Sometimes, a single page in a matchday programme captures a moment of pure, impending history. The 2014/2015 squad table and team photo featured in this edition represent a roster that would, exactly one week later, achieve sporting immortality. Under the pragmatic and steady guidance of manager Erwin van de Looi, this specific group of men was about to deliver FC Groningen its first-ever major trophy: the KNVB Beker.
Looking at the names on this page evokes goosebumps for any local fan. This was a beautifully balanced team. You had the lethal attacking prowess of Michael de Leeuw and the creative magic of Tjaronn Chery at the peak of their powers. There was the rock-solid defensive foundation built on the broad shoulders of goalkeeper Sergio Padt and the Brazilian wall, Eric Botteghin. And driving the midfield were the dynamic, emerging talents of Simon Tibbling and Albert Rusnak. Every single player on this list was about to become a local legend in the final against PEC Zwolle.
Reading these names just days before the historic final in Rotterdam adds a layer of dramatic irony. The players smiling in the team photo had no idea that in a matter of days, they would be parading through a sea of green and white, welcomed by tens of thousands of ecstatic fans in the city park. This page is a snapshot of the calm before the most glorious storm in the club’s history.
A Look into the Future
By 2026, the heroes of the 2015 Cup win have scattered across the globe, yet their legacy in Groningen is permanent. Tjaronn Chery and Albert Rusnak enjoyed lucrative careers internationally, while Eric Botteghin became a respected veteran in European leagues. Erwin van de Looi transitioned into managing national youth teams and other Eredivisie clubs. However, no matter where their careers took them, returning to the Euroborg always guarantees them a standing ovation. They are, and forever will be, the men who finally brought the Cup to the North.