In the history of FC Groningen, every player is assigned a chronological number based on their debut. On page 22 of the February 2014 programme, the club officially welcomed its 360th representative: a lanky, energetic right-back from the village of Beerta named Hans Hateboer.
The text under the header “DEBUUT VAN HATEBOER” notes that he made his official first-team appearance during the recent away match against RKC Waalwijk. For the fans reading this at the Euroborg, Hateboer was just another promising academy product being integrated into the squad by manager Erwin van de Looi. The accompanying photo shows him in the classic white-and-green striped kit, looking focused and determined—a look that would soon become familiar to fans across Europe.
At the time, Hateboer was praised for his stamina and overlapping runs, traits that perfectly suited the club’s “Boeren” (Farmers) mentality. Little did the supporters know that they were witnessing the start of one of the most successful international careers of any Groningen graduate in the 21st century.
A Look into the Future
By 2026, Hans Hateboer has long since traded the northern winds of Groningen for the sun of Italy. He became a legendary figure at Atalanta BC, playing a crucial role in their rise to the Champions League and their historic Europa League triumph. He also became a regular for the Dutch national team. Looking back at this 2014 programme, the mention of “Player 360” serves as a humble origin story for a local boy who conquered the tactical world of Serie A.