Dutch professional footballers can be found in all corners of the world, from the spotlights of the major European leagues to the more adventurous jobs on other continents. In the section Across the Border speaks football zone weekly with a player who is active outside the national borders. With this time attention to Branco van den Boomen, who made an exceptional contribution to the Toulouse championship in Ligue 2 last season. Also at the highest level, the 27-year-old midfielder shows every week of his caliber with Les Violets.
By Wessel Antes
The native of Eindhoven started playing football at RKVVO in Oerle and was noticed at a young age by scouts from the joint youth academy of Willem II and RKC Waalwijk. However, Van den Boomen signed his first contract with Ajax in 2011. His father Harry was once a great talent at PSV, but had to stop due to a knee injury. Although the controller played three seasons in Amsterdam, the choice between Ajax and PSV is not difficult for him. “It has always been PSV actually. I often went to the stadium with my father when I was little. My favorite player was Luc Nilis. Later I became a fan of Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Arjen Robben.”
Although Van den Boomen could often be found in the Philips Stadium as a child, as a youth player he never had any problem playing for Ajax. “Actually, it came very naturally. I also often played with Ajax players for the youth teams of the Dutch, so I already knew a number of boys at the club. After I had a good conversation at Ajax, it seemed the best for my future, so I started playing there.”
What Van den Boomen remembers most from his Ajax time is the high quality of football. “Everything at that club is so professional. It was nice every day to be on the field with such good teammates. We were often by far the best at tournaments, so the game is extra fun.” A few players jumped out of it, according to the midfielder. “Ricardo Kishna was the very best, although unfortunately he has come out less than I expected due to injuries. Kenny Tete was always very good too. After us came the generation of Donny van de Beek and Frenkie de Jong, of course you could already see that they would go far.”
Van den Boomen and Jaïro Riedewald duel with Vincent Janssen (2013)
After fifteen matches in Jong Ajax, Van den Boomen was told that his contract was not being extended. “In the end I just wasn’t good enough to join Ajax’s main squad. At that point it was right for them to let me go. Later it turned out that I needed more time to develop myself. To break through at Ajax you have to have the level of the Champions League and I certainly didn’t have that at the time.” FC Eindhoven, the club from his hometown, then picked him up on a free transfer.
After a good season in the Jan Louwers Stadium, Van den Boomen made the step to the Eredivisie after all. At sc Heerenveen, and on a rental basis at Willem II, he never grew into an undisputed basic player. “I think there are both physical and mental reasons. In terms of technique, tactics and football intelligence, I could have easily played at the top of the Eredivisie at that age. If you’re not physically and mentally ready for that, it’s just not worth it. I don’t blame myself, because in the end this had to be my path.”
During his return to Eindhoven, he earned a transfer to De Graafschap, who also still played in the Kitchen Champion Division. Still, Van den Boomen felt that he was ready for a step higher. “In the end I felt that I had outgrown that competition. That is why I was happy that I could take the step abroad. There were no clubs in the Eredivisie that were willing to pay a transfer fee for me. I am very grateful to Toulouse that they had that confidence and given me the opportunity.”
Van den Boomen has played 95 games for Toulouse so far
The club from the south of France, which played in the Ligue 2 at the time, paid only a few hundred thousand in August 2020 for the services of Van den Boomen. Later it turned out to be a golden move. But how does a French club end up with a De Graafschap midfielder? “They had started a new project in which they looked at reinforcements in a data-oriented way. I got through that pretty well and when they looked at my footage they were impressed. Also, because I wasn’t extremely expensive compared to other players, I was even more attractive to them.”
Van den Boomen himself did not have to think long about the transfer. De Brabander therefore did little research before he took the plunge. “I really only knew they had just been relegated from Ligue 1, but to be honest, I was also surprised that they came to me. It was a dream opportunity for me to leave for a beautiful country and a big city. We completed everything within a week. I also had other foreign options, but they weren’t real football countries. I was overjoyed that a club came from France. It made me feel good that they really scouted me based on stats and the player I am.”
Van den Boomen notices that he has been able to develop in France exactly as he had envisioned. “In France I have grown extremely physically and mentally. The Ligue 2 is a lot harder and just asks more of you as a player. It was a perfect step for me and because of that growth I can now show my footballing qualities in France. In addition, it was good to leave my comfort zone. Often that can be an important step to really grow as a player. I have become a lot more responsible, although that has of course also to do with age.”
Van den Boomen lives in Toulouse, the fourth largest city in France, with his wife and daughter. “It was a big step for us. My wife was also pregnant in the first year. We didn’t know what to expect as it was my first club abroad. In the end, we are very happy that we embarked on this wonderful adventure. Toulouse is a great city, it’s really great here. It is a city where many young people live and the weather is often good. In my spare time I like to have a bite to eat with the other Dutch guys.”
Van den Boomen celebrates with Zakaria Aboukhlal and Thijs Dallinga, among others
Van den Boomen was the founder of a true trend at Toulouse: after his arrival three other Dutchmen joined. In October 2020 he was joined by Stijn Spierings. “That was really great. Stijn is really my buddy, both on and off the field. It is always nice to be able to speak Dutch at the club every now and then.” Thijs Dallinga and Zakaria Aboukhlal also came to play for Toulouse this summer. With the Dutch-speaking Belgian Brecht Dejaegere there is now a large group. “Naturally you quickly draw near to each other if you speak the same language, but it’s also nice for the people around us. This is one of the reasons why everyone really feels at home at this club.”
In his first season with Toulouse, Van den Boomen scored five goals and eight goals. A year later, the midfielder had an exceptional championship year in Ligue 2 with 12 goals and 21 assists in 37 games. He was also named the best player of the competition. “The fact that my game and statistics were so much better in my second season has to do with confidence, playing style and the new coach (Phillippe Montanier, ed.). I immediately clicked with him and we went to play 4-3-3, which I was used to from the Netherlands. It was a fantastic year where everything fell into place. Not only for me, but also for the club. I would never have dreamed of such statistics. Apparently a lot can happen if you are comfortable in your own skin.”
Van den Boomen was awarded the Player of the Year award during a gala in Paris. Stars like Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry were present on the occasion. Still, the midfielder doesn’t want to boast about that, as level-headed as he is. “It was very nice to be a part of it. Pretty special too, to be among all those big players. It is now starting to become a bit more normal, because we also regularly play against big players.” Toulouse is also showing ambition at the highest level in France. The club tries to make the game itself in every game.
“I am quite happy with our start to the season. I think we have taken the points against the teams we need to win from,” said Van den Boomen, who also sees areas for improvement. “Away from Lyon we played 1-1, although we also lost a few times too easily against the big clubs. Maybe we played a little too often offensively against those kinds of teams.” The midfielder himself currently has one goal and four assists in 14 games in Ligue 1.
Van den Boomen in action against Kylian Mbappé at the beginning of this season
Van den Boomen notices that the level of the top teams in France is extremely high. He was most impressed by Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti. “I think that was my best opponent, he was really not normal.” He did not ask for the shirt of the thirty-year-old Italian. “I’m not really into that, I haven’t traded against Paris at all. I do have a shirt from AS Monaco, that of Kevin Volland, the German striker. At Monaco, Mohamed Camara, my direct opponent, was very good.”
Van den Boomen does not feel any extra urge to prove himself to Dutch clubs. “It’s not that I want to get my gram and necessarily prove myself to Dutch clubs. I always knew I had this in me. I think everyone has their own route and this was the best way for me. Maybe I should be grateful to them for not taking me,” he says with a laugh. “I’m happy with how it went and my current situation.”
Van den Boomen’s contract with Toulouse expires in the summer of 2023. The game dealer will calmly look at all the options that are coming. “During the World Cup I will talk to the club anyway, because then there is really plenty of time for that. There will probably be other options as well so I’m going to think carefully about my next step. In principle, I am open to everything.” Also for a top club in the Netherlands? “It doesn’t matter much to me. I would love to return to the Netherlands, but that is not necessary per se. Staying in France is definitely an option, but playing in a football country like Spain would be great too. I’ll see what the future brings.”