Yugoslavia III Division

 

Yugoslavia. Ranked 10^th. One more country to experiment with new rules in the 1980s: 3 points for a win, but also no ties – penalty shoot-out instead, giving 1 point to the winner and nothing to the loser. Political problems were boiling as well in the country, although the bloody disintegration was not yet expected. Crvena zvezda dominated the season entirely. Second Division was now unified in a single league of 20 teams, the last 4 relegated to third level, the Inter-Republic Leagues. A glimpse of teams from third level – because some were former First or Second Division clubs and others will emerge from obscurity after the disintegration of Yugoslavia.

FK Novi Sad (Novi Sad)

Kabel (Novi Sad)

GIK Ramiz Sadiku (Prishtina)

Jedinstvo (Brcko)

Junak (Sinj)

Pobeda (Prilep)

Rabotnicki (Skopje)

Teteks (Tetovo)

FAMOS (Hrasnica)

AIK (Backa Topola)

FK Novi Pazar (Novi Pazar)

But most important were the teams winning promotion to Second Division: 4 teams, all of them having quite significant past and practically returning to the spotlight:

Mogren (Budva), Radnicki (Belgrade), FK Bor (Bor), and

NK Zagreb (Zagreb).

Austria the Cup

 

The Cup final opposed traditional rivals, both eager to win a trophy and thus save the season. The classic Vienna derby: Austria vs Rapid. Regular time ended without a winner, but Austria prevailed in the overtime and won 3-1.

Rapid (Vienna) was the big loser this season – no trophy at all.

Austria (Vienna) won the Cup, so at the end it was not so wasted season – still a Cup in their hands and beating Rapid is always sweet. Finally, it was a round record too: their 20^th Austrian Cup.

Austria

 

Austria. Ranked 9^th. Fall season was contested by 12 teams, and higher eight teams go into Meister playoff. Lower four teams fought in Mittlere Playoff with higher four teams of Austrian Football First League. Because of the unusual mixed formula only the final standings here:

Mittlere Playoffs – 8 teams, the top 4 starting in the First Division next season, the lower 4 – in the Second Division. Those who started this season in the Second Division mentioned.

SV Spittal an der Drau (Second Division) - 8^th with 9 points and staying in the same level.

Grazer AK - 7^th with 11 points and thus relegated to Second Division. Top row from left: Reiterer, Zisser, Hösele, Karner, Dampfhofer, Kogler, Künast
Middle row: Trainer Binder, Trainer Ekmecic, Rajkovic, Koleznik, Glieder, Jessenitschnig, Hanser,
Reiner, Masseur Reiterer.

Front: Pech, Scheucher, Zoglmeier, Goriupp, Sauseng, Osterman.

VfB Modling (Second Division) - 6^th with 13 points and staying in the same level.

SK VOEST (Linz) (Second Division) - 5^th with 13 points and staying in the same level.

Donawitzer SV Alpine (Second Division) - 4^th with 14 points. Going to start in the top league next season.

Kremser SC - 3^rd with 15 points. Remaining in the top league.

Wiener Sportclub - 2^nd with 15 points and remaining in the top league.

SV Vorwaerts (Steyr) - 1^st with 22 points and remaining in the top league.

Championship play off. The teams started with half of the points they got in the first part of the season, but everything else was combined. Fall final positions given in brackets.

First Vienna FC (6^th) - 8^th with 19 points.

VSE Sankt Polten (8^th) - 7^th with 24 points.

SV Austria Salzburg (7^th) - 6^th with 25 points.

SK Sturm Graz (5^th) - 5^th with 25 points.

FC Admira/Wacker (3^rd) - 4^th with 28 points.

SK Rapid Wien (4^th) - 3^rd with 30 points.

FK Austria Wien (2^nd) - 2^nd with 30 points.

FC Swarovski Tirol won the championship with 38 points. A second in a row splendid season and 2^nd title for the new concoction made in Innsbruck. The name is confusing, of course... easily confused with previous and later names of the leading club/clubs in this city with or without participation of the famous Swarovski firm. At the moment, the strongest Austrian team: they won the fall part of the season with 34 points from 13 wins, 8 ties, and single loss. 44-21 goal-difference. In the final stage they starter with 17 points – half of what they earned in the fall – to which they added another formidable campaign: 10 wins, 1 tie, 3 losses, 34-16 goal-difference. So, the total of the year: 23 wins, 9 ties, 4 lost games, 78-37 goal-difference and 8 points ahead of the nearest rival. Swarovski Tirol ruled Austria. At the moment.

Holland the Cup

 

The Cup final opposed PSV Eindhoven to Vitesse Arnhem. One of the strongest teams in Europe against up and coming squad, but a much weaker squad. Still, it was not an easy final and certainly not a walk-over for PSV Eindhoven – they prevailed, but just 1-0.

Vitesse lost the battle for the Cup, but was still lucky – because of Ajax: its ban to play in the European tournaments moved PSV Eindhoven to the European Champions Cup and thus Vitesse took the place of PSV in the Cup Winners Cup. Nice, but they had strong period anyway and were playing in Europe recently anyway, As for the squad, it was modest, compared to Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, and even weak Feyenoord. No stars, but sturdy second-raters, who played well collectively.

PSV Eindhoven lost the championship, but still finished the season with a trophy. This was not only their 6^th Cup, but also 3^rd consecutive. To a point, Cup formats suited best already aging team: the old masters would prevail in single combat. Standing from left: Koot, Popescu, Bosman, Erwin Koeman, van Broekelen. First row: Romario, Bwalya, Heintze, Linskens.

Some changes were inevitable – wonderful Romanian Popescu arrived plus Erwin Koeman from Belgian Mechelen. PSV Eindhoven was determined to stay strong.

Holland I Division

 

First Division. Two teams, way above the rest, entangled in battle for the title. The last two relegated, the 16^th going to promotion/relegation play-off.

HFC Haarlem – last with measly 15 points. The club from which Ruud Gullit launched his famous career went down. Top row from left: Romano Sion, Dennis Purperhart, Leeroy Echteld, Rini Van Roos, Cees Baas, Orlando Trustfull.

Middle row: H. Elzinga (Elftalbegeleider), P.D. Heiliegers (verzorger), Raymond Atteveld, Michel Doesburg, Wout Holverda, Marcel Oost, Frank Dikstaal, Marcel Looyer, Mike Helenklaken, P.G. Van der Lem, (Hulptrainer), F.G. Gaus (materiaalverzorger).

Sitting: Robert Matthaei, Andre Stafleu, Arthur Numan, Edward Metgod, Brian Tevreden, Stefan Matthaei, Aad Mathot.

Their were still one or two players with promise and eventually becoming quite famous, but at the moment unable to help the team.

FC Den Bosch - 17^th with 25 points and relegated.

NEC Nijmegen - 16^th with 26 points. Going to promotion/relegation play-off, but, luckily, they prevailed over FC Emmen and remained in the top league.

MVV Maastricht - 15^th with 27 points.

FC Utrecht - 14^th with 27 points. Top row from left: Peter Hofman, Herman Verrips, Kevin Young, Robert Roest, Erik Willaarts, Johan de Kock, Jan-Willem van Ede.

Middle row: H. Vonk (ass.trainer), Erik van der Meer, Gert van Hanegem, Edwin de Kruyff, John Moore, Etienne Kelders, M. Ockhuysen (verzorger).

Front row: Marco Boogers, Bert Buizert, Rob Alflen, directeur Ooft, trainer C. Loffeld, Edo Ophof, Henny Lettinck, Gijs Steinmann.

Willem II - 13^th with 27 points.

Sparta - 12^th with 31 points. Top row from left: Edwin Vurens, Ron van de Berg, Gerald Sandel, Ronald Lengkeek, Marco Sas, Dennis De Nooyer, Raymond Libregts, Peter Houtman.

Middle row: Rob Baan (trainer coach), Gerard, de Nooyer, Jan Olde Riekerink, Marco Jochems, Michel Valke, Lodie Roembiak, Oni Louhenapessy, Ben Spork, John Schuurhuizen, Jan Nijman.

Front: Prince Polly Sampene, Piet Wijnberg, Gleen Helder, Eddy De Geoij, Lemy Stevens, Ronny Lutten, Rob Eger, Mike Snoei, H. Klamer.

Feyenoord – terrible season again. 11^th with 31 points.

FC Den Haag - 10^th with 33 points.

FC Groningen - 9^th with 35 points. Top row from left: Wim Koevermans - Jan Veenhof - Barend Beltman - René van der Duin - Marco Koorman - Piet Wiersma - Claus Boekweg
Middle row: Hans Westerhof (trainer) - Eric Groeleken - Hendrikus Huisman - Harry Sinkgraven - Martin Koeman (manager) - Grafton Holband - Edwin Olde Riekerink - Theo ten Caat - Henk Hagenauw (verzorger)
First row: Geon Weering - Jan van Dijk - Jos Roossien - Theo Migchelsen - Johan Tukker - Patrick Lodewijks - Henny Meijer - René Eijkelkamp - Ulrich Wilson

RKC Waalwijk - 8^th with 37 points. Top row from left: Pieter in 't Groen, Peter Treffers, Adri Bogers, Stanley Brard, Erik Gouda.

Middle row: Herman Teeuwen, Cees Schapendonk, André Hoekstra, Ad van de Wiel, Leo van Veen (trainer/coach).

Sitting: Edwin de Wijs, Ricardo Moniz, Nico Jalink, Marc van Hintum, Anton Joore, Leon Hutten.

Fortuna Sittard - 7^th with 38 points.

FC Volendam - 6^th with 39 points.

Roda JC - 5^th with 41 points.

Vitesse Arnhem - 4^th with 41 points.

Twente - 3^rd with 42 points. Wonderful comeback, yet, not a title contender. Top row from left: Marcel Peeper, Per Steffensen, John Nijenhuis, Marco Roelofsen, Michael Dikken, Andre Paus, Wilfried Elzinga, Robin Schmidt.

Middle row: Ronald Spelbos, Paul Krijnsen, Frank Tempelman, Jan Gaasbeek, Andre Karnebeek, Sander Boschker, Erik ten Hag, Gert-Jan Duif, Jan Steenbeeke, Theo Vonk.

Front: Claus Nielsen, Pieter Huistra, Hans de Koning, Mika Lipponen, Fred Rutten.

And at the very top Ajax and PSV Eindoven fought between themselves for the title. One point was the whole difference between champion and second-best.

PSV Eindhoven lost the battle and finished 2^nd with 48 points. Wonderful team led by Guus Hiddink, but aging – compared to their rivals, this may have been the decisive factor. Great scorers, though: 94 goals this season and Romario was rapidly becoming world-famous star. Which practically meant he will go to bigger club...

Top row from left: Stan Valckx, Michel Boerenbach, Soren Lerby, Wim Kieft, Erik Gerets, Berry van Aerle, Edward Linskens.

Middle row: Jerry de Jong, Adick Koot, Hans van Breukelen, Ivan Nielsen, Jan Nederburgh, Josef Chovanec, Kalusha Bwalya.

Sitting: Monne de Wit (fysio), Juul Ellerman, Hans Gilhaus, Kees Ploegsma (manager), Guus Hiddink (trainer), Hans Dorjee (trainer), Gerald Vanenburg, Jan Heintze, Mart van den Heuvel (verzorger).

Ajax clinched the title – their 23^rd, but first after 1985 – with 49 points. Dramatic victory and well deserved. Leo Beenhakker at the helm, having more than competent help from Bobby Harms and Spitz Kohn. As for the squad – full of bright stars, some still young and still making their names. Players, who will define the 1990s – compared to PSV Eindhoven, which players defined the 1980s, Ajax was more formidable in time perspective. Such a wealth of talent, even the foreign players in the squad (Peter Larsson and Stefan Petersson from Sweden and Hungarian Pal Fischer) paled behind the shining Dutch. Ajax was back in full flight, ready to repeat the glorious early 1970s and perhaps do even better than Cruijff and company, but... they were not going to concur Europe next season: on September 27, 1989, Austrian goalkeeper Franz Wolhfahrt  was hit and injured by a bar, thrown by a home supporter at an Ajax-Austria Wien UEFA Cup match. Ajax subsequently were banned from European competition for a year. And instead of them PSV Eindhoven was going to play in the European Champions Cup. Thus, Ajax had to bask only in local glory after 19 wins, 11 ties, 4 losses, and 67-23 goal-difference. PSV Eindhoven won more games then them – 20 – and greatly outscored them – 94 goals – but also lost more matches – 6 – and had much weaker defensive record, permitting 36 goals in their net.

Holland II Division

 

Holland. Ranked 8^th and that mostly because of the weak years in the first half of 1980s – now the Dutch were again formidable, but UEFA ranking computed 5 years. Yet... 2 teams clashed for the title, leaving the rest far behind and the champion was not going to represent the country in the European Champions Cup. New and more complicated rules for promotion/relegation were introduced: from this year onwards, only one club promoted directly to the Eredivisie, instead of two. Also, one of the Eredivisie-clubs (the number 16 of 18) now had a chance to avert relegation. Promotion was no longer certain for the runner-up of the Eerste Divisie. A new and expanded play-off system was introduced. The following teams entered:
Group round
Six entrants would play in two groups of three teams.

• 4 period champions (the best teams during each of the four quarters of the regular competition)

• 2 best placed teams in the league (not being league or period champion)

The two group winners: play-off 1. Losers: remain in Eerste Divisie
Play-off 1

• The two group winners from the group round.

Winners: promoted to the Eredivisie. Losers: play-off 2.
Play-off 2

• The losers of play-off 1

• The numbers 16 from the Eredivisie (the numbers 17 and 18 already relegated directly)

Winners: Eredivisie. Losers: Eerste Divisie.

The 2 professional leagues were still closed, so no relegation from Second (Eerste) Division. 19 teams played in the Second Division, as it has been for years.

DS'79 ended last with 22 points.

Telstar - 18^th with 26 points.

RBC - 17^th with 32 points.

SC Heerenveen - 16^th with 32 points. Going to promotion/relegation play-offs as quarterly winner.

PEC Zwolle - 15^th with 32 points.

Excelsior - 14^th with 33 points.

Helmond Sport - 13^th with 33 points.

AZ'67 - 12^th with 33 points.

Cambuur - 11^th with 34 points.

FC Wageningen - 10^th with 35 points. Going to promotion/relegation play-offs as quarterly winner.

Go Ahead Eagles - 9^th with 37 points. Going to promotion/relegation play-offs as quarterly winner.

Veendam - 8^th with 38 points.

De Graafschap - 7^th with 38 points.

FC Emmen - 6^th with 38 points. Qualified to promotion/relegation play-offs as quarterly winner.

FC Eindhoven - 5^th with 39 points.

VVV Venlo - 4^th with 39 points.

SC Heracles'74 - 3^rd with 42 points. Going to promotion play-offs.

NAC Breda - 2^nd with 43 points. Going to promotion play-offs.

SVV (Schiedam) - 1^st with 58 points. Excellent season: 26 wins, 6 ties, 4 lost matches, and 67-21 scoring record. Dominant champions and directly promoted to First Division.

And after the regular season the play-offs started: they consisted of three rounds. In the group round, four period winners (the best teams during each of the four quarters of the regular competition) and two (other) best placed teams in the league, played in two groups of three teams. The group winners would play in play-off 1. The winners of that play-off would be promoted to the Eredivisie, the loser had to take on the number 16 of the Eredivisie in play-off 2. These two teams played for the third and last position in the Eredivisie of next season.

Group 1

1. SC Heerenveen 2 0 2 7-6 4

2. Go Ahead Eagles 2 0 2 7-7 4

3. NAC Breda 2 0 2 6-7 4

Group 2

1. FC Emmen 3 0 1 7-5 6

2. FC Wageningen 1 2 1 5-3 4

3. SC Heracles'74 0 2 2 2-6 2

   Play-off 1:

   FC Emmen – SC Heerenveen 1-0 and 0-2.

   SC Heerenveen promoted to First Division. FC Emmen going to play-off 2.

   FC Emmen – NEC Nijmegen (16^th in First Division) 1-2 and 0-0.

   NEC Nijmegen stays in First Division, FC Emmen stays in Second Division.

   Thus, SC Heerenveen and SVV Schiedam were the teams promoted to play in the top league next season.

Champions deserve a second look: SVV Schiedam.