Noa Lang: ”Sometimes I wish I was that guy stocking shelves at the supermarket.”
From viral hits like “7K op je feestje,” “Damage” with Ronnie Flex, or the recent “Waka” with Emms, to headline-grabbing interviews and dazzling dribbles on the pitch: Noa Lang is one of the most talked-about footballers in the Netherlands.
And last week, Noa Lang added fuel to the fire: in the title race between Ajax and PSV, the dribbler fired his team to victory at De Kuip last Sunday. He scored in the 99th minute—after enduring insults from Feyenoord supporters for just as many minutes. With provocations going back and forth, Lang finally got his revenge by celebrating his winning goal right in front of the home supporters. A crucial goal in the championship race, where PSV, after Wednesday evening, can now call themselves the new leaders with just one match left to play. Last year, we spoke with Noa Lang about his transfer to PSV, his son Navy, dealing with intense pressure, and fatherhood.
“It’s like nothing else.”
The average football fan knows Noa Lang as a tough, born optimist. But when he talks about his son Navy, we see a very different Noa. Noa Lang: “It’s a feeling I can’t explain, and it’s like nothing else.” Navy’s birth had a profound impact. “At the hospital, I stood in the corner when the doctor handed him to me. He said: ‘Look, this is your son.’ I had already heard from the guys that it’s a unique feeling you’ve never experienced before. And it’s true. I got really emotional. Even before I held him, I was already crying.”
“My dad is that crazy guy who won everything.”
The life of a pro footballer can be tough. “I haven’t seen him in 24 days now because he’s on vacation with his mother. Yes, I know the exact number because I count the days until I can see him again.” Lang committed himself to PSV’s relentless preseason prep, going from training camp to fitness tests and early must-win qualifiers. In the meantime, he was limited to his phone to see Navy. “I’ll be honest, every night before I go to bed, I watch videos of him that people send me.” Life is different now, even on the pitch. “When I score, I think of him. It’s extra motivation. I always had goals, but since he’s here, there’s someone you’re doing it for. I want to make him proud. So he can say later: ‘My dad is that crazy guy who won everything.’” Lang feels the responsibility. “I’m way more cautious with him than his mother is. When I dress him, I’m afraid his little arm might get stuck.” Smiling: “Yeah, that’s how I am now, haha.”
“Sometimes I wish I were that guy stocking shelves at the supermarket.”
The spotlight is nothing new to Noa. “I can handle it well. I’m never too nervous before matches. But the pressure on your shoulders is often underestimated. Sometimes I wish I could just be that guy stocking shelves at the supermarket. Just not being recognized, walking down the street anonymously. Quietly filling shelves while nobody pays attention. Don’t get me wrong—it’s a beautiful life, and I’m grateful for it. But if you’ve never experienced what it’s like to be judged by everyone after one bad game, you can’t truly understand.” He talks about it with a sports psychologist. “Although it’s mostly about personal stuff. It’s just nice to have someone in your corner who you can talk to and who gives you advice on how to handle certain things. That’s something I think should be normal. It could help anyone.”
And that’s how he also wants to help his son Navy. “I want to give him a lot of freedom. As a father, you’re there to guide him, but above all, I want him to enjoy his childhood. And it doesn’t matter at all if he doesn’t want to be a footballer. Then we don’t need to talk about football all day.”
