Before the era of seamless app integrations and Twitter polls, fan engagement required a bit more effort—and a bit of pocket money. Page 18 of the January 2015 matchday programme offers a nostalgic glimpse into this recent past with the “Essent Speler van het Jaar” (Player of the Year) update. To vote for their Man of the Match, fans inside and outside the Euroborg had to send an SMS with “GRO [Rugnummer]” to the premium number 4040, costing 60 eurocents per message.
At the time of publication, defender Eric Botteghin was leading the season’s standings, closely followed by goalkeeper Sergio Padt and playmaker Tjaronn Chery, who had just won the Man of the Match award in the previous home game against Vitesse. But the true treasure on this page lies in the small grey box at the bottom right: “Spelers van het Jaar sinds 2009” (Players of the Year since 2009).
Reading this list is like looking at a masterclass in football scouting. The winners from 2009 to 2014 were Andreas Granqvist, Dusan Tadic, Maikel Kieftenbeld, Virgil van Dijk, and Filip Kostic. This unassuming corner of a matchday booklet casually lists future Champions League winners, Europa League champions, and national team captains. It is a stark reminder of FC Groningen‘s incredible ability during that era to identify, nurture, and launch world-class talent before they became global household names.
A Look into the Future
Looking back from 2026, that small grey box is legendary. Virgil van Dijk went on to win the Premier League and Champions League with Liverpool, establishing himself as one of the greatest defenders of his generation. Dusan Tadic became an icon at Ajax, leading them to a Champions League semi-final, while Filip Kostic lifted the Europa League trophy with Eintracht Frankfurt before moving to Juventus. As for the 2014/2015 season leader mentioned on the page, Eric Botteghin, he would indeed win the award that year, crowning a season where Groningen lifted the KNVB Cup, before earning a transfer to Feyenoord. The 60 cents fans spent texting “4040” was an investment in witnessing football history.