Ronald Koeman’s inbox has probably seen stranger suggestions, but few as heartfelt – or as pointed – as this one. Hugo Borst, never shy of an opinion, has used his column in Algemeen Dagblad to make a clear plea: it’s time for Bryan Linssen to pull on the Oranje shirt.
Not as a nostalgic reward. As a genuine option.
A 35-Year-Old Driving NEC’s Surprise Surge
NEC sit third in the VriendenLoterij Eredivisie, a position that still makes you blink when you look at the table. At the heart of that surge is a 35-year-old forward who refuses to age to schedule.
“At NEC, there is a 35-year-old footballer we are all fond of: Bryan Linssen. He is getting better and better,” Borst writes.
Linssen, the former Feyenoord striker, has never played in one of Europe’s glamour leagues. No Champions League pedigree, no big-money move abroad. Yet Borst insists that should not disqualify him from national-team consideration. Quite the opposite.
“Depth to His Game” – A Rare Profile in Oranje
Borst’s argument is simple: look at what Linssen actually brings.
“Linssen isn’t in a league of his own, but his statistics are good and he has depth to his game, which is rare in the Oranje,” he notes.
The goals are there. The movement is there. The runs in behind, the constant stretching of defences, the kind of vertical threat Koeman’s side often lacks when the game slows and the spaces shrink.
“Linssen scores regularly,” Borst continues, before widening the lens. This isn’t just about finishing. It’s about the work around it.
Relentless Work, Relentless Shape
If there is one image Borst wants Koeman to picture, it’s Linssen in full flight, hunting the ball.
“He also has an extremely strong work ethic,” the columnist stresses. “The man is always fit, chases down defenders and strikes fear into the hearts of goalkeepers. Linssen doesn’t have an ounce of fat on him, but is a mass of muscle.”
That description reads like a scouting report written in bold type. Fit. Relentless. Physically sharp. A forward who presses as if his contract depends on it and who, at 35, still looks built for the grind of international football.
Linssen vs Weghorst: Borst Picks His Man
Borst doesn’t stop at praise. He draws a direct comparison with one of Koeman’s established options: Wout Weghorst.
He sees the NEC man as the more complete forward.
Borst calls Linssen “amiable, cheerful and sociable. Pretty much everything Weghorst lacks.” It’s a pointed line, aimed not only at style of play but at personality and dressing-room chemistry.
On the pitch, Borst doubles down.
“What’s more, Linssen is the better header. He reaches higher than Weghorst, who’s not half bad in my book either.”
Weghorst, a proven weapon for Oranje, is no punchbag in this argument. Borst acknowledges his qualities. But if Koeman wants a striker who presses, jumps, scores and lifts the mood, the columnist’s verdict is clear.
A Direct Appeal to the National Coach
This isn’t a tactical whiteboard presentation. It’s a nudge, almost a challenge, delivered in Borst’s familiar, conversational tone.
“But if we’re going to be sociable, Koeman: do give Bryan Linssen a thought.”
A 35-year-old leading NEC into the top three. A body still honed for elite demands. A profile Borst insists is missing from the current Oranje attack.
Now the question sits with Koeman: does the national team have room for a late-blooming workhorse who refuses to accept that his chance has already passed?
