[Albion] Ranking every single Dutch player ever to play for the Albion

[Kuipers Supporters Club]

At the start of the week where we will play one of the biggest games in our history, I’ve ranked every single Dutch player ever to play for us.

13-4 in this post, the top three to follow. I hope you enjoy!

13 Roland Bergkamp

We begin with unlucky 13 and Roland Bergkamp The nephew of the non Flying Dutchman.

Signed in July 2011 as Albion were promoted to the Championship. I only saw him in a pre-season friendly vs @HorshamFC in Worthing. He never made a first team appearance for us

12 Soufyan Ahannach

After joining in 2017, he failed to make his 1st team debut but made two appearances in the Checkatrade Trophy games against Oxford United and Stevenage.

1 of 3 Dutch players I’ve not seen live. Soufyan has had five clubs since leaving permanently in 2020 and currently plays for Wydad AC, Morcoc's most successful club.

11 Kjell Scherpen

The 2nd of those I’ve not seen live, so perhaps harshly placed.

The former Ajax goalkeeper joined us from the Dutch champions in 2021, making his debut away at West Bromwich Albion in a Third Round FA Cup tie.

The 6’8 stopper is current on loan to potential Europa League opponents Sturm Graz.

10 Elvis Manu

Signed in 2015 for £1.5M but failed to shake up the south coast. Making just 17 appearances. He was caught in a trap with and soon left the building.

Now plays for FC Universitatea Cluj in Romania.

9 Tim Krul

Possibly a bit cruel (sorry) for an outstanding goalkeeper.

Best known for his time with Norwich and his 2014 World Cup heroics for The Netherlands vs. Costa Rica.

Always felt confident with him in between the sticks and is currently signed with Luton Town.

8 Bart Verbruggen

1/3 Dutch players in our current side & may well play on Thursday.

Signed from RS Anderlecht this summer. Bart hasn’t been with us long enough yet to warrant a higher ranking, but has the potential to be one of the best Dutch keepers Albion has ever had.

7 Danny Holla

Made 33 appearances for us. The vast majority of them coming under Sami Hyypia (shudder).

Always seemed to work hard and a good professional. Last club was Sliema Wanderers in the Maltese Challenge League

6 Rajiv van La Parra

Despite only 7 appearances, I loved RvLP. Skilful, flare and a lot of potential.

He played in the EPL for Huddersfield Town and the Champions League for Red Star Belgrade.

Into the top 5 now ...

5 Jan Paul van Hecke

Born six months after Darren Freeman scored the first goal of the new Millennium and pocketed Erling Haaland, he’s growing in confidence in every game.

Joined from NAC Breda in 2020. 23 appearances so far and really think he's improving all the time.




4 Davy Propper

121 games for the Albion and currently our 2nd highest Dutch appearance holder.

Never gave the ball away in midfield with Stephens. Signed for a club record fee of €6m.

A real stalwart. Came out of retirement and now plays for Vitesse. 19 international caps for the Dutch.

Top 3 to follow in the next post ...

 

[Kuipers Supporters Club]

3 Joël Veltman

Fast becoming an Albion legend and soon to overtake the previously mentioned midfielder with his appearances.

119 games for Albion so far. after signing from Ajax for £900,000, the best value for money deal ever?

World class right back. Ajax away fans gave him an excellent reception a fortnight ago and can expect the same this week.

2 Hans Kraay Jr.

A Career had it all. Including his own fan club on NSC.

Brought total football to the south coast. Described by Chris Cattlin as ‘the finest professional footballer I have known’.

23 yellows and multiple reds in as many games.

What a man.

1 Michel Kuipers

Of course, it had to be, the Former Dutch Marine.

Multiple world class saves. Wolves away, Bristol City and Blackpool at home to name but a few.

10 years, three promotions and close to 250 appearances for a real BHAFC legend who was always there for us when we needed him.

So what do you think? Are any in the wrong place? Who would you change?

Hope you enjoyed reading and see you in Amsterdam!

 

[Mellotron]

You had me utterly terrified at the lack of Jurgen Locadia in 13-4 for a moment there......

 

[Mackenzie]

I'd probably change the order of the top three, but that's a fine effort and must have taken a while to research.

 

[Kuipers Supporters Club]

You had me utterly terrified at the lack of Jurgen Locadia in 13-4 for a moment there......

Ha! I sincerely thank the Country of Curaçao at this moment in time.

 

[Guinness Boy]

I'd put Veltman at number one.

As much as we all loved Kuipers he wasn't exactly an international. I do get that with the OP's user name the outcome couldn't have been any differernt.

Kraay at 2 is a great shout so it's a bronze for FDM from me.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

Well done, difficult to disagree with much of that. Had completely forgotten the existence of Ahannach.

 

[Whitechapel]

I'd put Veltman at number one.

As much as we all loved Kuipers he wasn't exactly an international. I do get that with the OP's user name the outcome couldn't have been any differernt.

Kraay at 2 is a great shout so it's a bronze for FDM from me.

Michel Kuipers helped me get in to my hotel after they wouldn’t let us in as it was ‘home fans only’ after we got humped by Derby in the play-off semi.

For that reason alone he should be number one for every single Brighton supporter. Admittedly it’s quite a niche reason.

 

[Farehamseagull]

Didn't see Kraay play so for me it's:

1. FDM
2. Veltman
3. Propper

 

[AK74]

1. Veltman
2. Kraay
3. Kuipers

 

[Bozza]

Ha! I sincerely thank the Country of Curaçao at this moment in time.

We've got a LOT to thank those fellas for - they took Kemy Agustien under their wing too!

 

[Pinkie Brown]

I'd have Veltmann at number one. No mention of Locadia or Agustien which is to be commended.

My lasting memory of Hans Kray is an absolute horror tackle from behind on Paul Wilkinson (him of the dodgy 80s bubble perm) who was playing for Grimsby at the time. It was a red all day long but the ref deemed it only a yellow.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

These are a good ranking.

On the subject of Veltman, I still think Groß is the best value for money player we've had, in terms of his goal and assist return, but Joel certainly runs him close thanks to his of his high levels of commitment, shithousery and enthusiastic goal celebrations!

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

I think I'd put Ver Bruggen and Krul into 6th and 7th. Can't argue with the top five but might change the order. I never saw Hans Kray play but there are at least two posters named after him so he must have had something about him. Of the ones I have seen I'd go:

The FDM
Veltman
Propper
Van Hecke

if i'm going with my favouries. If I'm giving a bit more weight to ability then I'd swap the FDM and Veltman.

 

[MattBackHome]

No arguments with any of that, and I officially nominate @Kuipers Supporters Club to do it the same for lots of other nations. Come on, look lively.

 

[nwgull]

I think that these rankings have always got to be stipulated that they are relative to the level that BHA were playing at at the time. Kuipers is obviously an inferior keeper to Verbruggen and Krul, but relative to divisions 2-4, he was an outstanding shot stopper.

How true is it that we only took him from Bristol Rovers as a friendly face for 19-year-old Zamora?

 

[hans kraay fan club]

No arguments with any of that, and I officially nominate @Kuipers Supporters Club to do it the same for lots of other nations. Come on, look lively.

With the exception of the home nations, Spain, and maybe France, most of those others will be very short lists!

 

[Kuipers Supporters Club]

No arguments with any of that, and I officially nominate @Kuipers Supporters Club to do it the same for lots of other nations. Come on, look lively.

Here is the list of Greek players:


The end.

 

[Mellotron]

Buzzing for the Israeli players thread. Bit of a 2 horse race.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Buzzing for the Israeli players thread. Bit of a 2 horse race.

Can't believe you forgot Gai Assulin (I'll forgive you on age grounds, for forgetting Moshe Gariani)