Giant tifo honors Dutch club's retiring kit woman in 2026

Go Ahead Eagles fans unveiled a giant tifo celebrating Carla Whittie's 28-year service before her retirement.

Tifo tribute before match Before their Eredivisie game against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday, Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles presented a massive tifo banner featuring Carla Whittie’s face. The club’s 53-year-old kit woman received a pitchside certificate as fans gathered to honor her decades of service. Though the match finished goalless at 0-0, the tifo became the centerpiece of the event, proclaiming her as a club icon with the words: 'Carla club icon. Thank you for everything!'. ## Special shirts and club praise The players took to the field wearing custom shirts that carried the message 'Carla, thank you.' Go Ahead Eagles issued a statement calling Whittie 'really loved by all the employees at the club, the players and the supporters.' Her departure marks the end of a 28-year journey that began in July 1998 when she first joined as a volunteer before her role transitioned into a paid position. ## Whittie's reflections on her career Whittie shared her early experiences with the club website in 2023, saying: 'When I started at Go Ahead Eagles, I wasn’t even allowed to enter the players’ lounge. In fact, I wasn’t even in the team photo. Kit people were never really a full part of the squad at the time.' She described how her connection to the team evolved over time. ## From supporter to colleague Recalling her early years, Whittie explained: 'Back then, I sometimes really sat on the bench like a supporter. Then I was eating myself up if we didn’t play a good game. That took about 15 years.' She added: 'Nowadays it’s different: players are now just my colleagues.' Underlining her unique status, she noted: 'Within the current organisation of Go Ahead Eagles, I am the only one. I don’t think anyone has ever been on the payroll for so long. I’m really proud of it!'. ## Career highlights and milestones During her time at Go Ahead Eagles, Whittie witnessed multiple relegations and promotions, celebrated a Dutch Cup victory last season, and saw the team compete in the Europa League. Her contributions spanned an era of highs and lows, reflecting the club’s journey through domestic and European competition.