Kevin Diks

For most people, 2020 was a dreadful year, as the corona pandemic shut down the world and changed everything. For football fans, it was an additional challenge: a long drought with no access to stadium matches—if they were even played. For Kevin Diks, two massive injuries made it all even worse, leaving him in a position he had never experienced before in his career.

“When I was injured for a total of a year and a half before joining FCK, it was mentally very tough,” says Diks, when Brølet meets him on a sunny day at the training facility “10’eren” in Frederiksberg.

“I’d faced setbacks as a young player, but this time I realized I had another Kevin inside my head—a Kevin I hadn’t met before. I suddenly understood that every day could be my last as a footballer. One bad injury and you’re out, while everyone else moves on. People are, of course, kind and wish you luck, but after six months, no one remembers who you are anymore.”

The experience became a significant turning point for Kevin Diks, profoundly changing his approach to the mental aspect of being a professional footballer.

“In that moment, I realized I had to work hard to stay strong and healthy—both physically and mentally. And that was my biggest weakness: finding the strength to pull myself out of the mud and keep going. It was, and still is, tough, but I’ve worked hard on it. That’s also why I now feel like a strong player—both mentally and on the pitch. I feel I’ve overcome the fear of another severe injury, which allows me to give 100% in every match.”

Would you say you have strong mental resilience?

“Yes, I do now. It’s like on the pitch. A player might get past me, but I’ll always try to chase them down and fight to win back the ball. At the same time, I’m working on my leadership skills, trying to lead by example in matches—not with words or as the team captain, but through my actions. Giving everything I have to inspire and energize the team. That’s one of my strengths.”

That energy has already won over the club’s fans, and the affection is mutual from Diks’ perspective. But stepping onto the pitch at Parken for the first time on July 18 this year, against AAB, wasn’t without nerves.

“I came from AGF and, honestly, was a bit nervous about how I’d be received. But the fans have been amazing, and I don’t know how to thank them other than by fighting for victory every time. When they, for example, set off pyro and sing all those fantastic songs, it gives me goosebumps all over and makes me think, ‘Okay, what can I do for them?’ I love how they motivate the players and stand by us even when things aren’t going well. It means everything to the team—no doubt.”

You’ve also experienced playing a derby in Denmark now. How was that for you?

“In my first home derby, I was subbed in late because I missed preseason after joining FCK. That meant I wasn’t fully fit, which was extremely frustrating! But the atmosphere at Parken was fantastic—one of the best I’ve experienced in my career, and I’ve seen quite a few. Even when we played at Brøndby for my second derby, where I played the full game, the atmosphere couldn’t compare to our home ground. At Parken, it’s just bigger and underscores that FCK is the biggest club in the Nordics.”

Copenhagen is an unusual choice for a Dutch player. Why did you choose FCK?

“I didn’t have to think twice about it. For myself, my career, and my family, it was clearly the best choice and probably the best decision I’ve made so far. FCK is the biggest club with the most fans, and the atmosphere within the club exudes a constant drive to be the best at everything. You feel it as soon as you step into the club—everything is about being number one. It’s inspiring and pushes you to give that extra effort.”

What was it like moving to Copenhagen?

“I’d actually visited Copenhagen a few times as a tourist with my girlfriend while living in Aarhus. We loved the city, and I remember saying to her, ‘What if I could play here someday?’ When I started realizing my potential at AGF and heard there was interest, it all suddenly became much more real. The choice was obvious, as I’ve said, and we’re happy living in the country’s capital,” says Kevin Diks with a big Copenhagen smile.

New team, new city, and new teammates. How are you settling in?

“I’m the kind of person who can get along with everyone, but of course, I speak Dutch with Boilesen. My girlfriend and I are expecting a baby, and he was part of our gender reveal. We don’t live far apart, so we sometimes have dinner together because our partners get along well too. And I know Grabara from my time at AGF, so I feel good, even though everything is still pretty new.”

Despite a warm welcome, a comfortable personal life in the capital, and seven goals to his name so far, not everything is smooth sailing at the moment. Losses to PAOK and especially Brøndby have left both Jess Thorup and the players with something to prove.

“I think everyone can see things aren’t great right now. At a club like FCK, you have to win every game, and that’s how it should be. Right now, the main issue is mental; we need to think a bit more freely. But we must improve—there’s no doubt. We have the talent, so I’m sure things will turn around for us.”

Is it more about how you lose than just losing?

“Losing always hurts. The match against PAOK was really tough since we were down to 10 men nine minutes into the game. When that happens, you have to dig deep to come back, and I think we did in the second half, where we were close to equalizing. But we make things hard for ourselves in such situations and need to play more aggressively. Against Brøndby, it was about how we lost because they aren’t better than us—I’ll never believe that. That’s why losing to them was ten times worse for me and the team. But as a footballer, you can’t get caught in a negative spiral and completely collapse. We have to move forward as a team because we have to win the next match—and the one after that.”

Throughout the interview, it becomes increasingly clear that Kevin Diks has a will of steel. Whether talking about football, the club, or his personal journey, a constant mantra shines through: never give up! Just like the mental revelation that pulled him out of injury hell earlier in his career, the challenges in Kevin Diks’ life have shaped him from the very beginning.

“I’ve always known I wanted to play football, and my dream was to do it professionally. I was three when my parents took me to my first football practice, and I was hooked. I honestly don’t remember doing much else. At nine, I joined the football academy at SBV Vitesse and kept learning from the older players. But it was tough—I was constantly on the edge of being cut from the team. At 15, a younger player took my spot, and that was my first wake-up call. I thought I was done, but as I’ve experienced many times since, it was like a switch flipped in my head: ‘You’re not done!’ I worked my way back up through the academy, and a year and a half later, I signed my first professional contract. I never gave up, and I never will.”

As a footballer, you often live a nomadic life. You left friends and family very young—was it the right choice?

“It’s hard to say if it was the right choice. If I hadn’t done it at 18, I wouldn’t be where I am now, and your choices constantly shape you as a player and a person. It might have been a bit early, but I also learned that I need to take the right steps at the right time in my career. It’s hard to say no to an offer from Fiorentina when you’re a young kid. It didn’t turn out the way I’d hoped, but I learned a lot, and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without that experience. Choosing to come to Copenhagen and FCK was another active choice, and I definitely don’t regret it.”

Have you scored your dream goal yet?

“I’ve scored some great goals, but I don’t think I’ll ever be satisfied—that’s my driving force in football. I always want to get better. Maybe I’ll figure it out after my career, where I can say, ‘Yeah, that was my dream goal.’ But for now, I just want to keep scoring even better ones.”