Football Season Guide

The successful experience of Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, at the helm of Feyenoord, 1 Eredivisie title, 2 KNVB Cups and 2 Super Cups in 4 years, came to an end last May and so the Rotterdam side opted for Jaap Stam as his successor. The former Dutch international recently managed to lead PEC Zwolle to a quiet salvation and will now be asked, if nothing else, to maintain a top 3 status for Feyenoord. And to possibly go for more. Unfortunately for him, Stam will be unable to rely on last season's best player as Van Persie decided to hang up his boots at the end of the campaign. Not just that. The squad saw also the departure of two regulars in the midfield, Clasie and Vilhena, and might also end up losing Berghuis. The right winger, whose goals and assists were also decisive in the past campaign, should end up strengthening PSV. In the attack, the experienced Jorgensen and the talented Vente should be expected to provide the goals together with newly-arrived Narsingh, who might represent a promising alternative to Berghuis on the wing. In the midfield, 18-year-old Kokcu, who showed some great skills last season, could be given more and more playing time such as Tapia, returning from a positive loan at Willem II. Also protagonists could be Kelly, arriving from Reading, and Fer, a seasoned midfielder returning to the club where his career started after some time in the UK.