Vito Wormgoor On Ajax, Winning MLS, And Playing In Norway | OneFootball

How much did you learn from your time in the youth system at Ajax as an up-and-coming player?

“Yeah, amazing. I think I learned a lot, especially the importance of always trying to find a footballing solution when playing out from the back.

“Originally, I wasn’t a centre-back. In the youth academy, I started off playing up top. At Ajax, I began as a midfielder, but when I joined the second team, or the A-youth, I transitioned into a central defender.

“At Ajax, you learn to control the game with the ball. It’s not about chasing the ball – it’s about keeping possession and building from the back. No long balls, just composed play. That’s a key philosophy I took with me from the academy.

“I also learned a lot about discipline, how to think and live like a professional footballer. Walking around the academy, you’d see players and coaches who had played or worked at the highest level. I saw so many first-team players around the facilities. That was truly inspiring.”

Am I right in saying you played in a farewell game for Jaap Stam and Patrick Kluivert?

“Yeah, that’s true. As a kid, I watched those legends on TV, and suddenly I was standing next to them, even playing against them. That was a dream come true. To participate in that match was something really special.”

When you moved on from Ajax, you joined FC Utrecht. How do you reflect on your time at the club?

“I was still young when I left Ajax. Some things happened that meant I had to leave, unfortunately. But the move to FC Utrecht was nice — the welcome was warm.

“Initially, I had a great conversation with Willem van Hanegem, who was the coach at the time. He gave me a lot of trust, and that’s why I chose Utrecht. But sadly, just a month after I arrived, he got fired.

“At 19, I was still developing and needed game time. The new coach leaned more on experienced players, so I didn’t get the chances I hoped for. It was a bit unlucky.”

You stepped down to the second division with De Graafschap, helped them win promotion, and had a good spell. How do you reflect on that?

“Yeah, amazing. Of course, you always want to play at the highest level, but joining De Graafschap was such a great experience. It’s a smaller club compared to Utrecht, but it had a real family feeling and amazing fans.

“At 19, I played a lot of games, partnering with my mate in central defence. I think we were the youngest centre-back duo in either of the top two leagues. That time was really important for my development, and the two years after, when we were back in the Eredivisie, were just as great. De Graafschap will always have a place in my heart.”

“It was great. We had good conversations, and Maurice is really a people manager. He makes you feel welcome and is very direct – if he has something to say, he’ll say it to your face.

“We had a young, exciting team and a great atmosphere.

“I’m still in contact with some of those guys. The team fought for him, and I think that says a lot about the kind of manager he is.”

After Den Haag, you went to Norway for the first time, with a short spell at Aalesund before joining Brann. What made you decide on that move?

“To be honest, I’d never heard of most Norwegian clubs except maybe Rosenborg or Molde from European competitions. In my last six months at ADO, I was injured and didn’t get much game time.

“I was close to a deal with Chicago Fire, but it fell through. ADO wanted to extend my contract, but I wanted an adventure abroad. After getting fit again, the only offer I had was from Aalesund – for a short-term deal until December, with the idea of moving to MLS afterward.

“We had a great run at Aalesund. The club was bottom when I arrived, and we finished mid-table. It was a really good experience, and I made a name for myself. Brann came in with a solid offer, and after discussing it with my family, we decided to stay in Norway.”

What was your time at Brann like?

“Amazing. You can compare Brann to some English clubs in terms of their style, stadium, and fan base. I never expected to have a football adventure in Norway, but those years were some of the best of my career.

“We played in the Europa League two years in a row and came close to winning the league twice. It was a beautiful time, and the people in Bergen were incredible. I fell in love with football again there.

You then made the move to MLS with Columbus Crew and won the MLS Cup. What was that like?

“When I got the offer from Columbus Crew, I was really proud. It had always been a dream of mine to play in MLS.

“Everything was great — the club, the fans, the experience. The culture in MLS is so different: fireworks, pre-game shows, all of it. It felt like a show every match, like the Super Bowl. We made great friends, both inside and outside the club.

“Playing with and against big names was amazing. It was definitely one of the highlights of my career.

“The only thing that was disappointing was my departure from Columbus, as it wasn’t how I wanted it. I was ready to stay another year, and we were discussing an extension, but it dragged on too long. With our kids, we needed certainty, so we moved on.”

Finally, Vito, who are the best players you’ve played with and the toughest opponents you’ve faced?

“At Columbus Crew, I played with some top talents like Lucas Zelarayán, Darlington Nagbe, Jonathan Mensah, and Eloy Room. At Ajax, I trained with big names like Luis Suárez and Hedwiges Maduro.

“As for opponents, MLS was full of big names — Gonzalo Higuaín, Alexandre Pato, Nani, Josef Martínez, Carlos Vela. I didn’t get to play against Zlatan, though — I think he left when he heard I was coming!

“People think players go to MLS to retire, but that’s not true. A lot of those guys are still world-class.

“And in Norway, I faced Erling Haaland — definitely one of the toughest. So yeah, I’ve played against some real tough bastards (laughs)!”