Have you ever blinked and missed a goal? In the high-tempo world of Dutch football, lightning-fast strikes have become part of the folklore. In this article, DeutKick will take you on a thrilling sprint through time to uncover the fastest goals in Eredivisie history: the heroes, the context, and the drama behind those precious opening seconds. Whether you’re a statistics fanatic or a fan of pure, unpredictable football, these stories will leave your heart racing.
The benchmark: 8-second strikes
In the annals of Eredivisie history, the golden standard for the fastest goal in Eredivisie history is held at 8 seconds. That record was first set on 20 March 1982, when Koos Waslander, playing for NAC Breda, stunned PEC Zwolle by netting a goal just eight seconds after kick-off. It was a masterclass in anticipation, opportunism, and perhaps a little chaos.
Decades later, on 14 August 2022, Sparta Rotterdam’s Vito van Crooij equaled that mark in a home match versus AZ, sparking headlines across Dutch football., the 8-second barrier became the shared pinnacle — no one has officially topped it yet.
Koos Waslander’s legendary strike
Waslander’s record-goal is the stuff of legend. He received the ball a heartbeat after the whistle, advanced past defenders, and found the net with surgical precision. For 40 years, his name stood alone in the record books.
Recent interviews show Waslander still cherishes that moment, though he now shares that limelight with Van Crooij.
Van Crooij catches lightning
Playing for Sparta Rotterdam in the 2022–23 season opener, Van Crooij seized the moment. From the kick-off, his side launched a direct attack — and within eight seconds, the ball was in the net. Initially flagged for offside, the goal was later approved. Though Sparta ultimately lost that match 2–3 to AZ, Van Crooij’s feat reverberated throughout Eredivisie lore.
These twin achievements represent the high-water mark of speed in Dutch top-flight football to date.
Other memorable lightning goals
While the 8-second mark reigns supreme, several other performances come close and deserve mention for the audacity they displayed:
|
Player |
Time |
Match / Context |
Notes |
|
Tjaronn Chery |
9 seconds |
Roda JC vs ADO Den Haag, 2011 |
One of the fastest among modern-era openers |
|
Arnold Kruiswijk |
9 seconds |
Groningen vs Heracles, 2006 |
Unfortunate but record-making in its own way |
|
Romeo Wouden |
9 seconds |
NAC vs Heerenveen, 1996 |
Under-appreciated strike in the ’90s |
|
Johan Cruyff |
9 seconds |
Ajax vs Telstar, 1971 |
The legendary maestro entering the speed game |
These striking moments show that speed isn’t just for strikers — defenders and midfielders have muscled their way into Eredivisie’s rapid-goal narratives too.
The oddities
- The fastest own goal (by Kruiswijk) reminds us that not all early strikes are glorious.
- Joop Böckling once scored for Haarlem after 10 seconds in October 1981, a performance often overshadowed but still memorable.
- Some club-level record goals have been faster (within individual teams’ histories) but not recognized as the league-wide record.
Why hitting the net so fast is an art
Scoring inside the first few seconds is not merely chance — it’s the result of planning, nerve, and perhaps some miscommunication by the opponent. A handful of factors come into play:
- Pre-match tactics: Some teams plan ultra-direct kickoff plays, pushing attackers immediately after the whistle.
- Opponent unreadiness: At kickoff, some sides are still forming shape, making them vulnerable to surprise moves.
- Precision and composure: The scorer needs both technical skill and nerves of steel under pressure.
- Luck & chaos: Deflections, mispositioning, or a poor clearance can tilt events in favor of the attacker.
In short, the fastest goal in Eredivisie history isn’t just about speed — it’s about exploiting a moment when all the stars align.
Records, debates, and a few caveats
As with any record involving fractions of a second, debates abound:
- Timing precision: Not all matches in earlier eras had precise stopwatches or video review.
- Maintaining statistics: Some sources incorrectly list Tim Matavž as holding a 7-second record — but no verifiable match data supports that in the Eredivisie’s top tier.
- Tie interpretation: Because Waslander’s and Van Crooij’s goals are both 8 seconds, many list them as joint record-holders (rather than selecting one).
- Higher-level context: In global football, even faster goals exist, but within Dutch top-flight, the 8-second benchmark remains definitive.
Fastest goal in Eredivisie history: What lies ahead?
With the record unchanged for so long, football fans and analysts often wonder: Will someone ever break 8 seconds in the Eredivisie? There are a few compelling possibilities:
- Younger, faster wingers breaking through
- Tactical revolutions emphasizing ultra-pressing and blitz attacks
- Advances in physical training giving attackers an extra edge
- Moments of opponent lapse — a defender out of position or a goalkeeper slow off guard
If a player ever beats that 8-second mark, it would instantly become one of the most replayed highlights in Dutch football.
Conclusion
The fastest goals in Eredivisie history capture everything fans love: surprise, speed, and a burst of drama in an instant. Koos Waslander’s landmark 8-second blast, now shared with Vito van Crooij, remains the gold standard. Alongside them stand Tjaronn Chery’s 9-second strike, the curious case of Kruiswijk’s own goal, and others who nearly crossed the barrier.
These moments prove that at any moment — in the first heartbeat of a match — history can be made.
Are you curious to dive dee, or speed stats of your favorite club? Let DeutKick be your next stop — and keep watching that opening whistle.
