PHOTO: Quakes Epicenter/Alexis Flores

Every player has that “moment” or that “goal” that changes their career forever. Back in 2013, during a Champions League group stage match against Barcelona, Danny Hoesen’s eight-yard strike did just that.

Years after that emblematic 2-1, Ajax victory, the Dutchman was again the focus of attention.

Following a brace against Minnesota United, Hoesen was named MLS’ first Player of the Week of the 2018 season. Such performance also brought a slate of media appearances for the striker, many poking at his goal at Johan Cruyff Stadium. The Dutchman says it’s an unforgettable moment, but that he’d rather be recognized for the player he is today.

“Of course, it was a great memory,” Hoesen told Quakes Epicenter’s podcast The 24/74 Show. “I will never forget that. People keep remembering me about it quite a lot this year. I got a nice painting about it, my wife got it for me for my birthday about four years ago. It’s always good to look at it and think about the good memories.”

“If you start playing not so well people are going to forget about it, so it’s important that you perform well now,” he added. “And obviously, it’s good if people talk good about you at this moment and not at what you did a few years ago.”

Such a return to the “top” wouldn’t have happened without suffering and sacrifice, though.

In 2016, at only 25 years of age, the Dutchman was becoming an afterthought for FC Groningen, featuring a total of 538 minutes. Injuries plagued the player, too. “Obviously, you get new coaches and things happen… injuries. The team wasn’t playing well back home, and I wasn’t playing well. The coach made different choices, and sometimes you agree with it, sometimes you don’t. In my case, I didn’t agree with it. Then it’s going to be tough,” he added.

What projected as a promising career for a gifted 17-year-old goalscorer at Fortuna Sittard in 2008 was starting to fall short. Hoesen, five clubs and a Champions League goal after, was not loving the beautiful game anymore. That was until 2017 (this past winter even more so), when Jesse Fioranelli and the Quakes came looking for his signature.

“There’s always clubs that were interested. But for me, I was feeling really good over here [in San Jose]. I was happy. My family was happy,” said the striker on his decision to sign with the Black and Blue. “I really wanted to come back because at my old club, the last few years, I started to not like the game anymore. I started to see it as a job. Then it’s going downhill.”

“Last year, I started to enjoy the game again,” he added. “[I had] a lot of fun coming to practice and to the games. So for me that was very important to have. Now, I’m back here feeling the same way again.”

Between the performances the No. 9 delivered in 2017 and Saturday’s against the Loons, there is little to question about the level of play that the striker brings to the Quakes. Hoesen knows he got 2018 off to a dream start, yet his experiences, like the painting of his goal against the Catalonians, remind him to be humble.

“Great. It’s been a great week,” the Quakes striker said. “But for me it’s like, you know, “it was the first game of the season.” Obviously. But there are so many games left, so I have the kind of mindset that never get too high when it’s going well and never get too low when it’s not going so well.”