Koeman to launch Feyenoord suprise

Newly appointed Feyenoord boss Ronald Koeman believes he has a team capable of taking the Eredivisie by surprise this season.

The former Dutch international signed a one-year deal to replace Mario Been at the Rotterdam club and end his two year absence from coaching.

Koeman, 48, said he had the players to cause a surprise in the league after Feyenoord finished 10th last campaign, their worst result since 1989-90.

“Feyenoord is a great club for me to resume my career as a coach,” he told the club’s official website.

“With Jean-Paul van Gastel and Giovanni van Bronckhorst I have two great assistants next to me who I also already know well.”

“I am strongly convinced that we could be very surprising this season. There is indeed plenty of quality and talent in this young squad.”

“Just like the players and the entire club, I share a burning ambition to show that we are much more able than the recent past has shown.”

Koeman managed AZ Alkmaar in 2009 after stints at Ajax, Benfica, PSV and Valencia and is returning to the club where he ended his days as a professional player.

As a midfielder and defender, Koeman won two European Cups, five Dutch titles, three Dutch Cups, four Spanish titles, the Spanish Cup and was part of the Netherlands squad that won the 1988 European Championships.

After moving into management, he led Ajax to two Eredivisie titles and PSV to the Dutch league crown in 2006-07.