Before the era of seamless club apps and one-click digital polls, fan engagement required a bit more effort. Page 26 of the May 2013 matchday programme captures the climax of the “Essent Speler van het Jaar” (Player of the Year) race, driven entirely by a technology that now feels wonderfully nostalgic: SMS voting.
The article announces that Slovenian winger Andraž Kirm was voted Man of the Match in the previous home game against ADO Den Haag, securing 32% of the premium-rate text messages sent by fans in the Euroborg. However, the real drama lay in the overall season standings. Heading into the final match against Ajax, a 21-year-old Virgil van Dijk was clinging to a one-point lead (17 points) over the prolific forward Michael de Leeuw (16 points). The programme explicitly notes that a lucky fan who voted via SMS would be called immediately after the final whistle to present the flowers to the ultimate winner on the pitch.
But the true treasure on this page is the historical list of winners since 2000. It reads like a scouting cheat code for European football royalty. The list includes Arjen Robben (2001), Luis Suárez (2007), Marcus Berg (2008), and Dušan Tadić (2011). Seeing Virgil van Dijk poised to join this specific list is a powerful reminder of the club’s incredible pedigree as a stepping stone for global superstars.
A Look into the Future
By 2026, SMS voting is a dead medium, entirely replaced by push notifications and integrated club applications. As for the 2013 showdown, Virgil van Dijk did indeed hold on to win the Player of the Year award before his transfer to Celtic. Looking at the historical list today, it stands as undeniable proof of the FC Groningen scouting department’s legendary eye for talent. The players who won the hearts of the northern fans via text messages went on to win Champions Leagues, domestic titles across Europe, and captain their national teams.