Van Koppen didn’t start out playing football as a child. She comes from a handball family, and for a while it seemed she would follow in her cousin’s footsteps. "My mum was a handball fan and my cousin played for the national team, so I was basically made to become a handball player," the forward says with a laugh.
She often played football in a small cage with her brother and cousins, and she loved it. "I really wanted to play football, but I wasn’t completely sure. My mum said: 'If you still like football when you’re ten, then you can join a club.' And so it happened."
The forward started out with a pair of second-hand boots. "My parents thought I’d quit again soon, so why buy expensive ones? They were these ugly orange and black boots with a skull on them, probably cost no more than fifteen euros," she recalls.
Van Koppen began in the E4 team at DSVP in Pijnacker, but quickly moved up to the E1. "When I started, they said that level would be too high for me, but they soon changed their minds." After her time at DSVP came a spell at ADO Den Haag, and she also spent three years in Ajax’s youth academy.
Life beyond football
Alongside football, Van Koppen studies Real Estate and keeps busy with a large group of friends who still live in and around Pijnacker. "I'm a top-level athlete and I'll do everything for that, but I’m also just human. I get a lot of energy from having a coffee with friends or going shopping. I make time for them, and they make time for me. If I text them on a Friday night asking if they want to drop by for an hour, they're there."
She studies Real Estate to keep developing herself. "My parents encourage me to stay active and keep learning, and I really enjoy it. I’d also love to work in sales one day, for example. I really enjoy selling things."
The Ajax Women are having a strong season so far – something Van Koppen also recognises. "We’re giving it our all in Europe, and I really enjoy the travelling. The only downside is that you don’t get to see much of the countries we visit."
Despite her rapid rise, the player from Pijnacker keeps both feet firmly on the ground. "I actually love not knowing anything about the opponent. It helps me go into a match with a better feeling. If I know too much, I start worrying about who I’ll be up against."
When asked if she’s ever afraid her opponent might be too strong, her answer is short and clear: "No, I know what I can do. I have full confidence in myself and in the team."
