Voetbal International names PSV’s player as Player of the Year

Despite the fact that national team coach Ronald Koeman is not convinced by Joey Veerman, the midfielder of PSV has been named Player of the Year 2025/2026 by the magazine Voetbal International. Two years earlier, Veerman was also named Player of the Year by VI, and last year Malik Tillman had the honor of receiving this title.

Numbers 2 and 3 are also taken by PSV players, with Mauro Junior in position 2 and Ismael Saibari in position 3. In addition, Sergiño Dest at position 9 is the fourth PSV player with a spot in the top 10 of this ranking.

Coach Peter Bosz finds it difficult to choose a player of the year. ''For me, it is someone who is consistent. Because if you play at the top, the greatest art is to be consistent. We have to deliver a consistent performance in order to become champions. If you play an 8 one week and a 2 the next, you are not stable. That cannot be with us. We have several guys who have had a very consistent season. Mauro, Ismael and Guus Til are also among them. Ismael has become very mature, while Mauro and Guus have been important in different positions. And if we keep talking like this, I can name a few more who have played a steady season. Joey is certainly one of them'', the coach says to PSV-watcher Tim Reedijk of Voetbal International.

According to Bosz, Veerman has become more consistent for PSV because the midfielder has started working hard on his weak points. ''Joey has always been decisive with his passing, but I think that in our one-on-one duels, in his defensive work, and in collecting second balls, he has made very big steps. Sensing and anticipating where the ball is going to land and collecting it, which means you already have to be moving in the direction of that ball. For me, that is very important for a midfielder. Joey has become better at that. If he doesn’t collect the ball, then as a team we have to chase it for longer. This is a very important theme in the way we play football,'' said the coach.

In 29 competitive matches, Veerman this season has eight goals and fourteen assists, which brings his total to the midfielder being involved in a goal for PSV 22 times. Teammate Ivan Perisic, together with Ajax player Mika Godts, is in second place with both having twelve assists. 

In addition, Veerman is also well ahead when it comes to successful passes over the last 30 meters. With a total of 691 successful passes over the last 30 meters, he is well above the number 2 in the standings, Ramiz Zerrouki, with 495 successful passes.