Peter Bosz has paid a heartfelt tribute to Guus Hiddink, describing the former PSV and Netherlands manager as “a proper man, a nice person, a people manager” as the coaching great celebrated his 80th birthday.

Hiddink, who turned 80 last Sunday, remains one of the most successful managers in PSV's history. Across two spells in Eindhoven, he guided the club to six Eredivisie titles, winning three consecutive championships between 1987 and 1989 before adding further league triumphs in 2003, 2005 and 2006.

His greatest achievement came in 1988, when PSV completed a historic treble by winning the league, the KNVB Cup and the European Cup. The club also reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2005, only to lose to AC Milan on away goals after a 3-1 victory in Eindhoven followed a 2-0 defeat in Italy.

Bosz was playing for RKC Waalwijk when Hiddink led PSV to European glory in 1988. The current PSV manager later became more familiar with him when both were involved with the Netherlands national team, where Hiddink served as head coach between 1995 and 1998.

Speaking to Eindhovens Dagblad, Bosz reflected on the remarkable achievements of Hiddink's PSV side and the impression the experienced coach left on him.

“The performance of PSV in 1988 still remains unbelievably good. At the time, I was still playing with RKC and in the cup competition I even reached the semi-final against PSV of Guus, whom I got to know even better later when he coached the Netherlands national team,” Bosz said.

He was equally complimentary about Hiddink's approach to managing players, highlighting his ability to balance authority with personal understanding.

“Even as national team coach he always served the interests of football in a positive way. He could be as tough as needed, but he also put an arm around you when it could. A proper man, a nice person, a people manager, someone who builds on atmosphere and the relationship. That all comes to mind in me,” Bosz added, as quoted by the PSV Inside.

Hiddink returned to manage the Netherlands after the 2014 World Cup, but his second spell proved considerably less successful. He left the position in June 2015, with assistant Danny Blind taking over.

Bosz was not the only PSV figure to acknowledge Hiddink's influence. Club legend Willy van de Kerkhof also reflected on the manager's importance to the historic 1988 campaign.

Van de Kerkhof revealed that he had considered retiring in 1987, but Hiddink persuaded him to stay for another season because he believed his experience would be valuable.

“I actually wanted to quit, in 1987. Guus persuaded me to stay with the squad for one more year. He foresaw that I could still become very important and wanted my experience in the group at all costs,” Van de Kerkhof told Eindhovens Dagblad.

He added that Hiddink's faith proved decisive in the best season of his career, crediting the coach for giving him the opportunity to experience PSV's European triumphs.

The tributes underline the lasting influence Hiddink had on PSV, both through his extraordinary trophy record and the relationships he built with the players who worked under him.