In the previous pages of this matchday programme, we read a candid interview with 20-year-old academy product Hans Hateboer, who was still in disbelief over his sudden breakthrough into the first team and his pinpoint assist against FC Twente. Page 18 provides the ultimate proof that his performance didn’t just surprise him; it completely captivated the fanbase.
The “Essent Speler van het Jaar” section announces the SMS voting results from that exact 1-1 draw against Twente. In his very first home start at the Euroborg, the young right-back from Beerta claimed the Man of the Match award with 29% of the vote. He managed to beat out the established, undisputed star of the season, Filip Kostić (26%), and the goalscorer of the evening, Krisztián Adorján (15%).
The photo captures Hateboer looking slightly shy but immensely proud, holding his bouquet of flowers. For the supporters, voting for Hateboer was a no-brainer. The northern crowd has always had a deep appreciation for local boys who display relentless energy and a fearless work ethic. Hateboer’s overlapping runs and gritty defending were the exact embodiment of the club’s DNA.
A Look into the Future
This Man of the Match award was the spark that ignited a spectacular career. Hans Hateboer quickly made the right-back position his own, eventually outgrowing the Eredivisie entirely. His move to Italy transformed him into a European star, becoming a crucial cog in the high-flying Atalanta BC machine that conquered the Europa League, and earning him a spot in the Dutch national team. Looking back at this 2014 programme, it is a beautiful printed receipt of the exact night the Euroborg crowd realized they were witnessing the birth of something special.