Comeback hat-trick for injury ravaged Ferdy Druijf on Almere City debut | OneFootball

After playing no football during the 2024/2025 campaign, Ferdy Druijf returned to professional football with a bang. The 27-year-old Dutch forward grabbed a hat-trick on his Almere City debut as the side won 4-1 away to FC Emmen. It was fantastic to see Druijf back on the pitch and scoring goals and Almere City will be hoping that this is a sign of things to come.

Over the past few seasons Druijf has bounced around a number of sides searching for consistency and a clean bill of health. The striker started out with AZ Alkmaar and had a great loan spell with NEC Nijmigen in 2019, scoring 15 goals in just 20 games. The striker struggled to break into the AZ first team and was sent out on loan to KV Mechelen. Druijf scored 10 goals over two seasons for the side before leaving to join Austrian side Rapid Wien for another loan during the 2021/2022 season. He started strongly, with six goals in 13 games. Rapid signed Druijf permanently, but after seven goals in 30 games he spent a year on loan with PEC Zwolle. Five goals and 15 games later, his career suddenly halted due to a knee injury.

Druijf has been out of action since 2024, with knee surgery leading to another operation and a prolonged comeback trail. Now in the second tier of Dutch football, Almere City have been having to manage Druijf’s recovery and ability to play. In an interview with AD, the striker revealed how he and the side have been training.

Druijf said ‘I experienced the entire preseason at Almere City, and that was a period of getting to know my body again. We had to monitor how things were going every day. Sometimes I’d miss a training session, then I’d be substituted in time for a match. We were building everything up to this match. In that respect, I’ve been really lucky at Almere. I’ve been wonderfully welcomed by the club. There’s a family atmosphere here that I really appreciate. And then scoring three goals for the club is fantastic.’

Almere City were relegated from the Eredivisie last season, but with Druijf hopefully back fit and injury free, they will fancy their chances of bouncing back like both Volendam and Excelsior did last season. They face another promotion hopeful and fellow relegated side in Willem II on Friday evening.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson