PSV pushing on

Over the next few weeks uefa.com will be charting the history of all clubs through to next season's UEFA Champions League from the third qualifying round onwards. Here we look at Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven.

Philips Sport Vereinigte were formed in the Dutch city of Eindhoven in 1913 by the world-famous electrical company from which they derive their name following a sports competition, organised by Philips, to celebrate the centenary of the Netherlands' independence.

Leading players
The club joined the Dutch league a year later and reached the First Division in 1921. Since then they have been relegated only once, in 1925. Today, PSV Eindhoven - who had won 17 Dutch championships and seven Dutch Cups before the start of the 2003/04 campaign - are undoubtedly one of the wealthiest clubs in the Eredivisie and continue to be leading players on the European stage.

Long wait
However, although their initial major success came as early as 1929, when they won the first of their league championships, PSV had to wait until the 1970s really to make their mark on European football.

European success
Their fifth Dutch championship in 1975 - which came after a 12-year period of underachievement - was followed the next year by an impressive league and cup double. A third title in four years followed in 1978 and in the same year their elevation to the European élite was confirmed when they won the UEFA Cup, beating FC Barcelona on the way to a 3-0 aggregate victory against French side SC Bastia in the final.

The big one
A decade later - under their legendary coach Guus Hiddink - PSV again set Dutch football alight, winning four successive league titles between 1986 and 1989. Europe was again conquered, PSV this time winning the big one - beating SL Benfica 6-5 on penalties to claim the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1988.

Glory for Gerets
PSV's captain that day, the Belgian defender Eric Gerets, returned to the club as coach in 1999 and built an aggressive and committed side - spearheaded by striker Ruud van Nistelrooij prior to his 2001 move to Manchester United FC - which won two consecutive league titles in 1999/00 and 2000/01.

Hiddink returns
However, although PSV finished in second place in 2002 it was not enough for Gerets to keep his job. Instead, in July 2002, the club welcomed back the now 55-year-old Hiddink, fresh from his exploits leading the Korean Republic to the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup. Although surprisingly eliminated from the UEFA Champions League at the first group stage, Hiddink's young team managed to win back the Dutch title as striker Mateja Kežman earned the Player of the Year award.

2002/03: First in Dutch League. Qualified for 2003/04 UEFA Champions League.