'I felt that itch': Club stalwart Van Bronckhorst on his return to Feyenoord

'I felt that itch': Club stalwart Van Bronckhorst on his return to Feyenoord
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Van Bronckhorst's appointment was confirmed on Wednesday, fewer than two weeks after the dismissal of another club legend, Robin van Persie.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst made 249 appearances for Feyenoord across two spells from 1994 to 1998 and from 2007 to 2010. The ex-Netherlands captain came back to the club as head coach in 2015 and claimed five trophies, among them the Eredivisie title in 2017.

"The club has been a constant thread throughout my life. It could not be any other way," Van Bronckhorst remarked on Wednesday.

"I joined here aged seven as a promising youngster, went on to play for Feyenoord for 17 years and, as a coach, managed to win five trophies, all while experiencing the connection with the fans as something exceptionally special."

Van Bronckhorst departed the club in 2019 and later worked as head coach for Guangzhou R&F, Rangers FC, and Besiktas. The 106-cap international also served as assistant to Arne Slot at Liverpool during the 2025-26 campaign.

"There are so many Feyenoord moments that still give me goosebumps when I recall them," Van Bronckhorst went on.

"My connection with the club has always stayed strong."

The next step

Van Bronckhorst returns to the Eredivisie following rivals PSV's three consecutive titles in 2024, 2025 and 2026. The Rotterdam club are also assured of a place in the UEFA Champions League, as finishing second in the Eredivisie secures automatic qualification.

For the ex-Arsenal and Barcelona defender, the urge to go back to Rotterdam became impossible to disregard during discussions with the club's new leadership, headed by general manager Robert Eenhoorn and technical director Devy Rigaux.

"I also realised that, in my conversations with Robert Eenhoorn and Devy Rigaux, I began to feel that itch of excitement increasingly. We share the conviction and the sense that, as a team - together with each other and with the fans - we can propel the club to a new level. I am already very much looking forward to seeing the crowd again at De Kuip and to that match-day atmosphere that you can only truly experience there."