Matteo Dams crowns debut season with first award: Johan Cruyff Talent of the Month

A product of PSV's youth academy, Dams has been deployed as a left-back by coach Peter Bosz this season, and the Belgian is enjoying a stellar run of form. Since making his Eredivisie debut, he has featured in every match, with Bosz entrusting him with full minutes throughout September. Alongside teammates Olivier Boscagli and Walter Benítez, Dams played all 270 minutes.

During this period, PSV secured victories over N.E.C. Nijmegen (2-0), Fortuna Sittard (1-3), and Willem II (0-2), conceding just one goal. Dams also posted an impressive passing accuracy of 88.8% (175 successful passes), made 13 ball recoveries, and completed two interceptions. It was an excellent month for the young Belgian, who outshone players like Jorrel Hato (Ajax), Aske Adelgaard (Go Ahead Eagles), and Wouter Goes (AZ) to claim the award.

As part of the award, the Johan Cruyff Talent of the Month receives a cheque for €2,500 on behalf of the VriendenLoterij for the PSV Foundation, the CSR branch of the Eindhoven club. Additionally, a sum of €5,000 is donated to the Johan Cruyff Foundation to support various community projects.

The election for the Eredivisie Player of the Month, Johan Cruijff Talent of the Month, and the Eredivisie Team of the Month is based on statistics from Opta and votes from football fans (KPN Man of the Match). These criteria also factor into the selection for the Eredivisie Player of the Year and Johan Cruijff Talent of the Year. These awards are presented at the end of the season during the Eredivisie Awards.

The monthly elections are an initiative of Eredivisie CV in collaboration with ESPN, the Johan Cruyff Foundation, and VriendenLoterij. This partnership aims to celebrate and promote excellence in Dutch football, recognizing both individual talents and team performances throughout the season.