They may not be the biggest name in Dutch football, but FC Groningen have been relegated after 23 years in the Eredivisie – and playing a crucial role in the development of some of the finest footballers of their generation.
Based in the far north of the Netherlands, Groningen have rarely threatened to become an Eredivisie force but have produced a large number of future world-class players and Ballon d’Or winners down the years – almost like a Dutch Southampton.
And as the club’s supporters mourn relegation, we’ve identified eight world-class reasons why the demise of FC Groningen should sadden your soul.
Virgil van Dijk
Van Dijk started on the road to becoming the world’s finest centre-back at Groningen back in 2010-11, having joined them from Willem II as a youngster that summer.
In an interview with Sky Sports in 2016, reserve team coach Dick Lukkien recalled how Van Dijk needed pushing to fulfil his immense potential.
This preference for the stick over the carrot took some time for the player to appreciate. “He was very anxious,” Lukkien said.
“He had to get used to me. I obviously recognised his talent but I thought he was much too easy, much too laidback.
“It was a challenge to change his mentality because he didn’t trust me at first and he’s someone who needs to have a bond with his trainer. He thought I was too direct. I think he thought I didn’t like him. But I saw his talent and when I see talent I want to get it out.”
The rest is history…
Luis Suarez
Fifteen goals in 37 matches were enough to earn Suarez a move to Ajax in 2007, as he morphed from Eredivisie nuisance to one of the best strikers of his generation.
READ: Celebrating peak 2013-14 Liverpool & Luis Suarez’s unreal 18-yard header
Arjen Robben
Fresh from their youth academy, Robben debuted for Groningen as a 16-year-old and quickly became an established member of the starting XI.
Word spread that Groningen had reared one of the world’s finest young footballers and PSV moved quickly to secure his signature in 2002.
Spells at Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich established his status as a generational talent and Robben sensationally came out of retirement to rejoin Groningen in 2020. The bond was strong…
Het voelt goed om thuis te zijn!💚 pic.twitter.com/5s3Yu1tsrD
— Arjen Robben (@ArjenRobben) June 27, 2020
Ronald Koeman
Koeman debuted for the club in 1980 and was an immediate success, scoring 30 goals while still a teenager.
During his…
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