Analyst Gertjan Verbeek has strongly criticized new SC Heerenveen defender Mees Hilgers. Verbeek labels the player as unreliable due to his behavior at FC Twente last season, as reported by FeanOnline this week.
What did Gertjan Verbeek say about Mees Hilgers?
Gertjan Verbeek, an experienced sports analyst, gave his blunt opinion about SC Heerenveen's new signing. "Hilgers is onbetrouwbaar. Met zijn makelaar en de wijze waarop hij communiceert met FC Twente afgelopen seizoen." said Verbeek. He emphasized that this behavior does not fit the core values of the Frisian club. Verbeek stated he would not want to play with or sign such a player himself. He did acknowledge that the exact reason for the conflict between Hilgers and FC Twente is not publicly known.
The analyst also warned about the consequences. If a player is given a new chance at the start of the season and then fails to show up, a match is played. Verbeek further claimed that Hilgers never came to Friesland during his time at SC Heerenveen, which makes the situation even more remarkable.
How does SC Heerenveen react to Hilgers' arrival?
From SC Heerenveen's side, a completely different tone is heard. Johan Hansma, a club spokesman, expressed happiness about the transfer. "Blij dat hij voor SC Heerenveen heeft gekozen," said Hansma. The club officially presented Hilgers as a reinforcement for the defense. SC Heerenveen took over the player from FC Twente, with De Telegraaf reporting that a significant amount was paid for him.
Hansma also revealed that the club rejected a bid from France. He confirmed there is currently no other offer for the player. The presentation of the club's new goalkeeper, who is currently in the Netherlands, is according to Hansma just a matter of time.
What is the background of the conflict at FC Twente?
The behavior of Mees Hilgers at FC Twente last season is the root of the criticism. The defender came into conflict with his former club last season. FC Twente removed Hilgers from the squad a year ago because he refused to extend his contract. Earlier this summer, his contract was automatically extended, but Hilgers did not show up for training afterwards. The player himself said he was surprised by this contract extension.
The situation caused a lot of commotion. Drost, another commentator, said there is a lot of noise around SC Heerenveen and that it is difficult to deal with. The departure of Nikolai Hopland after a disappointing season for Denmark added another layer to that.
What is SC Heerenveen's current league position?
The arrival of Hilgers comes as SC Heerenveen is experiencing an inconsistent start to the season. The club is currently eleventh in the Eredivisie with five points from four matches. The team has one win, two draws, and one loss, with a recent form of DLDW. SC Heerenveen has scored five goals and conceded six, resulting in a negative goal difference of minus one.
The title gap with leaders AZ Alkmaar is already seven points. That makes the next match even more important. SC Heerenveen will host AZ Alkmaar, the current leaders, on September 6, 2026. The KNVB has already announced the referee for this match. The current standings can always be followed on our standings page.
Who is SC Heerenveen missing due to injuries?
Coach Veldman must determine the lineup for the upcoming match without several key players. Currently sidelined are O. Braude, M. Egbring, and M. Linday. For Linday, Veldman has already designated a replacement in the lineup he announced. The full current squad can be consulted on our squad page.
In the club's performance report last week, one insufficient and two outstanding performances were noted. Braude, one of the injured players, previously stated he would rather not have scored his first goal of the season. He said: 'I would rather not have scored it'.
Meanwhile, Marten de Roon made a notable transfer within Italy. A former SC Heerenveen target was sold for a million euros to the Netherlands. Henk Veerman saw a former Heerenveen player succeed and called it 'a fantastic step'. Faes, a former SC Heerenveen player, left Leicester City for a step up. The transfer of Sam Lammers brought relief as a condition was lifted. Van den Boomen shone in France with a 'rocket shot'. Hopland is happy with his transfer and says it feels like the right step. Hilgers himself received a kick after his move to SC Heerenveen, his dream club. Brouwers criticized the SC Heerenveen leadership, saying: 'I find it slightly brutal'. He added that the appreciation between him and the fans has always been great. Veldman responded to rumors about Brouwers by saying: 'he stated it himself'. SC Heerenveen surprised everyone by taking over Mees Hilgers from FC Twente. The next match is at home against AZ Alkmaar on September 6, 2026.
