PSV wins 35th Marveld Tournament
15 June 2025“Not only the players want to peak this weekend, but the same goes for our volunteers”
“It thunders and it lightens” on Sportpark Den Elshof. Fortunately not the predicted heavy thunderstorms that Groenlo was fortunately deprived of last weekend, but Guus Meeuwis’ hit, as it became a Brabant party after the penalty shoot-out between Palmeiras and PSV, as the thrilling finale of the 35th edition of the International Marveld Tournament. PSV, like in 2014 as winners of the quarter-century anniversary edition, were also crowned winners of the 35th edition.
It is the fourth time that the PSV players accept the return trip from the Den Elshof sports park with the big trophy, as PSV also stood on the highest step of the podium in 2001, 2007 and 2014. With this win, PSV prevented Brazilian Palmeiras from taking the top prize for the second time.
Grol
The whole weekend was a true sports party on sports park Den Elshof, which exploded with joy and gladness on Sunday morning after the euphoria of everything and everyone who cares about the Grol team. The team that has the highest favour factor every year, as they are actually always pooled as the tournament’s number last beforehand, provided a stunt. Anyone who had pooled on Grol as number 12 in the final rankings at a betting agency would have seen their bet evaporate, as Grol surprised this year by finishing as number 10. In the cross-finals for places 9 to 12, Grol managed to eliminate FC Twente by winning the decisive penalty shoot-out. Goalkeeper Jens Oldenboom left the pitch a hero by stopping no fewer than two penalties, including the very last all-decisive one. The cheers will have been audible far and wide. A new stunt against Feyenoord was not to be, so the heroes of Grol had to settle for 10th place. A grandiose performance in this field of competitors.
‘Super tournament’
Tournament chairman Marco Frank gleams with pride as he looks back on the 35th edition. “The sponsor evening was a wonderful start with over 550 guests. It always runs smoothly and seamlessly right after that the same evening, starting with the conversion of the hall in which 550 elated people sat at long tables, into a real restaurant where the hundreds of players, coaching staff and volunteers took their meals during the tournament. Thanks to our volunteers, who did a top-notch job together throughout the weekend. Not only the players at the tournament want to peak this weekend, but the same goes for our volunteers, who no effort is too much. A wonderful teamwork together.”
The tournament went smoothly according to Frank. “We ran a super tournament. All the teams were blazingly enthusiastic. That’s what you do it for. As for the football itself, we saw many beautiful and exciting matches, of a high level and we have a wonderful winner with PSV. We look back on a very successful tournament.”
For the announced tropical temperatures, the organisers were well prepared. The scorching heat on Saturday was tough especially for the players. Spectators sought shade en masse. No patch of shade remained unoccupied and spectators could refill water bottles at various points.
Praises
The good feeling Marco Frank had about the past few days was confirmed by many. So was Allain Wallyn, head coach of Lille OSC. “We are grateful to play here. It is wonderful that we get to compete with the top, always starting from our own strengths and principles of play. It is a very nice test for our players to play against these opponents”.
Jeremiae Lopes of Palmeiras: “In Brazil, we play in the Sao Paulo league, which has just started again. We have enough players for two teams, so one team is now playing in Brazil and the other, say the basic eleven, is now playing here. Before this, we were at a tournament in Hollage, Germany, near Osnabrück, which we won. The conditions were really completely different from here, there cold and rain, here an oppressive heat and sun! It’s good for the players to experience this too. These tournaments are incredibly beautiful and valuable because they bring many cultures and styles of play together and they get to face an unprecedentedly high level here, so they gain a lot of experience. Our youth are therefore very enthusiastic and motivated, so they want to perform. And for us it is also a challenge, how do our boys deal with, for example, the high pressure setting and pressing. It is fantastic here, top organised, nice and good food, our accommodation is also fantastic, the boys also get nice space here and can have a good time.”
Special prize
During the awards ceremony, a special prize was presented for the first time in addition to all the honorary prizes. “By awarding the Tonny Hartman trophy to Willem Alten of Grol, we were able to beautifully honour our colleague from the Marveld Tournament board, Tonny Hartman, who passed away last year and spent 35 years in the organisation, right from the beginning.”
Results:
1. PSV
2. Palmeiras
3. Real Madrid
4. FC Barcelona
5. Ajax
6. Right to Dream Ghana
7. Lille OSC
8. Botafogo
9. Feyenoord
10. Grol
11. FC Twente/ Heracles
12. Borussia Mönchengladbach
Best player: Yaya Sidibe (Nr 10 Right to Dream Ghana)
Beste Goalkeeper: Audo Ventilari (Palmeiras)
Topscorer: Denzel Darko (Nr 10, Ajax ) 8 goals
Tonny Hartman Trophy, most valuable player of Grol: Willem Alten
