After photographing him at Sparta’s legendary Het Kasteel stadium, we took a moment to explore the mindset and discipline that drive the 29-year-old to be the best version of himself, both on and off the pitch.

From his early ambitions in goalkeeping to his leadership at Sparta, he shares a candid perspective on thriving at such a high level and navigating the modern era of football, where players are increasingly seen as brands. We discuss the importance of authenticity, a strong foundation, and the vital role of family in sustaining long-term success – key to his journey as one of the chosen few to represent his country on the biggest stage.

You said in an earlier interview that appearance is very important to you as a goalkeeper. Can you tell us more about that?

I believe everything starts with how you present yourself. Ultimately, you only get one first impression. How I present myself today will impact future collaborations we may have.

If you look at football, for example, I almost never wear black. I’m not the biggest goalkeeper, and wearing black makes you appear smaller. My former colleague, Gino Coutinho, once told me that, and it’s always stuck with me.How you dress as a goalkeeper can give you a certain boost of self-confidence. In the end, you stand alone in that goal, so you need to feel good about how you look.

The way you feel reflects in your performance. When you’re comfortable in your own skin, it shines through in your game – it’s the same in everyday life. Last year, I really felt that when I wore that infamous orange kit. At one point, it even became a thing, especially when I was called up to the Dutch National Team.

The isolation of a goalkeeper, being alone in the goal, is something you’ve talked about before. Nowadays, you’re also the team captain and one of the strongholds of the team. Have you always had a leadership role?

I don’t think you’re ever done learning about leadership. There are so many different ways to lead. Are you the type to call people out when things go wrong? Do you lead by encouraging teammates when they’re struggling? Or do you lead by example – always being the first in line and doing your exercises properly?

For me, leadership means consistently delivering top performances. Good leadership means the team can always rely on you, and that you take initiative. But that doesn’t mean that when we go to the supporters, I’m always the first one leading the charge, saying, “I’m the leader, let’s go.” No, not at all. That’s not my character.

First and foremost, I see my role as stopping the ball and being an important part of the starting eleven – being present and leading my defense. That’s my main job. Beyond that, if I notice someone struggling, I’ll speak to them personally rather than calling them out in front of the group. My leadership has developed in that way –knowing how to handle different situations.

You also have to adapt to the type of group you have. Football teams are full of different personalities. When I first joined Sparta, we had a lot of players with strong leadership qualities. As some of them have moved on, my role has naturally grown.

You’re the only one with the captain’s armband, but you’re also the only goalkeeper on the pitch. Does your role feel different than a field player in some ways?

I think goalkeepers always have a unique role within the team. By the way, I don’t really experience that as “loneliness” as others might. I’ve always fit in well with my teammates at every club – if I may say so myself – and that has certainly helped.

I only feel that loneliness when I make a mistake. You always make that mistake alone in a certain way, and then you’re really on your own. Sure, players might come up to you and say, “Ah, unlucky, it happens, keep your head up, next time.” But in that moment, for me, it feels like a failure. And you have to process that on your own.

Who were your idols when you were young?

My idols were Iker Casillas and Victor Valdés. And it’s actually because they were shorter. People like Petr Čech or Thibaut Courtois are amazing, but if you pay attention to how they play, it’s very different because they’re much taller than me. But Casillas and Valdés, I learned a lot from them. I could study their techniques and think, “Hey, I can do that too.”

Valdés, in particular, became an inspiration because of my aunt. She’s Spanish and lived in Barcelona, where I also lived for a few years. At one point, Valdés lived next door to her. We returned to the Netherlands, but whenever we visited during the holidays, I’d intentionally shoot the ball to his side of the garden. Eventually, he came outside, and I got his gloves and football shoes. In a way, that even supported my decision to fully pursue goalkeeping at that age.

Let’s talk about appearance, specifically the growing public interest in professional footballers. It used to be just about the game, but now it’s about the whole package. You’ve seen this firsthand with the Dutch National Team – photos are taken upon arrival, and what you wear matters.

Today’s footballer is a brand. That all changed rapidly when social media became what it is today. Now, there are cameras everywhere. The interest goes far beyond just the sport. Many players are sponsored by brands outside of football, because there is a broader interest across society. People want to know more about the person behind the player, as much as they’re willing to share. It’s increasingly pushed on you. You can’t really escape that attention anymore.

I was very aware of this when I was called up to the Dutch National Team. I wanted to present myself in the best way possible. First impressions matter, and you want to carry yourself with confidence. I don’t have the same opportunities as some of the other guys in the squad, but I always try to present the best version of myself – just as I do on the field.

Back in the day, if Ed de Goeij showed up wearing a sweater with sweatpants but saved five balls from the top corner, that’s all anyone would talk about. The rest didn’t matter. Now, every detail can have an impact. The entire image of a professional footballer has expanded, and as a player, you can’t ignore that.

How do you stay focused on performing at the highest level with all these distractions? It seems there’s more outside noise than ever.

You just have to stay true to yourself. Despite all the new distractions, you have to create a very stable foundation for yourself. I think that’s the key.

I’m 29 now, and my goal is to stay active in football for as long as possible. I’ve been under contract with a club since I was 16. I’ve always had certainties in my life, like knowing what my weekly schedule looks like or knowing when the season starts and when it ends. Eventually, that will stop. You have to be ready for that transition. I think you really need to be ready to say, “Alright, that’s enough, I’m going to start a new career, whatever it might be.”

Where does your stability come from?

My family is the foundation of everything. I’m quite an emotional person. So, I know that if things change in my personal life or if there are things happening that I have no control over, it can affect my performance on the field. I’ve learned to handle it better, but ultimately, peace in my personal life is crucial to performing at the highest level.

You also need your family to hold up a mirror to you. To tell you exactly how it is. They’re also there to give me a reality check if I need it. If I start getting cocky because everything is going well, they’re the ones who bring me back down to earth. Especially my wife.

You’ve now lived near Rotterdam for several years, where we recently opened our second flagship store. What’s your relationship with the city?

My wife and I have really fallen in love with the city of Rotterdam. The city just lives. You can eat, shop, and there’s always something new to discover. The diversity is huge. We love going to Rotterdam, although we live in a smaller town outside of it; the character of the city is something I don’t think you can experience anywhere else in the Netherlands. The people are very open but straight to the point. They just say what they think. I find that beautiful – there’s no point in beating around the bush. A Rotterdammer just says it like it is. That really suits me as a person, even though I grew up in Haarlem.

And in terms of football, you have a big club in Rotterdam with Sparta, but with Feyenoord, you also have another big club. And then there’s Excelsior, too. So, the city is really all about football. As a footballer, that’s a blessing. You really feel like part of the city, in both good and bad times.

It seems like you’ve created the ideal conditions for your professional life through that stable foundation, and I’m sure that helps you perform at such a high level.

I want to keep presenting myself at my best, wherever I am. Right now, that’s at Sparta, where I’m having a great time, and I’ll do the same for whatever comes next. Football is unpredictable, and that applies to our current situation as a club, too. But I’ll always give my all because of the life I’ve built for myself. Ultimately, football isn’t just a sport or entertainment for me—it’s my career. And whatever comes after my active career, it will look very different. Until then, I’m committed to giving it everything I have and making the most of every opportunity.

It’s inspiring to hear how you approach your career with such discipline. We’re proud to be a small part of that through our collaboration with your club, Sparta.

In my eyes, a stable foundation is the ultimate base and perhaps essential for a successful life in professional sports. And beyond that, staying true to yourself and presenting yourself in the best possible way. That’s why this collaboration with Atelier Munro aligns so well with how I live my life.