Giovanni van Bronckhorst returns for a second stint as Feyenoord head coach

Feyenoord made the announcement on Wednesday, less than a fortnight after Robin van Persie was dismissed by the new leadership, headed by general manager Robert Eenhoorn and technical director Davy Rigaux.

Van Bronckhorst, who brings former Liverpool assistant Sipke Hulshoff with him to De Kuip as his 'right-hand man', has signed a two-year contract in Rotterdam.

"Van Bronckhorst’s return marks a fresh chapter, where Feyenoord strives to build on its sporting ambitions with a manager who boasts extensive international experience and, moreover, knows the club’s culture thoroughly," Rigaux said on the club website.

"I have been following Giovanni’s career with interest for many years. He is a consummate professional and a true character. His broad experience, combined with his Feyenoord DNA and the hunger for further success that Robert Eenhoorn and I detected in our discussions with him, lead us to truly believe he will help take the club another step forward."

Van Bronckhorst previously managed Feyenoord between 2015 and 2019, a period in which he won the Eredivisie in 2017, ending a notorious 18-year title drought in Rotterdam.

The 51-year-old Van Bronckhorst most recently worked as an assistant to sacked Liverpool manager Arne Slot. Before his time on Merseyside, the former left-back had coached Besiktas, Rangers FC, and Guangzhou R&F.

"The partnership between Van Bronckhorst and Hulshoff, which was further developed and reinforced in England, provides Feyenoord with a complementary coaching duo who have international experience, a winning mentality and an in-depth knowledge of the club. We are therefore absolutely delighted to welcome them both back to Rotterdam," Rigaux concluded.