PSV almost has a wing attacker. It seems only a matter of time until 24-year-old Noa Lang signs in Eindhoven. As a true left winger, he ends up in an illustrious list of players in Eindhoven, a list that has deepened considerably in recent decades. A selection from the Eindhoven range of left wingers.
Arjen Robben
Rarely have left wingers been as left winger as Arjen Robben. Robben caused a furore in that role at PSV, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, among others. During his illustrious football career, Robben was the man who was widely known about what he was going to do with the ball. Pull in, cut and shoot. Yet no one had an answer to that. Robben was a football formula without a solution.
Defenders and goalkeepers could visualize his signature attack until they weighed an ounce: Robben always found an opening and then the net. Right or left. Usually clockwise. Thanks in part to his top speed, Robben was the prototype of a smart flank player. Yes, he was fragile, but anyone who dared to underestimate Robben was simply punished.
A quality from which not only PSV, but also Oranje has reaped many benefits. Robben played 56 matches for PSV. He scored 17 goals in it.
Jules Ellerman
Juul Ellerman is a player who will not often be mentioned when it comes to PSV’s most menacing attackers. Yet this left winger scored no less than 55 goals in 132 games. Great statistics that are not really that surprising: Ellerman was always in the right place on the field. He managed to score at times when you shouldn’t miss. Football can be that simple. Ellerman quickly became a crowd favorite, in addition to a permanent force in the starting team. And that for five seasons.
Cody Gakpo
A ‘final magician’ in heart and soul and therefore one of the most beloved attackers in the city of lights. PSV players love football players from their own backyard and Cody Gakpo turned out to be a gifted gardener. With his cutting movements he pruned defensive lines as if they did not exist and with his shot he mowed down many a goalkeeper.
Cody Gakpo can play complexly but score very easily. But above all, Gakpo’s shot brought danger, which, in addition to goals, also resulted in corner kicks, penalties and free kicks for PSV. A quality that PSV would miss after the departure of Gakpo last season. Gakpo played 106 games for PSV. He scored 36 goals in it.
Baldwin Zenden
National champion, cup winner, scale packer: at PSV, Boudewijn Zenden was at home in all markets and not just on the left flank. As a football player, Zenden was a hard worker and a true professional. It is therefore not surprising that Zenden became a specialist trainer of the people of Eindhoven after playing football.
Zenden’s zest for work as a footballer was richly rewarded during his career. After four successful seasons in Eindhoven, he left for FC Barcelona, where he extended the title under Louis van Gaal in his first season. Later he would also thunder over the flanks at Chelsea and Liverpool. He also came into action 54 times for the Orange. Zenden played 109 games for PSV and scored 32 goals.
Memphis Depay
He prefers to play in the striker, but he can also play well on the left winger. At least, those are his own words. Memphis Depay, or simply Memphis, grew into a star player at PSV at the age of 21. In fact, he was already undisputed as a basic player much earlier. His un-Eindhoven self-confidence could sometimes cause him to be criticized in the media, but with or without a hat, there was no arguing about Memphis’ football qualities.
Still not, by the way. Memphis is now in Madrid, but many PSV fans would not mind if he ever finds his way back to Eindhoven. Memphis played 90 games for PSV, in which he scored 39 times.