Eredivisie preview

With the 2011/12 Eredivisie campaign set to kick off on Saturday, skysports.com looks ahead to the new season.

With the 2011/12 Eredivisie campaign set to kick off on Saturday, skysports.com looks ahead to the new season.

With Ajax likely to be fighting off the challenge of PSV and FC Twente in a bid to lift their 31st title, the new Eredivisie season promises to be full of twists and turns. At the other end of the table, the likes of VVV Venlo and promoted RKC Waalwijk are expected to battle against relegation, while it remains to be seen where the ambitious Vitesse can end up this term. For a greater insight into what you can expect from all of the runners and riders, take a look through skysports.com's in-depth guide to the new season.

ADO Den Haag

Manager: Maurice Steijn Stadium: Kyocera Stadium Star man: Wesley Verhoek League position in 2010/11: 7th ADO Den Haag had a fantastic 2010-11 season under coach John van den Brom, even qualifying for the Europa League. The club underwent some major changes this summer but not necessarily for the better. Star duo Dmitry Bulykin and Frantisek Kubik left the club after Bulykin crowned himself as their top scorer last season. The future of the Russian attacker is still in doubt as he returned to Belgian giants Anderlecht after his loan spell. Kubik was due to return to Slovakian parent club Trencin but was instead sold to Russian side Krasnodar. Another major change is that Van den Brom has left the club for ambitious rivals Vitesse. ADO are trying to keep local heroes Wesley Verhoek and Lex Immer on board but know it will be difficult. They have signed Slovakian defender Filip Luksik this summer, as well as a couple of players from the Dutch second tier - Tjaronn Chery and Marc Hocher. The club are expected to face a difficult season.

AZ Alkmaar

Manager: Gertjan Verbeek Stadium: AFAS Stadium Star man: Sergio Romero League position in 2010/2011: 4th AZ are currently one of the best teams in the Eredivisie, while coach Gertjan Verbeek is well known for his approach and for developing young players. However, AZ are still suffering the repercussions of the bankruptcy of their owner Dirk Scheringa two years ago. They have again tried to offload some of their expensive players in order to make room for young, talented additions. Captain Stijn Schaars left the club for Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon, Mexican defender Hector Moreno moved on to Espanyol, Graziano Pelle returned to Italy to play for Parma and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson completed a move to Ajax. At the moment the future of Argentina and AZ No.1 goalkeeper Sergio Romero is still unclear as he wants to move to a bigger league. However, AZ already have a potential replacement in their ranks with Costa Rican keeper Eseban Alvarado. Major signings this summer were Dutch Under-21 striker Ruud Boymans from VVV Venlo and USA hitman Jozy Altidore from Villarreal. AZ will again play a major role behind the top three - Ajax, FC Twente and PSV.

Ajax

Manager: Frank de Boer Stadium: Amsterdam ArenA Star man: Jan Vertonghen League position in 20010/11: 1st This season will mark Frank de Boer's first full campaign in charge of reigning champions Ajax. De Boer has allowed Demy de Zeeuw to leave the club for Spartak Moscow this summer and signed Theo Janssen from Eredivisie rivals FC Twente as his replacement. Ajax have also lost Holland goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg to Roma but have confidence in Kenneth Vermeer and are expected to sign a reserve keeper before the transfer window closes. For the striker position they bagged Iceland attacker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson for €5million from AZ. Mounir El Hamdaoui is no longer an option in Amsterdam as he has been sent to play with the reserves, while Ajax are hoping to offload the Moroccan hitman quickly. Ones to watch this season will be Danish starlets Nicolai Boilesen and Christian Eriksen. Ajax are now 30-time Dutch champions and will be targeting their second consecutive title this term.

De Graafschap

Manager: Andries Uldeirnk Stadium: De Vijverberg Star man: Rydell Poepon League position in 2010/11: 14th De Graafschap are still looking to strengthen their squad as the season gets underway. Four players have joined De Graafschap this summer - Michael de Leeuw (Veendam), Dulee Johnson (Pantetolikos), Xhelil Abdulla (FK Shkendija) and Yves De Winter (Westerlo). De Winter, 24, is a highly-rated Belgian goalkeeper who wants to show his qualities in the Eredivisie. He steps in to replace Boy Waterman, who moved to second-tier German side Alemannia Aachen on a free transfer. The club were dealt a particular blow this summer when star player Steve de Ridder left the club for Southampton. De Graafschap are likely to compete in the bottom of the Eredivisie table if they don't succeed in bringing more fresh blood to the club.

Excelsior

Manager: John Lammers Stadium: Woudestein Star man: Joost Broerse League position in 2010/11: 16th Coach Alex Pastoor has departed to take over at NEC this summer, while his former assistant John Lammers takes the helm at Excelsior. The club have seen key players such as Kaj Ramsteijn, Miquel Nelom, Jordy Clasie and Guyon Fernandez return to sister club Feyenoord. As feeders of the Rotterdam giants, Excelsior have again received some young talented players, while also making some additions of their own. Experienced midfielder Joost Broerse returns to the Eredivisie after an adventure in Cyprus, while the club have signed three players from FC Den Bosch, who Excelsior faced in the play-offs to avoid relegation last term. Goalkeeper Wesley de Ruyter, defender Samuel Scheimann and midfielder Niels Vorthoren were all signed on free transfers over the course of just a few weeks. Excelsior will again face a difficult season and will have to try hard to avoid direct relegation.

FC Groningen

Manager: Pieter Huistra Stadium: Euroborg Star man: Tim Matavz League position in 2010/11: 5th Keeping Tim Matavz and Dusan Tadic at the Euroborg stadium has been FC Groningen's biggest feat this summer. Matavz was heavily linked to Napoli, while a host of clubs were looking to bring in Tadic, but both players have decided to develop further in Groningen before making a step forward. Groningen have seen some departures with the exit of Swedish defenders Andreas Granqvist (Genoa) and Fredrik Stenman (Club Brugge), but with the arrival of Emil Johansson (Molde FK) and Kees Kwakman (FC Augsburg) they have already found replacements. Other new faces are the attackers Mattias Jones (Danubio) and Hyun-Jun Suk (Ajax). FC Groningen are looking to return to Europe and are expected to again fight with AZ for a place in the top four.

FC Twente

Manager: Co Adriaanse Stadium: Grolsch Veste Star man: Bryan Ruiz League position in 2010/11: 2nd FC Twente missed out on the title on the final day of last season, while coach Michel Preud'homme (Al Shabab) and midfielder Theo Janssen (Ajax) departed this summer. The signs suggest they will face a difficult campaign in 2011-12, but they will be buoyed after appointing Co Adriaanse as coach. He is thought of as one of the best Dutch coaches and is known for his offensive approach. Adriaanse has managed to keep Twente's biggest stars in Enschede this summer, including Nikolaj Mikaylov, Douglas and Bryan Ruiz, while young winger Nacer Chadli is ready to play a full campaign and impressed during the pre-season. Teenage right winger Steven Berghuis also made an impact and is looking to be rewarded with first-team action. Twente have signed Tim Cornelisse (FC Utrecht) and Willem Janssen (Roda JC) on free transfers to make their squad bigger and better. The Enschede club are again expected to challenge for the title this term.