Eredivisie
The Eredivisie ( pronunciation: [. Rə.di. e ː ˌ fi.si ], Honorary Division ) is the highest football league of the Dutch Football Association ( Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbal Bond). It was founded in 1956.
In the Eredivisie currently play 18 teams that will compete in the annual season of 34 match days against each other. The battle for the Dutch soccer championship was for decades dominated by the three largest and most financially powerful Dutch clubs Ajax Amsterdam, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord Rotterdam. In recent years, however, AZ Alkmaar (2009/2010 season) could ( Season 2008/ 2009) and Twente Enschede celebrate championships.
International launch sites
UEFA five year ranking
Position in the UEFA five year ranking ( in parentheses the last year placement). The abbreviation CL and EL countries behind the coefficients indicate the number of representatives in the 2014/15 season of the Champions League and the Europa League.
- 07 (09) Ukraine (league, cup ) - Coefficient: 49.758 - CL: 2, EL: 4
- 08 (07) Russia Russia (league, cup ) - Coefficient: 46.332 - CL: 2, EL: 4
- 09 (08 ) Netherlands Netherlands (league, cup ) - Coefficient: 44.729 - CL: 2, EL: 4
- 10 (11 ) Turkey Turkey (league, cup ) - coefficient: 34,500 - CL: 2, EL: 3
- 11 (12 ) Belgium (league, cup ) - coefficient: 34,400 - CL: 2, EL: 3
As of the end of the European campaign of 2012/13
In the 5-year summary of UEFA, controls the start and qualifying places for the European competitions, the first division is currently in eighth place. Thus stand the " Eredivisie " a direct starting place and a place for the qualification for the UEFA Champions League. There are also three qualifying places in the UEFA Europa League. Another Europa League place to the winner of the KNVB Cup, which is held parallel to the Eredivisie.
With that came the season 2005/ 06 in force reform of the Eredivisie after an ended season there playoff games. After beginning the participants in the Champions League were determined in these games, take since the 2008/ 09 season only in the final table on the fifth to eighth place standing clubs to the playoffs in part. Between these a place in the Europa League is played. All playoff games will be played with return game.
Criticism of the playoff mode
The unique in Europe's football leagues playoff mode has been and will be discussed in the Netherlands, but also internationally controversial. Critics say that the mode would lead to a devaluation of the regular season operation and that clubs that have excelled in the season due to good performance, could be deprived of the fruits of their labor in a single game.
A prime example of this was provided in the eyes of the critics right in the first season after the introduction of the new mode, the playoff game between AZ Alkmaar and FC Groningen. Vice - champion AZ Alkmaar had distanced the Fünftplatzieren Groningen in the regular season by 18 points. After a long season in which Alkmaar to deny considerably more duty games by Cup and UEFA Cup had as Groningen, lacked the AZ playoff in the necessary strength. Groningen won after return match with 3:1 and 1:2.
Also in 2007 /08 was observed comparable, failed as runner Ajax Amsterdam in the Champions League playoffs with 1:2 and 0:0 at Twente Enschede ( 4th place). The capital city had to remain that way in the UEFA Cup.
Descent
Even the descent mode was changed during the playoff reform. Only the last table descends directly. The crews of positions 16 and 17 deny relegation matches against teams from the second Dutch league, the Eerste Divisie.