Ajax vs. PSV rivalry: De Topper origin, history, head-to-head record

The Netherlands is often regarded as the birthplace of modern football tactics, but it is also home to a number of fierce rivalries that have spanned decades.

One of the most prominent is the rivalry between Ajax and PSV, known as De Topper. The two clubs are part of what is referred to as the nation's ‘big three' along with Feyenoord, though one of the Topper competitors have won the Eredivisie in almost every season over the last 40 years.

In 2025-26, De Boeren have claimed the Dutch league title, though De Godenzonen could put a dampener on the celebrations this weekend when they welcome this season's champions to Johan Cruyff ArenA for the latest Topper showdown.

Read on as Football Ground Guide takes a look at the origin, history and head-to-head record between Topper rivals Ajax and PSV.

History and Origin of De Topper

Unlike the rivalry between Ajax and Feyenoord, which is rooted in tensions between the cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam, PSV's De Topper contests against De Godenzonen have their foundations in pure sporting competition.

The Amsterdam club are renowned as the home of footballing philosophy, thanks to a number prominent figures such as Rinus Michels, Johan Cruyff and Louis van Gaal that have sat in their dugout, and while PSV have been privileged enough to see the likes of Ronaldo don their famous crest, their legacy does not quite match that of their rivals.

However, De Boeren have been more than a match on the pitch, at least since the mid-1970s, when they replaced Feyenoord as Ajax's main competitors. The clubs have engaged in numerous tight title races over the years, and De Topper often has a significant impact on which team goes on to win the league in any given season.

Ajax and PSV have also met in numerous finals over the years, including in 2023 edition of the KNVB Cup, during which the sides set a record for the most yellow cards shown in a final of the competition.

Head-to-head record between Ajax and PSV

• Total meetings: 188
• Ajax wins: 83
• Draws: 35
• PSV wins: 70

Ajax and PSV have locked horns on 188 occasions in a rivalry that spans more than a century, with the capital club having won 83 times compared to De Boeren's 70, while a further 35 De Topper clashes have ended all square.

Most recently, the clubs shared the spoils in a 2-2 Eredivisie draw at Philips Stadion in September 2025, a game that saw Ismael Saibari's early opener canceled out by a Kenneth Taylor penalty before half time. Yarek Gasiorowski would then put PSV back in front, only for Ajax to rescue a point thanks to an 88th-minute equaliser from Oscar Gloukh.

PSV have already secured the 2025-26 Eredivisie title, meaning that the Dutch league crown has now gone to either of the De Topper rivals in 27 of the last 32 campaigns. Overall, Ajax have won the Eredivisie 36 times, while PSV have lifted it on 27 occasions.

Key matches and iconic De Topper fixtures

First-ever meeting:

April 12, 1931: Ajax 4–2 PSV (Kampioenscompetitie)

Highest-scoring games:

September 20, 1975: PSV 6-2 Ajax (Eredivisie)

April 19, 2009: PSV 6-2 Ajax (Eredivisie)

July 30, 2022: Ajax 3-5 PSV (Johan Cruyff Shield)

December 26, 1930: Ajax 10-2 PSV (Friendly)

Iconic De Topper clashes

Title decider in 1982

April 19, 1982: Ajax 3-0 PSV

Ajax and PSV came into this clash level on points at the top of the Eredivisie table with just six games to play, making this particular De Topper a potentially decisive showdown.

Three second-half goals from the hosts – a pair of free kicks courtesy of Soren Lerby and a sealer via Dick Schoenaker – saw them run away with the points, before eventually winning the league by finishing five points clear of second-placed PSV.

First De Topper at Amsterdam Arena (Johan Cruyff Arena)

August 18, 1996: Ajax 0-3 PSV

After drawing the final De Topper at the Olympic Stadium 1-1 in November 1995, Ajax were set to host PSV for the inaugural clash at their new ground, the Amsterdam Arena (now known as Johan Cruyff Arena).

However, things did not go according to plan, as PSV secured permanent bragging rights as the first to win at their rivals' home stadium, downing Ajax 3-0 in the Johan Cruyff Shield.

It would take Ajax six years to finally win a De Topper clash at the ground, when they mirrored this scoreline to triumph 3-0 in the semi-finals of the KNVB Cup on April 10, 2002. Their first home league win would take two more years to arrive (2-1 on February 8, 2004).

2006 KNVB Cup Final

May 7, 2006: Ajax 2-1 PSV

Ajax and PSV played out a dramatic final in the 2006 edition of the cup, adding a new element to De Topper that fans have held over their opposition counterparts for two decades.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar opened the scoring for the capital club just after the interval, though Michael Lamey's equaliser five minutes later set the tone for a tense second half.

Ajax captain Tomas Galasek was sent off around the hour mark, handing their rivals the initiative, but his blushes were spared when Huntelaar was able to secure a famous victory with a 90th-minute winner.

Turning point in 2018-19 title race

March 31, 2019: Ajax 3-1 PSV

The 2018-19 campaign is considered one of Ajax's strongest in modern memory, given that they won a domestic double and were seconds away from reaching the Champions League final.

However, when PSV visited Amsterdam on matchday 27, Erik Ten Hag's Ajax were trailing their rivals by five points in the Eredivisie title race.

The Boeren centre-back Daniel Schwaab was unfortunate enough to open the scoring by finding the back of his own net a little over 20 minutes into the game, but a red card for Ajax's Noussair Mazraoui and an equalising header from Luuk de Jong saw PSV gain the upper hand.

Unfortunately for the visitors, Dusan Tadic and David Neres had other ideas, with the former Southampton man dispatching a penalty before the Brazilian forward bagged all three points with a 96th-minute dagger.

Ajax would then go on to win title by finishing three points above PSV, making this De Topper the turning point.

2023 KNVB Cup Final

April 30, 2023: Ajax 1-1 PSV (PSV won 2-3 on penalties)

PSV were able to exact their revenge in another final contested by the De Topper rivals, coming out on top after penalties following a heated 120 minutes of regular and extra time.

With both clubs set to miss out on the 2022-23 Eredivisie to Feyenoord, the final of the KNVB Cup was seen as the defining moment of their campaigns, and given that 11 yellow cards were shown – a record number for a cup final – it was clear that the player saw it that way, too.

A strike from Steven Bergwijn deflected off Jarrad Branthwaite to give Ajax a lead heading into the break, but Thorgan Hazard's equaliser took the game beyond 90 minutes.

The capital club's Brian Brobbey, Jurrien Timber and Edson Alvarez all missed from 12 yards during the shootout, while Andre Ramalho and Ibrahim Sangare both failed to convert their spot kicks for PSV.

Eventually, Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Fabio Silva dispatched the winning penalty to win the Boeren their 11th KNVB cup.

Notable records in De Topper

Biggest winning margin: 

November 22, 1964: Ajax 5–0 PSV (Eredivisie)

October 24, 2021: Ajax 5-0 PSV (Eredivisie)

December 26, 1930: Ajax 10-2 PSV (Friendly)

Top goalscorer:

Willy van der Kuijlen – 13 goals (PSV)

Most appearances:

Sjaak Swart – 31 appearances (Ajax)

Danny Blind – 31 appearances (Ajax)