In perhaps his last game for Feyenoord, Cyriel Dessers can follow in the footsteps of Pierre van Hooijdonk, who helped the Rotterdam club to the UEFA Cup in 2002 with two goals in the final against Borussia Dortmund (3-2). “You can compare us a bit,” says the striker. “Attackers who score easily but do not have the talent of someone like Robin van Persie. Although Pierre could rely on a very nice kicking technique.”
20 years ago, Dessers sat open-mouthed in front of the television when he saw Van Hooijdonk excel against Dortmund in De Kuip. In 2017, he shot NAC Breda to the Eredivisie, just like one of his examples in 1993. And now he also wants to help Feyenoord win a European prize during the final of the Conference League against AS Roma in Tirana on Wednesday.
‘Mister Conference League’ is the nickname of Dessers after ten goals in UEFA’s third competition. An enthusiastic reporter recently suggested whether the tournament should bear the name of the current top scorer. The Desserts League or something. “Let’s not do that,” the attacker laughed. “The tournament has only just started and already has a different name.”
Of course, the journalist’s proposal was not meant seriously. But it does say something about the madness that has erupted around Dessers. In the run-up to the final, the song about the rush hour will also reverberate across the squares of Tirana. “Cheering at the corner flag, the boxes are full. De Kuip is in ecstasy, because Dessers scores a goal. Dessers scores a goal. Cyriel Dessers.”
The Tongeren-born Nigerian international has come to love Feyenoord and his fans this season. The transfer market was only open for a few minutes last summer when a transfer to Spanish Leganés failed and his agent managed to arrange a rental contract in Rotterdam. He remained the first replacement for Bryan Linssen for too long to his liking. But now the question is whether Feyenoord wants to meet its new salary requirements.
Feyenoord can definitively take over Dessers from KRC Genk before June 1 for 4 million euros. Fans have already started a crowdfunding campaign and the Rotterdam business community also wants to help. But the striker has also drawn attention to foreign clubs that have a higher salary ceiling than Feyenoord. In fact, Dessers doesn’t want to leave at all. “But maybe it’s time to take a step,” he doubts. “Feyenoord is a special club. Let’s sit around the table after the final. Something has to come out.”
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