Van Eijk describes herself as a dreamer. Someone who goes with the flow, picks up new interests, and lets herself be swept away by everything that fascinates her. But when it comes to football, she makes a remarkable switch. "In my football career, I actually want to plan everything tightly," she says. "Perhaps because I’m naturally a dreamer." It’s a balance she has learnt to accept: her head in the clouds, but her feet firmly on the pitch.
She has needed that perseverance. Twice her career was interrupted by serious cruciate ligament injuries - a nightmare for any footballer. "You know how much recovery time it involves, and you really have to accept that," she says. "But with good people around me and a clear goal in sight, the road upwards was always clear."
The art of goalkeeping
Goalkeeping is a skill in itself. While field players are constantly on the move, a goalkeeper can sometimes stand still for minutes, until that one moment when everything counts. "The best, and at the same time the hardest part, is that you only really need to be there for a few moments," the goalkeeper explains. "You can have hardly anything to do for 90 minutes, and then in the 91st minute, you have to make a save. That makes it exciting, but sometimes also frustrating."
She doesn’t feel lonely in the goal. Her team is around her, and her role is clear. Still, she sometimes notices a lack of understanding for her position. "People are quick to form an opinion about goalkeepers, but if you don’t know the position, you don’t understand it. That can sometimes feel a bit isolating." She developed her goalkeeping skills early on, thanks partly to her older brother. He was the one who taught her the tricks of the trade.
"My brother was a goalkeeper, and I wanted to be like him. In Woerden, where I grew up, he trained me every day on a little pitch nearby." With a big smile, she shares how her love for goalkeeping began. "He was strict and pushed me to the limit. I often went home in tears, but we’d start again the next day. All out of love. That was my training even before I was allowed to play football. He did a good job, because now I’m here."
Big dreams
Self-confidence is a key word in Van Eijk’s career. "Maybe even a bit too much at times," she laughs. "Not arrogance, but the belief that if I really want something, I can achieve it.” That mindset has brought her far, but it also brings a constant inner struggle. She’s critical of herself, always wants to improve. But perfection? That doesn’t exist. "As a goalkeeper, you aim for zero goals conceded, but that’s just not realistic," she acknowledges. "That’s what I’m working on now: being less hard on myself. I try to recognise when I’m being too critical again and then say to myself, 'Stop. It’s fine now.'"
Off the pitch
Outside of football, the Ajacied finds peace with her family. On her days off, she visits her brothers, niece and nephew, or immerses herself in music and art. "My brother said recently: ‘Your videos on social media, that’s your art. Your way of self-expression.’ That really got me thinking. Art is everywhere, you just have to keep your eyes open."
Her Hungarian roots also play an important role in her life. Her mother is Hungarian, and although she doesn’t see her family there often, she feels the bond. "I’m proud of Hungary, of my family there. I want to learn the language better, so I can really talk to them. Hopefully I can visit again this summer."
Goals
Van Eijk has already achieved a lot, but her journey is far from over. She started her Ajax career in the very first youth team of the Ajax Women and has since grown into a regular presence between the posts. Yet she remains ambitious. "My younger self would say I’m doing well, and that I should keep going. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do."
She finds it important to inspire young footballers and wants to show that if you have a goal, you really have to go for it. One piece of advice she wants to share is to trust your intuition. "Your intuition is almost always right, and having the courage to trust it can really help."
Whether it’s football, music, art, or family, Van Eijk continues to challenge herself. But when the ball comes towards her goal in the final minute of the match, she knows one thing for sure: she’s ready.
