In February 2015, the atmosphere around the Euroborg was electric with a very specific, long-dormant type of hope. FC Groningen had just reached the semi-finals of the KNVB Cup, and the realization that a major trophy was within grasping distance began to dawn on the city. In the matchday programme against  AZ Alkmaar, the spotlight was turned to veteran midfielder Nick van der Velden.

At 33 years old, the Amsterdam-born playmaker was experiencing a transitional phase in his career. The article, aptly titled “Nu een andere rol” (Now a different role), catches him at a moment of profound professional honesty. Having been a crucial starter in previous seasons—and a key figure in the club’s brief European adventure—he found himself spending more time on the bench under manager Erwin van de Looi.

The winter arrivals of young, dynamic talents like Albert Rusnák and the Swedish fan-favorite Simon Tibbling had reshaped the midfield hierarchy. “It is a reinforcement for the team that they have joined,” Van der Velden noted with professional grace, though he admitted he was fighting hard in training to earn his minutes back.

But the true emotional core of the interview lies in his reflections on the KNVB Cup. Drawn against Excelsior for a home semi-final, Van der Velden perfectly articulated the hunger of the fanbase: “It has been 26 years since the club played the cup final. But that is not enough. Back then, they lost, and this year we want to win the cup.” For a player who had already tasted championship glory with AZ Alkmaar in 2009, winning a trophy with Groningen was seen as the ultimate capstone to a colorful career.

A Look into the Future

Reading Van der Velden’s prophetic words from the lens of 2026 brings a sense of poetic justice. FC Groningen did indeed beat Excelsior in that semi-final and went on to defeat PEC Zwolle in De Kuip, winning the first major trophy in the club’s history. Van der Velden left the club shortly after that historic high, eventually taking his talents to Indonesia to play for Bali United, becoming a cult figure there. Today, he has transitioned into coaching, heavily involved in the youth setup back at AZ Alkmaar, bringing his vast experience full circle to the very clubs highlighted in this 2015 programme.