Feyenoord are said to be exploring a move for Liverpool coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst as part of wider restructuring
Published: 16:35 BST, 27 April 2026 | Updated: 16:53 BST, 27 April 2026
The coaching landscape around Arne Slot could shift again this summer after reports that Feyenoord are interested in hiring Giovanni van Bronckhorst from Liverpool. The Dutch coach, who currently operates as third in command under Slot alongside Sipke Hulshoff, has emerged as a leading candidate for a senior role in Rotterdam.
Sources say the vacancy would most likely be for a technical director post — a strategic position that would involve shaping recruitment and footballing direction — and Feyenoord are believed to be open to recruiting someone with both playing and managerial pedigree.
Background and candidacy
Giovanni van Bronckhorst is no stranger to Feyenoord, having represented the club both on the pitch and as a manager. As a player he also featured for clubs such as Rangers, Arsenal and Barcelona and earned 106 caps for the Netherlands, experience often cited by those who back his suitability for a senior football operations role.
His managerial résumé includes spells at Feyenoord, Guangzhou R&F (now City), Rangers and Besiktas, and he arrived at Anfield last summer to take the position previously held by John Heitinga; Heitinga has since been relieved of his Ajax managerial duties. Given those credentials, Feyenoord’s interest is being treated seriously inside Dutch football circles.
Why Feyenoord are looking externally
The Rotterdam club is facing wider upheaval off the pitch: chief executive Dennis te Kloese is set to leave and trusted advisers such as Dick Advocaat are in a state of flux. That combination has opened the door for a structural rethink, and the board is reported to prefer bringing in an experienced figure who can bridge the scouting, recruitment and coaching departments. Bringing in a figure like van Bronckhorst would signal a move towards a more centralized sporting model, with the new technical director expected to work closely with coaching staff and the board to set a medium-term plan for player development and transfers.
Implications for Liverpool and Arne Slot
At Liverpool there has been no formal approach yet for van Bronckhorst, and the club are monitoring developments. Both van Bronckhorst and head coach Arne Slot have one year remaining on their current deals at Anfield, which complicates any mid-season negotiations. Slot has weathered a difficult campaign and, despite speculation, the club are thought likely to maintain their backing for him into the summer. However, the potential loss of a trusted lieutenant such as van Bronckhorst would alter the composition of Slot’s backroom team and could force a reevaluation of technical responsibilities.
Contract dynamics and probable outcomes
Any move would require careful handling of contractual matters: Liverpool would expect to be involved in conversations if a senior coach under contract is targeted by another club. The one-year contract status for both Slot and van Bronckhorst increases leverage for both sides but also raises the prospect of summer movement. If Feyenoord make an offer for a role framed around strategic control — as a technical director rather than simply an assistant coach — that could prove attractive to van Bronckhorst given his history with the club.
Wider summer picture and squad issues
Any staffing changes at Anfield will take place against a backdrop of major squad decisions. Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson are widely expected to leave, and those departures would reshape the playing squad. Salah’s recent hamstring problem, sustained in the win over Crystal Palace, has cast doubt on whether he will feature for the club again; the injury compounds speculation that he may focus on what could be his final World Cup campaign for Egypt, which begins just weeks after the domestic season finishes. Those player issues, combined with potential coaching departures, make this summer a likely period of significant turnover for the Reds.
For Feyenoord, recruiting someone of van Bronckhorst’s profile would be both symbolic and functional: it would reconnect the club with a figure who knows its culture while also injecting international experience gained at Liverpool. For Slot, losing a right-hand figure would be an operational challenge but not an insurmountable one — much will depend on how imminent offers materialize and whether negotiations proceed. Until any formal approach is lodged, both clubs are expected to keep their options open and handle discussions quietly as the season reaches its conclusion.
