In a very surprise turn of events, Giovanni van Bronckhorst has gone from one of Arne Slot’s assistants to one of his successors.
The former Rangers and Besiktas coach has been named the new head coach of Feyenoord, his boyhood side who he played for and last coached between 2015 and 2019.
Van Brockhorst is best known for his 2022 Europa League final with Rangers, and has since had an uneventful year in Besiktas before moving down a level.
Van Brockhorst and Slot sacked by Liverpool
He spent last season as an assistant to Slot at Liverpool as the Reds went trophyless despite a £450million summer spend.
Slot was sacked before the World Cup, and on June 12th Van Bronckhorst and his other assistants also left the club.
Now just five days later, he’s back at the club where Slot made his name.
Slot coached Feyenoord from 2021 to 2024, winning the Eredivisie and a KNVB Beker to give himself a name as one of Europe’s best up-and-coming managers.
He went to Liverpool and won the Premier League in his debut campaign, but it was all downhill from there.
Can Van Brockhorst restore Feyenoord?
The same can be said for Feyenoord, who flopped in building on Slots success with Brian Priske.
Things then got even worse with Robin van Persie, who was sacked just over a week ago after recording the lowest-ever points total for a Eredivisie runner-up.
‘GVB’ will be tasked with getting them closer to PSV, having also won the league and two cups during his first stint in the dugout.
In a statement, he said: “Everyone knows my connection with Feyenoord.
“The club runs like a common thread through my life. It couldn’t be otherwise.
“I walked in here as a young talent at the age of seven, ultimately played for Feyenoord for 17 years, and was fortunate enough to win five trophies as a manager, during which I always experienced the bond with the supporters as something unique.”
New Technical Director Dévy Rigaux added: “I have been following Giovanni’s career with interest for many years.
“He is a professional and a personality. His broad experience, combined with Feyenoord DNA and the hunger for new success that Robert Eenhoorn and I sensed in our conversations with him, makes us truly believe that with him we will take the club a step forward again.”
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