There is a distinct moment in every breakout season where a promising talent transforms into the undisputed star of the team. For Serbian winger Filip Kostic, that moment is perfectly captured on page 18 of the October 2013 matchday programme.
The “Essent Speler van het Jaar” section announces the SMS voting results from the previous home victory against AZ Alkmaar. While Kostic had won a Man of the Match award earlier in the season, the margin of this victory was staggering. He claimed a massive 55% of the fan vote, absolutely obliterating the competition. The runner-up, fan-favorite Nick van der Velden, received 19%, while the tireless midfielder Maikel Kieftenbeld took 9%.
The photo shows Kostic standing on the Euroborg pitch, looking almost nonchalant as he accepts the award. The text notes that despite this landslide victory, Nick van der Velden still held a narrow lead in the overall season standings. However, the momentum had clearly shifted. Kostic’s blistering pace, relentless crosses, and ability to dismantle Eredivisie full-backs had made him the absolute focal point of the Groningen attack, and the fans texting their 60-cent votes were fully aware they were watching a player destined for bigger stages.
A Look into the Future
This 55% landslide vote was a sign of things to come. Filip Kostic would go on to have a phenomenal 2013/2014 campaign, finishing as the club’s most dangerous attacking asset. His performances at the Euroborg that year earned him a lucrative transfer to VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga the following summer. By 2026, Kostic has established himself as one of the premier wing-backs in European football, winning the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt and securing a move to Juventus. This matchday programme page is a printed receipt of the exact month he conquered the northern Netherlands.