We would’ve given anything to be at PSV’s legendary De Herdgang training facility today, and not just because it’s a footballing paradise located in the woodlands of Eindhoven. Today was a massive day at the club because 22-year-old Mexican winger Hirving “Chucky” Lozano returned to training after his World Cup holiday and new U-19 manager Ruud van Nistelrooy had his first training session.
PSV’s first team coach, Mark van Bommel, granted Chucky extended leave after he helped Mexico reach the Round of 16 (his goal against Germany had a lot to do with that), and the talk of the transfer market was all smiles at training.
| Guess who’s back!@HirvingLozano70 pic.twitter.com/OnRK7uQHkm
— PSV International (@psveindhoven) July 23, 2018
Herdgang Feeling@HirvingLozano70 pic.twitter.com/jQmY2UUOnk— PSV (@PSV) July 23, 2018
If Chucky stays with PSV, he’ll be looking to improve on a debut season that saw him score 19 goals in 34 matches across all competitions. Chucky’s brilliant year in the Netherlands also saw PSV win the 2017-18 Eredivisie title.
After last season’s success, first team manager Phillip Cocu decided to join Fenerbahce in Turkey. Cocu’s exit resulted in the promotion of U-19 coach Mark van Bommel, who also spent the summer as an assistant for Australia’s World Cup team.
With the U-19 role vacant, PSV hired Manchester United and Netherlands legend Ruud van Nistelrooy to take over the youth side. Van Nistelrooy previously worked with the Netherlands as an assistant, but the role will be his first as a head coach.
“This is a great opportunity to take the next step in my development,” Van Nistelrooy said. “I have thought about it and talked about it extensively with a number of people. This is a great time to take on this job. I am really looking forward to working with this talented group in this position.”
The former striker’s first training session also went down today.
| First day pic.twitter.com/PXTPPj9rDv
— PSV (@PSV) July 23, 2018