PSV win first Eredivisie title since 2008

A convincing 4-1 home victory against sc Heerenveen earned PSV Eindhoven their 22nd Eredivisie title on Saturday, meaning they are assured of a place in next season's UEFA Champions League group stage.

PSV led 3-1 at half-time thanks to two headers from Luuk de Jong and a free-kick from Eredivisie top scorer Memphis Depay, Luciano Narsingh adding the fourth late on. PSV had not been crowned winners of the Dutch top flight since 2008, AFC Ajax having finished top of the pile in the previous four seasons. PSV, at the summit since the second round of matches, have scored more goals (84) than any other team in the division, with only Ajax having conceded fewer than their 27.

The Eindhoven side's triumph came thanks to their ability to keep hold of star players such as Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum, both of whom have been attracting admiring glances from other clubs. "I especially stayed here to become champions with PSV and that's what we are now," said Depay. "We are the deserved champions, because everyone was involved in this success. That is the most beautiful part of it. This is what I dreamed about."

Coach Phillip Cocu, who celebrated four titles as player with PSV, also expressed his delight. "This is great, to celebrate the title today at home," he said. "My players really deserved this. We had a clear goal and we achieved it. We worked for this all year and now today we can feel it for real. These are the moments you do it for. This is a title the whole club has been longing for for quite some time."