In the spring of 2015, the atmosphere inside FC Groningen was electric. The club had just reached the KNVB Beker final, creating an undeniable wave of optimism across the city. Yet, for 26-year-old defender Martijn van der Laan, the season had been a gruelling test of physical and mental endurance, a stark contrast to the collective euphoria.
Featured in the “De Hoofdrolspeler” (The Protagonist) segment for the match against his former club SC Cambuur, Van der Laan opened up about his tumultuous return to his boyhood club. Having developed in the Groningen academy before proving himself at BV Veendam and Cambuur, his homecoming was supposed to be a triumph. Instead, it became a medical nightmare. “It all started in the first training week,” he recalled. “On a wet pitch, on ‘normal’ grass, I slipped and suffered a groin injury. Pure bad luck.”
His misfortune seemed almost comical if it weren’t so painful. After recovering from groin surgery, he traveled to the winter training camp in Oliva, Spain, hoping for a fresh start. There, he collided with a trialist, resulting in a severe rib injury that required him to play multiple matches with pain-killing injections. By the time he was fully fit, Rasmus Lindgren had firmly established himself in Van der Laan’s position.
Despite the setbacks, Van der Laan’s role in the dressing room remained vital. True to his reputation, he refused to let the injuries dampen his spirit. “I’m always relaxed and busy making jokes,” he admitted. “I like to banter and laugh, and I want to project that to my teammates.” As Groningen prepared to face Cambuur, Van der Laan revealed he had received plenty of banter from his old teammates, especially goalkeeper Leonard Nienhuis, following Groningen’s earlier defeat in Leeuwarden. Now, with the cup final looming, he was ready to step in whenever needed, fully embracing the team’s historic momentum.
A Look into the Future
Looking back from 2026, the 2014/2015 season remains the absolute pinnacle of FC Groningen’s modern history, culminating in their legendary KNVB Cup victory. While Van der Laan’s playing minutes were limited that season due to his horrific luck with injuries, his presence as a cultural glue in the locker room is fondly remembered. His career eventually transitioned away from the top-tier spotlight, but his candid honesty about the frustrations of professional football—and his unwavering humor—remains a classic archetype of the resilient northern mentality.