Top 10 Best Eredivisie Players Of All Time
This list of the top 10 best Eredivise players of all time is solely ranked on the number of goals each player scored for their respective club In the Eredivisie:
#Player NamePositionNationalityAppearancesGoals
1Willy van der KuijlenCentre-ForwardNetherlands476266
2Ruud GeelsCentre-ForwardNetherlands378260
3Kees KistCentre-ForwardNetherlands334201
4Johan CruyffAttacking MidfieldNetherlands280194
5Peter HoutmanCentre-ForwardNetherlands339180
6Luuk de JongCentre-ForwardNetherlands307178
7Leo van VeenCentre-ForwardNetherlands477170
8Wim KieftCentre-ForwardNetherlands265158
9Klaas-Jan HuntelaarCentre-ForwardNetherlands223154
10Dirk KuytRight WingerNetherlands324153
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Note: these are the top scorers In Eredivisie history.
1. Willy van der Kuijlen (266)
Willy van der Kuijlen, born in Helmond, Netherlands, is one of the best players in Eredivisie history. He spent over 17 seasons with PSV Eindhoven, where he became the league’s all-time top scorer with 311 goals.
Van der Kuijlen was a standout striker, winning the Eredivisie top scorer award twice: once in the 1969-70 season with 26 goals and again in the 1974-75 season with 28 goals.
His most impressive season was 1976-77 when he scored 27 goals. Van der Kuijlen was instrumental in PSV’s success in the 1970s. He helped them win two Eredivisie titles in 1975 and 1976, and the KNVB Cup in 1974 and 1976.
His biggest achievement was in 1978 when PSV won the UEFA Cup, and he scored in the final against SEC Bastia. Known for his powerful left-footed shots, Van der Kuijlen earned the nickname “Skiete Willy” (Shooting Willy).
His loyalty to PSV earned him the title “Mister PSV.” After he died in 2021, the Eredivisie CV named the league’s top scorer award after him, and the trophy is a replica of his statue outside the Philips Stadion.
Van der Kuijlen also played for the Netherlands national team, earning 22 caps and scoring 7 goals. He made his debut in 1966 and scored his first goal later that year in a win over Belgium.
2. Ruud Geels (260)
Ruud Geels is one of the greatest strikers in Eredivisie history, having played from 1965 to 1983, scoring an impressive 260 goals in 375 Eredivisie matches. Geels began his career with Telstar in 1965.
He soon moved to Feyenoord in 1966, and he helped the team win the Eredivisie title in 1968-69, scoring 46 goals in 89 games. In 1970, he joined Go Ahead Eagles and scored 17 goals in 34 matches.
His outstanding performances led him to Ajax in 1971. At Ajax, Geels scored 124 goals in 124 appearances and won two more Eredivisie titles in 1971-72 and 1972-73.
In 1975, Geels moved to PSV Eindhoven, scoring 32 goals in 49 appearances over four seasons. He became the first player to play for the “big three” Eredivisie clubs: Ajax, Feyenoord, and PSV.
Geels also had a notable international career with the Netherlands, earning 20 caps and scoring 11 goals. He played in the 1978 FIFA World Cup, where the team finished as runners-up. After retiring, Geels worked as a coach and manager for several clubs.
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3. Kees Kist (201)
Kees Kist is one of the all-time scores in the history of Dutch football. Born on December 24, 1951, in the Netherlands, Kist is known for his incredible goal-scoring ability, especially during his time in the Eredivisie.
Kist played in the Eredivisie from 1970 to 1986, and he is best remembered for his time at AZ Alkmaar, where he scored 201 goals in 334 games.
This makes him one of the top goal-scorers in the league’s history. Kist was known for his sharpshooting and skill at finding space in the opponent’s box, which made him a constant threat during his playing days.
During his time with AZ Alkmaar, Kist helped the team win the KNVB Cup in 1978. He was also honored with the Dutch Golden Shoe in 1975. After AZ Alkmaar, Kist played for SC Heerenveen until 1986.
While he didn’t score as many goals there, he was still an important player and leader. In total, he scored 299 goals in all competitions. Kist also played for the Netherlands national team, earning 15 caps and scoring 3 goals from 1975 to 1980.
4. Johan Cruyff (194)
Johan Cruyff is often regarded as one of the greatest football players ever. His career lasted many years, and he was not only an amazing player but also a great coach and football thinker.
Cruyff’s impact on football is huge, changing how the game is played with his new ideas. Cruyff started his professional career with Ajax in 1964. Winning three European Cups in a row from 1971 to 1973 and many domestic titles.
He scored 194 goals in 280 Eredivisie games, and he is known for his fantastic dribbling and vision. Cruyff was a key player of the “Total Football” style, which focused on players moving around and changing positions.
In 1973, he moved to FC Barcelona for a record fee at that time, and he helped the team win La Liga and the Copa del Rey. Cruyff later returned to Barcelona as a manager and turned the club into a top European team.
Cruyff also played for the Netherlands national team, recording 48 caps and scoring 33 goals. He was a big part of the team that reached the 1974 World Cup final, where they finished second.
After retiring, Cruyff became a coach and continued to change football. He is remembered for his ideas about football and his work with young players. Cruyff passed away on March 24, 2016, but his influence on the game is still felt today.
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5. Peter Houtman (180)
Peter Houtman is one of the greatest players in Eredivisie history. As a retired football striker, Houtman is known for his impressive goal-scoring ability, having scored 180 goals in the Eredivisie.
His football career began in the youth teams of VV Meeuwenplaat before he joined Feyenoord Rotterdam. However, he didn’t play for the first team there at first.
Houtman started his professional career at FC Groningen, and he played from 1977 to 1979. He made a strong impression, scoring 23 goals in 32 matches.
This success led him back to Feyenoord, where he scored five goals in 15 games. His second stint at FC Groningen, from 1979 to 1982, was even more successful, with 55 goals in 91 appearances.
Houtman’s time at Feyenoord from 1982 to 1985 was also notable, as he scored 72 goals in 96 matches, helping the team achieve significant victories.
He also played for other clubs like Club Brugge in Belgium, Sporting CP in Portugal, and Sparta Rotterdam. Houtman earned eight caps for the Netherlands between 1983 and 1985, scoring seven goals. Despite his talent, he did not make it to the 1988 European Championship squad, which the Netherlands won.
6. Luuk de Jong (178)
Luuk de Jong is one of the greatest players in Eredivisie history. With 178 goals scored in the league, he is among the top goal-scorers ever.
Born on August 27, 1990, in Aigle, Switzerland, de Jong began his football career at DZC ’68 and De Graafschap before joining PSV Eindhoven’s youth academy in 2008.
He made his professional debut with De Graafschap in 2009 and gained a reputation for his goal-scoring skills. In 2012, he moved to FC Twente, and he became well-known for his finishing ability and heading skills.
His success at Twente led him to Borussia Mönchengladbach in Germany in 2014. After a successful period in Germany, de Jong returned to the Netherlands in 2019, rejoining PSV Eindhoven.
He has been a key player for PSV, scoring important goals and helping the team compete for titles. Standing 1.88 meters tall, his aerial ability makes him a constant threat in the box.
De Jong has also played for the Netherlands national team since 2011, earning 39 caps and scoring 8 goals. Despite some criticism, his overall contribution is huge.
As of the 2023/2024 season, he has scored 29 goals in 34 Eredivisie matches for PSV. His contract with PSV ends in 2025, and fans will be eager to see if he can add more goals and help the club achieve more success.
7. Leo van Veen (170)
Leo van Veen, born on June 6, 1946, in Utrecht, Netherlands, is one of the best players in Eredivisie history. His career spanned from the early 1960s to the mid-1980s.
Van Veen started his career at DOS, playing from 1962 to 1970. His impressive performances led him to FC Utrecht in 1970, where he became a key player and is considered one of the club’s legends.
He made 555 Eredivisie appearances and scored 174 goals, making him one of the top scorers in the league. Van Veen was famous for his goal-scoring and hard work, helping FC Utrecht achieve good league finishes.
In 1979, he moved to the United States to play for the Los Angeles Aztecs in the North American Soccer League, and he scored 21 goals in 51 games.
After returning to the Netherlands, he joined Ajax Amsterdam in 1982. Though he didn’t score for Ajax, he contributed to the team.
He later returned to FC Utrecht and finished his playing career at RKC Waalwijk in 1986. After retiring as a player, van Veen became a coach. He managed several teams, including RKC Waalwijk, VVV-Venlo, and FC Utrecht.
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8. Wim Kieft (158)
Wim Kieft is one of the all-time scorers in Eredivisie history, scoring 158 goals in 266 Eredivisie matches. Kieft started his career with AFC Ajax in 1980 when he was just 17 years old.
In the 1981-82 season, he scored 32 goals in 32 games, leading Ajax to the Eredivisie title and winning the European Golden Boot. In 1982, Kieft moved to Italy to play for Pisa Calcio.
He helped the team get promoted to Serie A, but his time in Italy was less successful. However, he returned to the Netherlands in 1987 to join PSV Eindhoven.
Kieft made a big impact, helping the team win the treble in his first season, including the European Cup. He scored in the final’s penalty shootout against S.L. Benfica and was the Eredivisie’s top scorer with 29 goals that season.
Kieft also played briefly for FC Girondins de Bordeaux in France in 1990 before returning to PSV for three more seasons.
He scored more than 11 goals per season during his second spell with the club, recording 42 caps and scoring 9 goals for the Netherlands national team, and was part of the Euro 1988 winning squad.
Kieft became a football pundit and commentator after retiring In 1993. He has been open about his struggles with addiction and uses his experience to help others.
9. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (154)
Klaas-Jan Huntelaa is a retired Dutch footballer known for his goal-scoring skills. Huntelaar is one of the best players in Eredivisie history, with a total of 154 goals in the league.
He started his youth career at VV Hummelo en Keppel, De Graafschap, and PSV Eindhoven. However, he made his professional debut with PSV in 2002.
Huntelaar then had successful loan spells at De Graafschap and AGOVV, scoring 26 goals in 35 games. In 2004, he joined Heerenveen and scored 33 goals in 46 matches.
His form led him to Ajax in 2006, where he scored 76 goals in 92 appearances and won the Eredivisie top scorer award in the 2007-08 season with 33 goals.
He then moved to Real Madrid in 2009 but did not stay long. Huntelaar also played for Milan and Schalke 04 before returning to Ajax in 2017.
He added 45 more goals to his record. Also, he played for the Netherlands national team, scoring 42 goals in 76 appearances and helping his country reach the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship.
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10. Dirk Kuyt (153)
Dirk Kuyt is one of the best players in Eredivisie history, having scored 153 goals in the league, making him one of the top scorers ever in the Eredivisie.
Kuyt started his career at FC Utrecht in 1998, scoring 51 goals during his five seasons.
In the 2002-03 season, he had a standout year with 20 goals and helped Utrecht reach the KNVB Cup final, scoring once in their 4-1 win against Feyenoord.
In 2003, Kuyt moved to Feyenoord.
He was a fan favorite due to his goal-scoring, and In his first season, he scored 20 league goals.
The 2004-05 season was great for Kuyt as he scored 29 goals, winning the Eredivisie top scorer award.
He played alongside Salomon Kalou, and they were known as “K2.”
In 2006, Kuyt joined Liverpool for £10 million.
He did well in the Premier League, scoring 51 goals in 208 games.
Despite this, he returned to Feyenoord in 2015 and played his final two seasons there.
Kuyt was not only known for his goals but also for his hard work, versatility, and leadership.
He retired in 2017 after scoring a hat-trick in Feyenoord’s final game of the season, leading them to their first Eredivisie title since 1999.
He briefly came out of retirement in 2018 to help Quick Boys.
Kenneth is a an avid soccer follower, fan and writer. He is a consistent follower of the sport and is a fan of Chelsea FC.
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