Giovanni van Bronckhorst is returning as Feyenoord head coach, signing a two-year deal with an option for a third season. The 51-year-old is taking over from Robin van Persie and steps back into a familiar role at De Kuip after a successful earlier spell in charge.
Feyenoord confirmed that Giovanni van Bronckhorst will lead the first team for a second time as head coach, having also represented the Rotterdam club as a player. The new agreement includes the possibility of extending the contract by one additional year, depending on how the partnership develops.
During Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s previous tenure between 2015 and 2019, Feyenoord played 176 competitive matches under the Dutch coach. The team won 107 of those games, drew 26 and lost
43, giving a win percentage of 60.8%. Feyenoord lifted the Eredivisie trophy in 2016-17 and claimed two KNVB Cups.
Those domestic trophies mirrored Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s earlier success as a Feyenoord player, when the midfielder also helped secure the KNVB Cup twice. The club welcomed the appointment with a social media post stating "Giovanni van Bronckhorst, welcome home. ", underlining the strong connection between coach and supporters at De Kuip.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst, welcome home. pic.twitter.com/bgK7IJyLSLFeyenoord Rotterdam (@Feyenoord) June 17, 2026
Technical Director Devy Rigaux highlighted why Feyenoord turned again to Giovanni van Bronckhorst as head coach. Rigaux said: "The return of Giovanni van Bronckhorst marks a new chapter for Feyenoord. 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. He is an outstanding coach and a strong personality. His broad experience, combined with his Feyenoord DNA and the hunger for new success that Robert Eenhoorn and I sensed during our conversations with him, give us great confidence that he can help take the club forward once again. "
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s ties with Feyenoord stretch back to 1982, when the midfielder joined the youth academy. A first-team debut followed in the 1994-95 season. Van Bronckhorst then moved to Rangers for the 1998-99 campaign and eventually returned to Feyenoord in 2007, finishing a playing career there in 2009-10.
After retiring, Giovanni van Bronckhorst built a coaching career that included managing Rangers and leading Feyenoord before. The Dutch coach later worked most recently on Arne Slot’s staff at Liverpool. Van Bronckhorst’s last head coach position came at Besiktas, where the stay ran from June to November 2024.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst now resumes the Feyenoord head coach role with a proven record at the club, detailed local knowledge and recent experience abroad. The combination of past league success, cup wins and ongoing ambition gives Feyenoord leadership belief that this second spell can strengthen the team’s domestic and European performance.
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