Football is a game of numbers, but some numbers carry more weight than others. On page 21 of the matchday programme against NAC Breda, the “Wedstrijdfeiten” (Match Facts) section published a statistical table that serves as a holy grail for FC Groningen fans: the all-time top scorers list based on goals-per-game average (Moyenne).
The trigger for publishing this list was Michael de Leeuw scoring his 25th Eredivisie goal for the club in a recent match against AZ Alkmaar. This milestone, achieved in his 63rd game, gave him an average of 0.397 goals per match. This seemingly dry statistic propelled him into 8th place on a list populated by absolute club deities.
Reading the names above and below De Leeuw is like walking through a museum of Euroborg and Oosterpark legends. At number one sits the untouchable Marcus Berg (0.571). Below him are icons like Peter Houtman, the Norwegian hero Erik Nevland, Tim Matavz, and the cult Brazilian Magno Mocelin. De Leeuw found himself sandwiched between the legendary Mariano Bombarda and the eccentric genius Milko Djurovski. For a player who had to fight for his starting spot earlier in the season, seeing his name printed in this specific company was the ultimate validation of his lethal instinct inside the penalty box.
A Look into the Future
Looking back from 2026, this statistical snapshot was just the beginning of Michael de Leeuw‘s legendary status. He didn’t just briefly visit this list; he cemented his place on it. He became the defining striker of his era for FC Groningen, scoring the goals that secured European football and the KNVB Cup. Even after leaving for the MLS and returning to the Netherlands years later, his reputation as a guaranteed goalscorer remained intact. This page from 2014 captures the exact moment De Leeuw transitioned from being just a “good striker” to taking his rightful seat among the immortal gods of the Green-White army.