The Derby van het Noorden is always intense, but the edition on February 9, 2014, featured an extraordinary concentration of talent in the away dressing room. Page 22 of the programme lists the “Topscorers sc Heerenveen,” and the names on that list are a reminder of the incredible scouting era of the Frisian club.
At the top of the list sat Alfred Finnbogason with a staggering 20 goals. The Icelandic striker was in the form of his life, eventually finishing the season as the Eredivisie’s top scorer and one of the most clinical finishers in Europe. But it is the second name that resonates most with modern fans: Hakim Ziyech. With 7 goals at the time, the young playmaker was just beginning to showcase the magical left foot that would later dazzle the world.
For the FC Groningen defenders like Eric Botteghin and Johan Kappelhof, this list represented a nightmare scenario. Facing Finnbogason and Ziyech in the same match was a test of elite European standards, happening right in the heart of the northern Netherlands.
A Look into the Future
The players on this list fulfilled their immense potential. Alfred Finnbogason moved to the Bundesliga and became a hero for FC Augsburg and the Icelandic national team. Hakim Ziyech’s path took him to Ajax and then to Chelsea, where he lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy. Looking back at this 2014 statistics block, it is a testament to the quality of the Eredivisie: on any given Sunday in Groningen, you could be watching the future stars of the world’s biggest clubs.