Bosz had his photo taken with the PSV selection: ‘I asked my boys’ | Football

When Bosz sees his players celebrating in the locker room on Thursday evening after his team’s football show in Heerenveen, the sixty-year-old coach seizes his moment. He calls the selection and staff together and takes a photo with the entire group – beaming.

Bosz’s eyes sparkle when he talks about it at the press conference. “I asked my boys to take a picture. I really wanted to capture this special moment,” says a visibly emotional Bosz.

Slightly sentimental, the Apeldoorn coach tells how proud he is of “his boys” and the football they are playing this season. On Thursday, Heerenveen will be outplayed from minute one, in what Bosz sees as the best match of the season.

The coach does not crack a critical note during half time – partly on the advice of assistant coach Stijn Schaars – as he normally does. According to Bosz, applauding his team is the only thing he can do.

“I clapped for those boys. They reached an amazing level. It was really good,” says Bosz. “Against AZ (0-3 win in December, ed.) We were exceptionally good for half an hour. But now the entire match was fantastic.”

PSV recorded its biggest away win ever against Heerenveen and gave the Frisians their biggest Eredivisie defeat in club history. PSV also broke the 100-goal mark, which has only been achieved four times in the club’s history.

But more importantly: Bosz and PSV almost certainly won the 25th national title. For Bosz it is his first. He did not win a top prize at clubs such as Ajax, Borussia Dortmund and Olympique Lyonnais.

Bosz was labeled not to be a trophy winner and to focus mainly (and too much) on beautiful and attacking football. At PSV he does away with that stigma. “But I think the way we play football is much more important than the title,” Bosz explains.

“Of course I am happy with the championship. But I am more proud of our great game. We let the worlds of results and good football come together,” says Bosz, who says he still uses the same style as at the beginning of his coaching career.

“In 2002 I became champion with my first club AGOVV, with a philosophy that I cherish to this day. PSV has given me these great players to express that philosophy. I can conceivably be the trainer of these players and club.”

Bosz can still crown himself the best Eredivisie team ever with PSV. That record is now held by Ajax in the 1971/1972 season (93 points). PSV can overtake the team from Amsterdam (on goal difference) if the team wins the last three competition matches.

“I personally would find that very special,” says Bosz. “Because I grew up with football from that time. That Ajax team had truly fantastic football players. If you and your team can surpass that team, it shows how special our team is.”

Before that record is in PSV’s hands, the team must first officially win its 25th national title. That did not work on Thursday, because Feyenoord won at Go Ahead Eagles. Next Sunday, a point will be enough for PSV at home against Sparta.

Will Bosz then have his picture taken again with his players, with the championship bowl included? “No, this was the moment to record it. It was a special match.”