Friday, May 7, 2021 at 6:46 AM• Yanick Vos • Last update: 07:01

The top scorer of the Eredivisie will receive the Willy van der Kuijlen trophy from this season, the Eredivisie CV announced on Friday. This pays a lasting tribute to the league’s all-time top scorer, who recently passed away at the age of 74. After the death of Mister PSV The media has already voted to name the top scorer title after the former top striker, who scored a total of 311 times at the highest level in the Netherlands.

Van der Kuijlen played in the PSV shirt in 528 games. He was PSV’s top scorer thirteen times and three times for the Eredivisie. With his 311 goals, he is still the top scorer of all time in the Eredivisie. This season’s top scorer will receive the Willy van der Kuijlen trophy. VVV-Venlo striker Giorgos Giakoumakis is currently in the lead with 24 goals. The winner will receive a replica of the official Skiete Willystatue, which has been on the east side of the Philips Stadium since 2004.

Jan de Jong, director of the Eredivisie CV, calls the prize a fitting tribute. “Mister PSV in addition to being a great football player, he was always a real gentleman ”, he responds in a press release. “A pearl in the crown called the Eredivisie. Brabantian modest. Falsely based on its incredible qualities. This is a fitting tribute posthumously. His name will forever be linked to the top scorer of the Eredivisie. If only that it will take a long time before someone will shoot his record from the books. If that ever happens. ”

“A great initiative of the Eredivisie CV”, says Toon Gerbrands, general manager of PSV. “Top sport is about performance and the figures that Willy van der Kuijlen has achieved as a player are unique and inimitable. The sport of football is strong in honoring its heroes. This is another good example of this. Class!” Daughter Wendy van der Kuijlen says she is honored on behalf of the family. “We are completely overwhelmed by all the beautiful words and initiatives that have come to us in recent weeks. Our porridge lived for football, which has brought 311 goals. His favorite quote was for good reason: “The most beautiful color is that of grass.” This trophy is a crowning achievement. As a family we are extremely proud of that. ”