Star import expresses admiration for A-Leagues and Adelaide in Dutch documentary: ‘I take immense pride’

Bart Vriends, who has only spent eight months in Australia, describes his journey as nothing short of delightful.

The seasoned centre-back joined Adelaide United ahead of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season after a career that had been exclusively in the Netherlands. A legend at Dutch club Sparta Rotterdam, Vriends decided to make the leap to the Reds, motivated by a desire to experience a different league and lifestyle in another country before his career concludes.

Vriends has now collaborated with his brother to create a documentary about his new life in Australia for ESPN Netherlands. He believes the documentary could inspire more Dutch players to consider a move to the Isuzu UTE A-League in the future.

“It’s probably evident, isn’t it? I’m content here, I’m very content here,” Vriends stated.

“It’s been a wonderful journey thus far – it started off a bit challenging, but things have turned around beautifully, and I’m thrilled to be contributing positively to the team’s success.”

“We were approached by the Dutch ESPN sports channel to create a documentary, and my brother, who is a cameraman, came over to assist me. Together, we produced a short film to showcase my life here and present a glimpse of Adelaide.”

“It also tells a personal family story. I take great pride in it; it’s a wonderful documentary, and I’ve received numerous messages from people in the Netherlands who enjoyed it. It was a unique experience to do this with my brother, providing an excellent opportunity for the Dutch audience to see a bit of Australia, particularly Adelaide.”

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The ESPN documentary, titled Vriends Down Under, premiered in the Netherlands last weekend. Vriends comments that the documentary encapsulates a “special” perspective on life in Australia and the quality of the Isuzu UTE A-League, an image that is striking a chord with people back home.

“The message is clear: the A-League is a unique competition, it’s highly entertaining, and people are enjoying it. Plus, life in Australia is extraordinary too,” Vriends remarked.

“I was pleased to share a glimpse of this with the Dutch audience. If I were playing in the Netherlands and came across clips showcasing life and football here, I’d certainly feel excited about joining. I can envision it possibly sparking interest.”

Next up for Vriends and Adelaide is a match on Saturday night, as the Newcastle Jets visit Coopers Stadium to take on the second-placed Reds.