This Is Noukie: The Footballer So Easy To Love We’ve Forgotten How To Like

When I was told to write a profile of Dutch footballer Anouk Hoogendijk, a defender for Ajax’s women's team, that emphasized why people would like her, I thought: impossible.

She doesn’t know her place. She has won the Dutch women’s league twice with Saestum, the Dutch cup once with FC Utrecht, and the FA cup once with the Arsenal Ladies.

She has a great personality, something that is far too apparent on her website and Instagram.

Her nickname is “Noukie,” which is literally too adorable. PAINFULLY ADORABLE.

I was helpless. How, I declared incredulously, how could someone like her: a consummate professional, who has played for FC Utrecht, Arsenal Ladies, FC Ajax, and earned over 100 caps for the Dutch national team?

Who has a f***ing squad like this:

And appreciates the funny things in life (that jacket tho):

Who is delightfully classy, and yet unrefined.

Who isn’t about all that vegan bulls***.

And who has excellent taste.

It’s just not possible. I mean, she even likes paddle boarding. Who doesn’t f***ing love paddle boarding. 

She’ll probably push you real hard during workouts, too. After all, she is a brand ambassador to Nike and her parents were Physical Education teachers.

It’s all unbelievable. Don’t tell me, she’s probably terrible with kids.

And hates Halloween.

We here at The18 even made a propaganda video about her. We told Giorgio, our video guy, to just let her personality shine through, because that would be enough to make anyone realize how impossible liking her is:

She even has the gall to score beautiful goals. As if she didn’t have enough already.

Ugh, like her? Impossible. I love her.

Follow me on Twitter: @yetly