Dutch football is something of a talent factory and the country punches well above its weight at international level as a result of its youth know-how. Holland’s top flight, the Eredivisie, is also the perfect proving ground, being of a good standard, but not enough to thrust players into the game’s uppermost level at once. With the country’s clubs possessing some of the finest youth systems anywhere in the world, often a quick glance at the Eredivisie is enough to reveal the gems that will soon light up the Champions League and command bumper fees throughout their careers. Here are the top ten fledgling talents of Holland’s Eredivisie:
1) Nicolai Boilesen – Ajax – Defender – 19 years old
At the start of the season Boilesen was Ajax’s fourth choice left back, coming after Urby Emanuelson, Vurnon Anita and Daley Blind. But the pieces fell into place for the 19-year-old; Emanuelson was sold to AC Milan, Anita was switched to midfield and Blind demonstrated a clear need to improve his tactical awareness – especially at the back. And this led Ajax boss Frank de Boer, formerly Boilesen’s coach with Jong Ajax, to trust in the Danish defender. Boilesen made his debut last April against Heracles Almelo, coming on as a second half substitute; he played in all the club’s remaining games. The youngster has proven to be a quick and tough defender, and his future is certainly bright.
2) Luc Castaignos – Feyenoord – Forward – 18 years old
The deep financial problems at Feyenoord forced coach Mario Been to field a team full of talents drawn from the club’s esteemed youth system. In many ways, the senior squad became an under-21 side of sorts, in which 18-year-old Castaignos was a first choice pick up front. Feyenoord needed their youngster to grow up quickly; and the striker with French and Cape Verdean roots did just that, scoring 15 goals in the Eredivisie in his first season as a regular pick. Between 2009 and 2010, Castaignos won three domestic youth championships with Feyenoord. And after the 2009 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, he became the Netherlands Under-17 side’s all-time top scorer, with 13 goals to his name. The striker recently inked a five-year contract with Inter.
3) Jordy Clasie – Excelsior – Midfielder – 19 years old
Excelsior’s little big man Clasie joined the Rotterdam outfit last summer on a one-year loan from Feyenoord – the club at which he had plied his trade since the age of 11. Curiously, he made his debut in the professional game against Feyenoord in the Rotterdam derby – Excelsior surprisingly won 3-2. Clasie quickly became a regular in Alex Pastoor’s 4-3-3 system, being deployed as a creative midfielder or a screening midfielder. In each role he impressed, showing a superb range of passing combined with tactical awareness that belied his tender years. His short height has been a sore point though. “I don’t want to hear that word”, said Clasie when the subject was raised. “The only thing that matters to me is to be a giant on the pitch. Like Xavi and [Cesc] Fabregas, the players who inspired me.”
4) Christian Eriksen – Ajax – Midfielder – 19 years old
In the game against FC Twente that brought the Eredivisie title back to Ajax after a seven-year absence, Eriksen left his own mark on the affair, providing the assist – his ninth in the league – for Siem de Jong’s definitive strike to seal the 3-1 win. Since Frank de Boer replaced Martin Jol as the Amsterdam side’s coach, Eriksen has developed into a key player for the Eredivisie giants, proving the €500,000 paid to Danish side OB for his services in 2008 to be money well spent. The youngest player involved in the 2010 World Cup, Eriksen blends superb technical skills with great vision and a hard-working attitude. Next season’s Champions League could be the stage for his breakthrough at continental level.
5) Luuk de Jong – FC Twente – Forward – 20 years old
Along with Theo Janssen and Nacer Chadli, Luuk De Jong was Twente’s best performer of last season. In the first few games of the campaign coach Michel Preud’Homme deployed De Jong as a number 10, behind three strikers; however, the 20-year-old became a difference-maker when he moved up front. Siem’s younger brother scored in every competition in which the Tukkers were involved: 12 goals in the Eredivisie, one in the Champions League, three in the Europa League, three in the Dutch Cup and one in the Dutch Super Cup (De Jong scored the winner against Ajax in the season opener). With eight assists to his name, De Jong laid claim to being the club’s top provider too. 12 months ago, the talent was a bench-warmer with Holland’s Under-21 side – now he has made his senior debut with the Oranje.
6) Zakaria Labyad – PSV Eindhoven – Midfielder – 18 years old
Once Ibrahim Afellay flew to Barcelona, PSV sent his little “clone” on to the Phillips Stadion turf. Ever since taking his first steps into the professional game Labyad has looked up to Afellay as his inspiration, both on and off the pitch. The technically gifted midfielder made his Eredivisie debut in February 2010, at the age of 17. Two months later he scored a brace against Groningen. Last season he found opportunities forthcoming after Afellay’s departure in January, scoring his first continental goal against Benfica in the Europa League. Ladyad represents one of the few bright spots for a PSV side trapped between a disappointing present and uncertain future. The midfielder’s future with the national team is uncertain too, with the youngster having turned out for Morocco’s Under-21 side after appearing for Holland’s Under-15s, 16s, 17s and 19s.
7) Kolbeinn Sigthórsson – AZ Alkmaar – Forward – 21 years old
Despite a difficult start under new AZ coach Getjan Verbeek, Sigthorsson ended last season as the club’s top scorer, netting 15 crucial goals to help the Alkmaar side finish fourth. First fielded as an attacking midfielder, the Icelandic striker blossomed when Verbeek switched him to the middle of AZ’s attacking line. Last January Sigthorsson scored five goals against VVV-Venlo, in the process becoming only the second foreign player – after Afonso Alves – to score four goals in an Eredivisie game, and the youngest AZ player to accomplish the feat. It is little surprise therefore that Sigthorsson is Ajax’s main target this summer.
8) Kevin Strootman – FC Utrecht – Midfielder – 21 years old
Six months ago Strootman was still leading Sparta Rotterdam in the Dutch second tier, the Eerste Divisie. The midfielder had been one of the few talents to remain with the club after their relegation from the Eredivisie. However, Sparta’s plan to bounce straight back up soon vanished, forcing the club to sell their star in the winter transfer window to FC Utrecht for €1M. Once in the Domestad (the city of the dome), it took Strootman only 40 days to make his senior Holland debut, with coach Bert van Marwijk seeing the player as Mark van Bommel’s natural heir. Despite starting out as a left sided midfielder, Strootman was increasingly played in the middle of the park. His versatility makes him crucial as both an attacking or defensive midfielder.
9) Charlton Vicento – ADO Den Haag – Forward – 20 years old
ADO Den Haag have European football to look forward to next season, for the first time in 24 years; and Charlton Vicento can be considered a key part of having made that dream a reality. The 20-year-old is the youngest and most promising talent the Den Haag side possess. His speed along the flanks and dribbling ability are reviving memories of Eljero Elia, the last great product of ADO’s youth system. However, Vicento came close to ruining a memorable season after being filmed flicking a Nazi salute to the crowd after ADO defeated Ajax. The player quickly apologised, though Holland Under-19 coach Cor Pot dropped him from his squad.
10) Stefan de Vrij – Feyenoord – Defender – 19 years old
It is often said that what does not kill a person only makes them stronger – and this has certainly been the case for De Vrij. The defender was in Feyenoord’s starting eleven on the day that the Rotterdam side were simply taken apart by rivals PSV and drubbed 10-0. Since then however, the umpteenth talent to rise from Feyenoord’s youth academy has gone on to become one of the Eredivisie’s top defenders, helping his team to discover the solidity and consistency needed to climb away from the relegation zone. De Vrij joined Feyenoord at the age of 10 after attending a “talent day”. Two years ago the defender was one of the standout players at the 2009 European Under-17 Championship in Germany, in which Holland finished second. He recently penned a contract extension with Feyenoord running until 2014.
