The 2019–20 Eredivisie was the 64th season of the Dutch football league Eredivisie since its establishment in 1955. The season began on 2 August 2019 and was suspended on 12 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands. The season was abandoned on 24 April.
Ajax were the defending champion. Twente, RKC Waalwijk, and Sparta Rotterdam joined as the promoted clubs from the 2018–19 Eerste Divisie. They replaced NAC Breda, Excelsior, and De Graafschap who were relegated to the 2019–20 Eerste Divisie.
Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic On 12 March 2020, all football leagues were suspended until 31 March as the Dutch government prohibited events due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands. On 15 March this period was extended until 6 April. Following the decision of the Dutch government to prohibit all gatherings and events until 1 June 2020, this period was further extended.
On 2 April, several clubs, including Ajax, AZ and PSV, indicated they were not willing to play the remainder of the season.
The Dutch government announced on 21 April that all events subject to authorization would remain prohibited until at least 1 September 2020. As a result, the KNVB announced on the same day that it did not intend to resume the 2019–20 season. A final decision would be taken after consultation with the UEFA and debating the consequences with the clubs involved.
On 24 April 2020 the KNVB announced their final decision: The ranking on 8 March 2020 is the final ranking, but Ajax will not be champions. There will be no promotion nor relegation between the Eredivisie and Eerste Divisie. European places will be assigned based on the ranking on 8 March: Champions League for Ajax and AZ, and Europa League for Feyenoord, PSV, and Willem II.
The KNVB had intended to resume the season on 19 June behind closed doors, but announced in a statement that the government's decision to ban all public events until September made it impossible to finish the season on time.
Teams A total of 18 teams took part in the league.
Stadiums and locations Club Location Venue Capacity ADO Den Haag The Hague Cars Jeans Stadion 15,000 Ajax Amsterdam Johan Cruyff Arena 54,990 AZ Alkmaar AFAS Stadion 17,023 Emmen Emmen De Oude Meerdijk 8,600 Feyenoord Rotterdam De Kuip 52,000 Fortuna Sittard Sittard Fortuna Sittard Stadion 10,300 Groningen Groningen Noordlease Stadion 22,550 Heerenveen Heerenveen Abe Lenstra Stadion 27,224 Heracles Almelo Almelo Erve Asito 12,080 PEC Zwolle Zwolle MAC³PARK Stadion 14,000 PSV Eindhoven Eindhoven Philips Stadion 36,500 RKC Waalwijk Waalwijk Mandemakers Stadion 7,500 Sparta Rotterdam Rotterdam Het Kasteel 11,000 Twente Enschede De Grolsch Veste 30,205 Utrecht Utrecht Stadion Galgenwaard 23,750 Vitesse Arnhem GelreDome 21,248 VVV-Venlo Venlo Seacon Stadion – De Koel 8,000 Willem II Tilburg Koning Willem II Stadion 14,500
AZ only played their first home game at AFAS Stadion due to the stadium's roof collapse on 10 August 2019. From then on they've played their home matches at the 17,000-capacity Cars Jeans Stadion in The Hague, home of ADO Den Haag. AZ returned to their 'roofless' AFAS Stadion for the match against Ajax on 15 December 2019.
Personnel and kits
Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor ADO Den Haag Alan Pardew Aaron Meijers Erreà Cars Jeans Ajax Erik ten Hag Dušan Tadić Adidas Ziggo AZ Arne Slot Teun Koopmeiners Under Armour AFAS Software Emmen Dick Lukkien Anco Jansen Hummel Hitachi Capital Mobility Feyenoord Dick Advocaat Steven Berghuis Adidas Droomparken Fortuna Sittard Sjors Ultee Wessel Dammers Masita Sparr Finance Groningen Danny Buijs Mike te Wierik Puma Payt Heerenveen Johnny Jansen Hicham Faik Jako Ausnutria Heracles Almelo Frank Wormuth Robin Pröpper Acerbis Asito PEC Zwolle John Stegeman Bram van Polen Craft Molecaten PSV Eindhoven Ernest Faber Ibrahim Afellay Umbro Metropoolregio Brainport Eindhoven RKC Waalwijk Fred Grim Kevin Vermeulen Stanno Mandemakers Keukens Sparta Rotterdam Henk Fraser Adil Auassar Robey D&S Groep Twente Gonzalo García García Wout Brama Sondico Pure Energie Utrecht John van den Brom Willem Janssen Nike Zorg van de zaak Vitesse Edward Sturing Bryan Linssen Nike Royal Burgers' Zoo & Netherlands Open Air Museum VVV-Venlo Hans de Koning Danny Post Masita Seacon Logistics Willem II Adrie Koster Jordens Peters Robey Destil
Managerial changes Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Replaced by Date of appointment Feyenoord End of contract 1 July 2019 Pre-season 1 June 2019 AZ 1 July 2019 1 July 2019 Utrecht 1 July 2019 1 July 2019 Twente Sacked 1 July 2019 1 July 2019 PEC Zwolle Signed by Feyenoord 1 July 2019 1 July 2019 Fortuna Sittard Mutual consent 1 July 2019 Sjors Ultee 1 July 2019 VVV-Venlo Maurice Steijn Signed by Al Wahda 9 June 2019 1 July 2019 Feyenoord Jaap Stam Resigned 28 October 2019 12th 30 October 2019 VVV-Venlo Robert Maaskant Sacked 11 November 2019 17th 15 November 2019 Vitesse Leonid Slutsky Resigned 29 November 2019 6th Joseph Oosting 3 December 2019 ADO Den Haag Alfons Groenendijk 2 December 2019 17th Dirk Heesen 2 December 2019 PSV Eindhoven Mark van Bommel Sacked 16 December 2019 4th Ernest Faber 16 December 2019 VVV-Venlo End of interim spell 19 December 2019 16th Hans de Koning 19 December 2019 ADO Den Haag Dirk Heesen 24 December 2019 17th Alan Pardew 24 December 2019 Vitesse Joseph Oosting 30 December 2019 6th Edward Sturing 30 December 2019
Standings
Fixtures/results
Results by round
Season statistics Top scorers
Rank Player Club Games Goals Penalties Avg. 1 Steven Berghuis Feyenoord 24 15 7 Cyriel Dessers Heracles Almelo 26 1 3 Myron Boadu AZ 24 14 0 Bryan Linssen Vitesse 25 0 5 Oussama Idrissi AZ 25 13 0 6 Quincy Promes Ajax 20 12 0 Tim Matavž Vitesse 25 1 8 Donyell Malen PSV Eindhoven 14 11 2 Vangelis Pavlidis Willem II 25 1 Haris Vučkić Twente 25 1 Dušan Tadić Ajax 25 3 Teun Koopmeiners AZ 25 9
Hat-tricks Rnd Player Club Goals Date Home Score Away 4 Quincy Promes Ajax 50', 68', 83' 25 September 2019 Ajax 5–0 Fortuna Sittard 6 Donyell Malen PSV Eindhoven 18', 36', 46', 83' (p), 89' (p) 14 September 2019 PSV Eindhoven 5–0 Vitesse 6 Reza Ghoochannejhad PEC Zwolle 60', 81', 83', 88' 15 September 2019 PEC Zwolle 6–2 RKC Waalwijk 11 Mark Diemers Fortuna Sittard 9', 26', 87' (p) 26 October 2019 Fortuna Sittard 4–1 VVV-Venlo 13 Cyriel Dessers Heracles Almelo 56', 64', 82' 9 November 2019 Heracles Almelo 6–1 VVV-Venlo 15 Noa Lang Ajax 32', 51', 70' 1 December 2019 Twente 2–5 Ajax 17 Steven Berghuis Feyenoord 19', 34' (p), 64' (p) 15 December 2019 Feyenoord 3–1 PSV Eindhoven
Assists
Rank Player Club Games Assists Avg. 1 Dušan Tadić Ajax 25 14 2 Hakim Ziyech Ajax 21 12 3 Steven Bergwijn PSV Eindhoven 16 10 4 Abdou Harroui Sparta Rotterdam 26 8 5 Steven Berghuis Feyenoord 24 7 Gyrano Kerk Utrecht 24 Calvin Stengs AZ 25 Mauro Júnior Heracles Almelo 26 9 Bryan Smeets Sparta Rotterdam 22 6 Myron Boadu AZ 24 Owen Wijndal AZ 24 Cody Gakpo PSV Eindhoven 25 Gustavo Hamer PEC Zwolle 25 Cyriel Dessers Heracles Almelo 26
Attendance Home ╲ Away ADO AJA AZ EMM FEY FOR GRO HEE HER PEC PSV RKC SPA TWE UTR VIT VVV WIL ADO Den Haag |style="background:#808080"| | 14,733 | 12,091
| 11,049 | 12,681 | 11,207 | | 13,370 | 12,433 | 12,479 | 11,439 | 10,633 | 12,387 | 10,617 | 10,889 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 156,008 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 12,001 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 14,733 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 10,617 Ajax | 53,976 |style="background:#808080"| | 52,707 | 53,124 | 53,968 | 53,121 | 53,228 | 52,921 | 53,226 | | 53,055 | 53,291 | 53,426 | | 53,381
|style="background:#98FB98"| 54,022 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 693,446 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 53,342 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 54,022 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 52,707 AZ | 16,117 | 17,002 |style="background:#808080"| | 5,565 | | 12,858 | 8,563 | 7,648 | 7,241 | 15,306 | | 14,712 | 8,327 | 7,597
| 6,007 | 15,442 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 142,385 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 10,953 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 17,002 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 5,565 Emmen | 8,002
|style="background:#808080"| | 8,309 | 8,130 | 8,245 | 8,145 | 8,176 | 8,293 | 8,309 | | 8,145 | 8,309 | | 8,048 | 8,100 | 8,190 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 106,401 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 8,185 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 8,309 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 8,002 Feyenoord | 45,496 | | 42,866 | 47,084 |style="background:#808080"| | 46,016 | | 46,000 | 44,303 | 44,513 | 47,625 | 47,431 | 45,585 | 42,866 | 44,352
| 47,500 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 591,637 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 45,511 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 47,625 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 42,866 Fortuna Sittard | 8,223
| 7,856 | 8,511 |style="background:#808080"| | 7,632 | 8,371 | 5,866 | 10,071 | | 8,391 | 7,483 | 7,377 | | 8,238 | 8,388 | 7,273 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 103,680 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 7,975 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 10,071 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 5,866 Groningen | | 22,315 | | 20,136 | 21,096 | |style="background:#808080"| | | 15,934 | 16,471 | 19,116 | 16,029 | 17,582 | 19,049 | 18,741 | 17,884 | 16,374 | 16,590 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 237,317 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 18,255 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 22,315 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 15,934 Heerenveen | 16,640 | 25,950 | 19,638 | | 18,600 | 15,128 | 22,428 |style="background:#808080"| | 20,424 | 16,632
| 18,089 | 16,328 | 16,593 | 17,883 | 16,400 | 18,121 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 258,854 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 18,490 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 25,950 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 15,128 Heracles Almelo | 10,150 | 12,080 | | 10,376 | 10,686 | 10,235 | | 9,640 |style="background:#808080"| | 10,157 | 10,063 | 10,412
| 10,200 | 9,344 | 9,400 | 11,254 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 133,997 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 10,307 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 12,080 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 9,344 PEC Zwolle | 12,943 | 14,000 | 13,708 | | 13,822 | 13,912 | 12,844
|style="background:#808080"| | 13,482 | 13,028 | 12,532 | | 13,102 | 13,088 | | 13,824 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 160,285 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 13,357 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 14,000 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 12,532 PSV Eindhoven | 32,000 | 35,000 | 34,000 | | 35,000 | 33,300 | 32,800 | 33,800 | | 33,000 |style="background:#808080"|
| 33,600 | | 33,300 | 33,000 | 34,700 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 403,500 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 33,625 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 35,000 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 32,000 RKC Waalwijk | 5,034 | 7,508 | 6,023 | 6,645
| 5,174 |style="background:#F08080"| 4,689 | 5,257 | 7,035 |style="background:#808080"| | 5,343 | 5,154 | 5,134 | 4,858 | 6,103 | |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 73,957 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 5,689 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 7,508 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 4,689 Sparta Rotterdam | 8,083 | 10,599 | 10,031 | 10,060 | | 9,821 | 10,143 | | 9,934 | | 10,387 | 10,231 |style="background:#808080"| | 10,435 | 10,322 | 10,020 | 10,012 | |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 130,078 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 10,006 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 10,599 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 8,083 Twente | | 30,000 | 27,300 | 27,400
| 26,500 | 27,000 | 29,300 | 26,900 | 27,200 | 25,700 | 26,300 |style="background:#808080"| | 25,500 | 26,500 | | 27,500 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 353,100 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 27,162 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 30,000 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 25,500 Utrecht | 17,319 | | 22,401 | 17,661 | 21,103 | 18,776
| 18,736 | 22,632 | 18,103 | 20,624 | 18,491 |style="background:#808080"| | | 17,986 | 19,419 |style="background:#CCCCCC"| 233,251