Feyenoord sign Van Bronckhorst as new coach / Photo: ANDY BUCHANAN - AFP
Feyenoord sign Van Bronckhorst as new coach
Dutch club Feyenoord Wednesday appointed former captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst as manager, replacing Robin van Persie after a frustrating season that saw them well adrift of rivals PSV Eindhoven.
Van Bronckhorst, 51, has signed a two-year contract, with an option for the club to extend it by a further year, the Rotterdam-based club said.
His appointment "marks a new chapter for Feyenoord," said technical director Devy Rigaux in a statement.
"We want to continue building on our sporting ambitions with a head coach who combines extensive international experience with a deep understanding of the club's culture," said Rigaux.
Sipke Hulshoff, who recently worked alongside Arne Slot at Liverpool, will be Van Bronckhorst's deputy, the club announced.
It will be Van Bronckhorst's second spell as Feyenoord manager after taking the helm at De Kuip from 2015 to 2019.
On June 7, Feyenoord said they had made the "difficult decision" to part company with former Arsenal and Manchester United star Van Persie.
Feyenoord finished second in the Dutch Eredivisie but 19 points behind arch rivals PSV and also endured a tough season in Europe.
Turkish side Fenerbahce knocked them out of the Champions League in the final qualifying stage.
The Europa League group stage also proved an unhappy hunting ground, with Feyenoord losing six out of their eight matches, beating only Sturm Graz and Panathinaikos.
J.Malbrough--IP
