The Kitchen Champion Division has been a breeding ground for domestic and foreign talents for decades and this season there are again many football players 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 Marko Kleinen, the MVV midfielder who was inspired several times by FC Barcelona.

Kleinen is a child of the club and a treasure of the city. As a true Maastricht resident, he feels the love of the MVV supporters. “I think that's what people come to see. Many Maastricht residents play football here. Everyone is selected a bit from the neighborhood.” The connection between fan and player is unique the Paris of the Netherlands. “Here you can meet players from the first in the city. People love that, they really come for our boys.”

Family club
It suits a club like MVV, where the word 'family' is part of the DNA. Kleinen was introduced to this early on. “I played at an amateur club in Maastricht. When I was eight or nine, I was scouted by someone on the sidelines. This is how you roll out the talent plan, which I believe leaves ten players. And that's how you end up at MVV.” The talent ended up in a warm bath. “A small club, a nice family club in my opinion. It still is, even now that I am in the first group.”

During his first years at the club, Kleinen experiences a special tournament. “A teammate knew someone from Spain. Then we were allowed to participate in a tournament in Perelada (in the municipality of Girona, ed.). As ten year olds we played with MVV against Barcelona and Villarreal. Not many people can say that. We played against Ansu Fati and Takefusa Kubo, who now plays for Real Sociedad. Even then, Fati was so good and skilled, not normal.”

Kleinen is now a full-fledged first-team player, but he is still impressed by the Barça players of yesteryear. “I look up to Busquets and Iniesta, a bit of a mix of them. You can put pressure on Busquets all you want, but he opens up and knows where the spaces are. He makes that look very simple. And Iniesta… a dribbler who makes you go crazy. It is beautiful to see, but also effective.” Can he profile those same qualities in Maastricht? “That hasn't worked yet, but it will happen. Sometimes it results, but I still have to work on it,” he says with a smile.

Inner Iniesta
With the same sparkle, the 22-year-old midfielder can also recall his greatest highlight at MVV. “That's my first goal, right here.” He looks at the floor inside De Geusselt stadium, before his story lands on September 30, 2022. “Against Willem II. We were 0-2 behind and turned it around to 3-2. I was at center back, which is not my position. After 55 minutes I was allowed to move to midfield. Fifteen minutes later I got stuck on the left winger. Jarne Steuckers shouted at me.” Then his inner Iniesta emerges. The ball that falls over him takes Kleinen out of the air, he cuts in with the outside right and shoots the tying goal in flawlessly into the far corner.

“I don't think I'll ever shoot that one again,” he thinks back. “My girlfriend was also surprised that I was on the scoreboard and my parents were emotional about it. That's nice to hear. That's why you do it.” Kleinen also does not necessarily see the goal as a reflection of his qualities. “Dividing the play, a good cross pass, providing a lot of energy and fighting hard. Those are my qualities.” He also sees areas for improvement. “I want to improve my physical strength and fitness. But that is now possible.”

The reason for this is that Kleinen is unavoidable in Maastricht this season. “Last season I didn't play every match. This season I'm playing everything. And competitions make you stronger, you can see that.” He played his hundredth game for the club against Jong FC Utrecht (January 19, 3-0 win). He is therefore happy with his development. “I can be proud of that. I've been playing here for years and have spent a lot of time on the bench. The fact that I now play everything here is great. For this city and these supporters… I can't describe it.”

Even though he didn't play everything last season, Kleinen really enjoyed MVV's revival. The pride of the city will finish fifth in the Kitchen Champion Division in 2023. “It was very alive. You also saw that in the stands. The game was also really good, that's what people come to see.” Trendsetters such as Ruben van Bommel (to AZ in July 2023) and Koen Kostons (to Paderborn in January 2024) have now left. “Look, we often talk about last season, but those qualities are gone. We have an even younger group, with new players. We must take an example from last season and do it again this year,” he emphasizes.

'Just put on a wig…'
Given the small differences in the competition, fifth place is still within reach. In any case, it will not be due to the team spirit. “MVV is a family club. It may sound strange, but we are really like a group of friends. Everyone talks to each other, is friends and does things off the field. Sometimes you are here more than with family, so you really consider each other friends.” Around this time, the people of Maastricht naturally start talking about carnival; the party in the city and province.

“I was sitting here at the table with a few Maastricht residents at lunch, then we talked about carnival. That Monday we play against Jong Ajax, you should have seen the faces of those boys when they heard that. Carnival has been ingrained in our education. It is very important.” The most important question then is: can you make it to celebrate carnival as a top athlete? “Because you play on Monday, you can't go on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Then you still have Tuesday, but whether it is wise…” He leaves it open whether people will encounter Kleinen in the city. “Just put on a wig and no one will recognize you,” he concludes with a wink.

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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