Balk 2025

Words: Han Balk

Images: Han Balk

It’s time for an end-of-year review. What an insane and unforgettable football year 2025 turned out to be. From the Dutch 10th tier all the way to the Europa League with Go Ahead Eagles.

Without exaggeration: 2025 was the year of the Eagle.

The cup triumph. The win against Panathinaikos in rain-soaked Athens. The corteo in Salzburg and the pepper spray in Lyon — and, of course, the unforgettable 2–1 victory over Aston Villa in a roaring Adelaarshorst.

I attended 151 matches this year, and selecting highlights from them is almost an impossible task. Still, I gave it a try to pin it down to 11 photos.

©Han Balk/ Terrace Edition. Amsterdamsche FC vs FC-Hercules.

©Han Balk/ Terrace Edition. AZ Alkmaar vs Go Ahead Eagles

©Han Balk/ Terrace Edition. DTS’35 vs Bennekom.

©Han Balk/ Terrace Edition. Feyenoord vs Groningen.

©Han Balk/ Terrace Edition. Groen-Wit ’62 vs Helios.

©Han Balk/ Terrace Edition. GWVV vs Eldenia.

©Han Balk/ Terrace Edition. Hoogeveen vs Emmen.

©Han Balk/ Terrace Edition. Panathinaikos F.C. vs Go Ahead Eagles.

©Han Balk/ Terrace Edition. PSV vs Go Ahead Eagles.

©Han Balk/ Terrace Edition. FC Zutphen vs CSV’28.

Han is on X and Instagram: @hanbalk. You can find him on Bluesky: @hanbalk.bsky.social