When a club sells its best player, the man brought in to replace him inherits not just a position on the pitch, but a heavy psychological burden. In the August 2014 matchday programme, new signing Jarchinio Antonia addressed the elephant in the room: he was playing on the left wing, the exact spot vacated by the recently departed fan favorite, Filip Kostic.
Kostic had just secured a lucrative transfer to German side VfB Stuttgart after a sensational season at the Euroborg. Antonia, however, was quick to manage expectations. “I don’t want to be seen as his replacement,” he stated firmly. “I was brought in as a reinforcement for the team and not as his replacement. The intention was that Kostic would also play for FC Groningen this season and we would both fight for our spot.”
![Jarchinio Antonia profile page scan from FC Groningen vs Heracles Almelo programme 2014]](https://footballonpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/fop_20260826_183250_Gc2i.webp)
To understand Antonia’s mindset in dealing with this pressure, the interviewer asked about his tattoos. Antonia revealed he has the number 7 behind his ear (his lucky number and position), a crown (symbolizing his status as one of the best right-wingers in the Netherlands), and a highly revealing quote on his side: “I never dreamed of success, I worked for it.” He emphasized that talent alone is never enough. Having already tasted the electric atmosphere of the stadium during the Europa League qualifier against Scottish side Aberdeen, Antonia knew that hard work was the only currency the northern fans truly respected.
A Look into the Future
Looking back from 2026, the divergence in their careers is fascinating. Filip Kostic went on to become a European superstar, winning the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt and securing a massive move to Juventus. Jarchinio Antonia didn’t reach those global heights, but his tattoo proved prophetic: he worked relentlessly for his success. He didn’t need to be the “new Kostic”; he just needed to be himself. His work ethic and crucial assists during the 2014/2015 season helped FC Groningen win the KNVB Cup, ensuring that his name, much like Kostic’s, is permanently etched into the history books of the club.