Feyenoord names Giovanni van Bronckhorst as head coach on two-year deal
The legendary former player returns to Rotterdam for a second managerial stint as the club navigates a turbulent sponsorship landscape following its crypto partner's sudden shutdown
Giovanni van Bronckhorst is heading back to Rotterdam. Feyenoord announced the appointment of its former player and manager as head coach on a two-year contract, marking a homecoming for a club dealing with off-pitch complications.
The announcement, made around June 16-17, places Van Bronckhorst back in the dugout at De Kuip starting mid-June 2026. He replaces Robin van Persie in the managerial role.
A familiar face with fresh experience
This is not Van Bronckhorst’s first rodeo in Rotterdam. He previously managed Feyenoord from May 2015 to May 2019, a four-year stretch that included winning the KNVB Cup in his inaugural season.
Most recently, Van Bronckhorst served as assistant coach at Liverpool under Arne Slot, a role he held until late May 2026. Between his two Feyenoord stints and his Liverpool role, Van Bronckhorst also had a brief tenure at BeÅŸiktaÅŸ in Turkey, where he won the Turkish Super Cup in 2024.
Assistant Sipke Hulshoff will join Van Bronckhorst in his new role at Feyenoord.
The crypto complication Feyenoord didn’t need
Feyenoord entered into an official partnership with Knaken, a Dutch cryptocurrency exchange, in July 2024. The deal was designed to facilitate crypto payments for the club.
That partnership hit a wall. Knaken unexpectedly ceased operations in June 2026, just weeks after Van Bronckhorst’s return was confirmed.
No specific crypto tokens or digital assets have been linked to Van Bronckhorst’s appointment.