Feyenoord are Eredivisie champions for the first time in almost two decades, after they saw off pressure from Dutch heavyweights Ajax to clinch the title by a one point margin.
Feyenoord’s fantastic season came as a shock to many. While they usually finish near the top of the table, they rarely challenge top sides Ajax and PSV Eindhoven for the trophy. Yet, they have stepped it up this season and produced a level of consistency that their rivals were unable to match.
In total, the Eredivisie champions won 26 of their 34 matches, losing just four times throughout and remaining undefeated at their De Kuip home. In total, five of Feyenoord’s players were selected to fill the 11 spaces available in the Eredivisie Team of the Year.
Feyenoord deservedly find themselves back at the top of Dutch football, but will they be able to maintain their form and protect their crown next term?
This summer will be a tough one for the club, as their success will have attracted the attention of some of Europe’s biggest and richest clubs.
Young defender Terence Kongolo has been in phenomenal form for the club this season and attracted interest from Premier League trio Southampton, Stoke and Everton. However, Feyenoord have managed to tie the emerging talent down until 2019. Although, there will still be concerns about the future of Nicolai Jorgensen.
The Danish striker has been Feyenoord’s standout player this season, scoring 25 goals and providing 17 assists in 42 matches. Yet, with interest present from the likes of Everton and Marseille, the club may have a tough decision to make.
Although, the club’s biggest potential loss is manager Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, who has previously been tipped to replace Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, as well as the soon-to-be vacant hot seat at La Liga giants Barcelona. That job is one of the biggest in the game and would be hard to any manager to turn down.
Van Bronckhorst has revolutionised the club since joining in 2015, after what had been a tough decade. Should he leave, it would be a huge loss for the club. However, the opportunity to guide his team into the Champions League next season should be enough to convince him to stay put, at least for the time being.
What he has built at Feyenoord in such a short space of time is remarkable. Yet, the club must now work hard to protect his creation from the hustle and bustle of the transfer market. If they can do that, this Feyenoord side could dominate the Eredivisie for years to come.