FC Twente has become the Dutch premier league champion for the first time in the 45-year history of the Enschede club. A celebratory reception will be held on Monday evening in Enschede in honour of the team, its English coach Steve McLaren and the technical staff.

After leading the league for many weeks, the “Tukkers” won in the 34th and last premier league match of the season 2-0 against NAC Breda. With 86 points FC Twente ended just one point ahead of Amsterdam’s Ajax.

Costa Rican Bryan Ruiz made the opening goal in the first half for FC Twente. The title was only secured in the final minutes of the nail-bitingly exciting game by a goal from Slovakian Miroslav Stoch.

Runner up Amsterdam’s Ajax won 4-1 against Nijmegen’s NEC. To win its 30th national title, the Amsterdam club needed FC Twente to lose. Luis Suárez, Demy de Zeeuw and Marko Pentelic put the ball in the net for Ajax, Saidi Ntibazonkiza scored NEC’s only goal.

Both Ajax and FC Twente fans followed the matches on large screens in their own stadiums as the game was only broadcast on pay television. Pubs in both cities were also overflowing. Interestingly the match was broadcast live in Costa Rica.

Ajax player Luis Suárez ends the season as Premier League top scorer with 35 goals.

FC Twente will play in next season’s Champions League. Ajax will have to play a qualifying round to earn itself a place in the Champions League.