Feyenoord

PSV

class=notpageimage|

Location of the three clubs in the Netherlands

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. Where the last time was in 1914.

After the start of the newly formed Eredivisie in 1956 only AZ Alkmaar (2 times), VV DOS, Sparta Rotterdam, AFC DWS and FC Twente were champions, outside the “big three”.

Trophies

Team	Major National				International							Grand Total
	ED	KB	JCS	National Total	CL	CWC	EL	USC	UIC	IC	International Total
Ajax	34	19	9	62	4	1	1	2	2	2	12	73
PSV Eindhoven	24	9	11	44	1	-	1	-	-	-	2	46
Feyenoord	15	13	4	31	1	-	2	-	3	1	7	39

Last update following the 2018–19 season.

Footballers who have played for all 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 all 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)
• Big Twelve (Brazilian football)