The Kitchen Champion Division has been a breeding ground for domestic and foreign talents for decades and this season there are again many footballers with potential at the second level. Football zone, the official media partner of the Kitchen Champion Division, highlights one of these talents every other week. This time we focus on Julius Dirksen, the twenty-year-old defender of FC Emmen who joined a champion team, but has now secured his place.

If there is one thing that stands out in Dirksen's choice of words, it is the distortions of the word 'may'. He seems especially grateful for his life as a footballer. For example, he was 'allowed' to make his debut for Emmen two and a half years ago, experience fantastic tournaments as a youth player, and share the field with great talents. And a little further back, the defender was 'allowed' to do an internship as a trainee at FC Twente, the club where his early career took shape.

Among the greats
“I started playing football when I was very young – just three years old – at Quick 1890 in Amersfoort. My father played goalkeeper there in the first team, so he thought: My son is also good at football here.” A little later, the UK starts playing football at SC Hoevelaken, in the village where he was born and raised. “All my friends played there too. Ultimately I was scouted by Twente in the E1 (JO10/11, ed.). An indescribable feeling. Doing an internship at a BVO… that makes you super happy and proud. Even if you are young at that moment and you don't know what to expect. I used to always play with the ball and always wanted to become a professional footballer.”

When Twente's youth academy ends in 2014, the talent is welcomed by PEC Zwolle. “I played there for four years. I was also allowed to play my first youth international match,” says Dirksen. On February 17, 2018, he made his debut in the the Dutch shirt, when he came on as a substitute against Italy Under 15 (2-0 loss). A match in which players such as Naci Ünüvar, Youri Regeer and Kian Fitz-Jim also get playing minutes.

“I joined as a boy from Zwolle. With big boys from Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord and also foreign clubs. That was exciting.” In that respect, he seems like an odd man out, except that Dirksen himself will also switch to one of the big three: Ajax at the end of the season. In addition, he eventually played a total of seventeen youth international matches for the Netherlands. “And in the Under 16 and 17 I was even allowed to be captain. I often look back on it with great pride.”

At Ajax, where Dirksen will play from 2018 to 2022, Dirksen can participate in the ABN Amro Future Cup at a young age. “I was in the Under 16s, then I was allowed to go to the Future Cup with the Under 17s. I played three matches there. In the final (2-1 loss against Juventus, ed.) I came on as a substitute. Unfortunately I will not participate with my own team the following year due to the corona pandemic.”

Today, Dirks still keeps an eye on the tournament. “It is a gigantic tournament for boys of fifteen or sixteen years old. It is cool to play, almost the Champions League. You are on TV, there is a lot of attention, they are big clubs, with big players. Jeremy Doku participated at Anderlecht against us, who is now making great progress at Manchester City. Fortunately he was not with me, then I could have put on my running shoes,” he laughs.

Dirksen is participating in the Future Cup 2018/19 with Ajax under 17.

Despite the fact that he is involved as a young talent in a higher age group, he is unable to make a sufficient impression at Ajax. “I joined Jong Ajax, but I actually had too little perspective there. I mainly trained. Other than that I just sat on the couch. Unfortunately I didn't get any minutes.” Looking for a way out, he ends up at Emmen halfway through the season. “It immediately felt good on both sides. And I wanted to get the fun back in the game by making playing minutes. I decided to make the move.”

Looking for fun
It is also equally exciting for the eager youngster at Emmen. Initially he will not get a single minute of play. “My first half of the season here was also the year that we became champions of the Kitchen Champion Division. Everything went well that season, so I didn't play yet. At the time my competitor was Jeroen Veldmate, that was good for me. He is very experienced and has taught me a lot.” During the following season, Dirksen made more and more minutes. Despite the fact that Emmen is relegated from the Eredivisie again, he is growing into a valued force.

“I am a footballing left central defender. First of all, I have to stand my ground, I can still take steps there. Defend it relentlessly and become a leader. I also try to build up a lot. Finding the footballing solution through passing, that is one of my qualities.” Daley Blind is one of his examples. “How he always finds the solution. He remains calm on the ball and scans the area. I like the fact that you can always see the solution.” He then also discusses the technique of 'delaying', for which Blind is often praised.

“This was discussed a lot, especially in the youth at Ajax. At the time, Blind was in the first team. Sometimes you want to delay the pass as long as possible. In my case I keep the ball on the left side as much as possible. If the opponent thinks he can apply pressure, you hope he will move on. Then someone else becomes available and you can suddenly skip a line.” That said, he got playing minutes at Emmen in a relegation year. Was there a culture change? “At Ajax they always want to build up, at all costs. When you're playing against relegation, you can't always play football. I had to learn a lot. Now it is professional football, no more youth. It's getting better, but that took some getting used to, yes.”

Keep going
Despite the missed opportunity in Amsterdam, Dirksen is particularly at home in Emmen. There he experienced his most beautiful memories to date. “Becoming a champion. Even though I didn't play, you still experience it. And there are more great milestones in between. Of course I was allowed to make my debut. And the matches I was allowed to play in the Johan Cruijff ArenA and De Kuip. That's what you dreamed of as a young boy. The youth matches at the Dutch team were also great moments.”

'The matches I was allowed to play in the Arena and De Kuip. That's what you dreamed of as a young boy.'

This season, Dirksen is mainly hoping for a new opportunity in the Eredivisie. “The club has also stated that reaching the Playoffs is the objective.” There is a chance, with a ninth place, but Emmen has to find a turnaround after a mediocre series. “There is not so much pressure to immediately be promoted again, but it is important among the supporters and within the group. You also want to achieve the highest possible result. We are well on our way, so let's keep going. As long as we can continue to participate, you don't know what can happen.”

The defender has already changed clubs a number of times. And coincidentally, he also does that off the field. For example, when he exchanges his driver for a putter. “I play golf a lot. Also with a number of former Ajax teammates. Youri Regeer and Youri Baas, for example. At the moment, Baas has made great progress, so it is up to me to get started again,” he says, after which he explains that the boys also follow each other in football. “They are doing well. When someone scores, I always send a message. And they also look at Emmen. That's nice to see, great that they do that.”

Voetbalzone is the official media partner of the Kitchen Champion Division

Click here for exclusive interviews, talent scouts, current standings and the program on our Kitchen Champion Division page.

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