Feyenoord's youthful nucleus of talent
Monday, July 28, 2014
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Feyenoord return to the UEFA Champions League with a team based around homegrown talent – UEFA.com picks out five of the club's most promising youngsters.
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Feyenoord are back in the UEFA Champions League qualifying stages having finished second in last season's Eredivisie with a team built largely around their own academy products.
Coach Ronald Koeman has since left – and has been joined at Southampton FC by 2013/14 23-goal top scorer Graziano Pellè – while Bruno Martins Indi and Daryl Janmaat have also departed. Koeman's successor Fred Rutten, though, has a nucleus of talent at his disposal that bodes well for a European campaign that begins in the third qualifying round against Beşiktaş JK on Wednesday.
Miquel Nelom (22/09/90)
After learning his trade with fellow Rotterdam club SBV Excelsior, the 23-year-old produced a man-of-the-match display against NEC Nijmegen on his Feyenoord first-team debut in November 2011. A left-back blessed with searing pace, Nelom is also held in high regard for his attacking capabilities. Having been restricted to 36 Eredivisie starts over the past three seasons, now is his time to shine following Bruno Martins Indi's move to FC Porto.
Jordy Clasie (27/06/91
Since a loan period at Excelsior in 2010, Clasie has developed into a controlling midfielder par excellence who has caught the eye with his determination, distribution and leadership. The waspish figure made two appearances at the World Cup – including from the start in the third-place play-off win against Brazil. Now, though, his sights are on Beşiktaş. "Once you have played at the highest level, you obviously want to play there as often as possible – that is why I am eager to win with Feyenoord next week," he said.
Terence Kongolo (14/02/94)
Though Kongolo made his senior debut in April 2012, it was not until the second half of last season that he became a frequent fixture under Koeman. As such, his inclusion in Louis van Gaal's Oranje squad this summer was a big surprise, though he did only play once in Brazil, as a substitute against Chile in the group stage. With Martins Indi having left for FC Porto, Kongolo is likely to have even more responsibility despite only being 20. "[Beşiktaş] are a good team, but we will just have to do our best to progress," he said.
Jean-Paul Boëtius (22/03/94)
Boëtius enjoyed a dream debut in October 2012 when he scored in a 2-2 draw against AFC Ajax. A skillful and fast winger who is usually deployed on the left but can also play on the opposite flank, Boëtius made his international debut in March this year but missed out on the final cut to go to South America. He sees the Oranje as the perfect model for Feyenoord. "We must not be afraid," he said. "Look at the Dutch national team with all the young guys. The same goes for Feyenoord – we have to believe in ourselves."
Tonny Trindade de Vilhena (03/01/95)
Born to an Angolan father and Dutch mother, De Vilhena made his Feyenoord debut in January 2012, having just turned 17. He is a modern box-to-box midfielder who became the youngest player to score twice in a game for the De Kuip side when he struck a double against Willem II, at the age of 18 years and 31 days, in February last year. "He has the drive of Edgar Davids," said former Ajax, KV Mechelen, RSC Anderlecht and PSV Eindhoven coach Aad de Mos. "He is strong in the tackle, has a good physique, the ability to score and is smart tactically."