THE HAGUE, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- After four successful years, Giovanni van Bronckhorst will leave Feyenoord at the end of the season, the Dutch soccer club announced on Thursday.
Van Bronckhorst started to coach Feyenoord in March 2015. Under his guidance, the Rotterdam-based club has captured five trophies, more than under any other trainer in the history of the club.
As a coach of Feyenoord, the former Dutch international lifted the Dutch Super Cup twice (2017, 2018), the Dutch Cup twice (2017, 2018). He also won the league title in 2017, the first for the sleeping giants since 1999.
This season Feyenoord are very much out of contention for the league title, but they have qualified for the semifinals of the Dutch Cup this Wednesday with a 4-1 win over Fortuna Sittard.
Van Bronckhorst informed the club's management that he wanted a new challenge and refused to extend his expiring contract.
"I have thought a lot about whether I wanted to remain head coach of Feyenoord for one or more years after this season," the 43-year-old coach said. "It was a very hard decision, because Feyenoord is a love of mine. However, in my career I have always followed my heart and my heart says I should not do that. It's good as it is."
Technical director Martin van Geel understands the decision of his head coach. "Giovanni has done more than fantastic here and he continues to do well," Van Geel said. "So we would have liked to sit down with him next month, as planned, to start talking about any contract extension."
