Rotterdam – Concerns are rising about Feyenoord’s upcoming appointment of Kees van Wonderen as their new technical director, with prominent Dutch football analyst Valentijn Driessen voicing significant doubts about the move.
Driessen, writing in his column for De Telegraaf, expressed apprehension over Van Wonderen’s lack of experience in a technical director role. Even as acknowledging Van Wonderen’s distinguished playing career with Feyenoord – including key roles in the 1999 championship team and the 2002 UEFA Cup-winning squad – Driessen highlighted a gap in his resume. “He has a huge track record as a player for Feyenoord and a mainstay in the championship team of 1999 and in the team that won the UEFA Cup in 2002. He can submit a rich CV of technical positions, but experience as a technical director is lacking,” Driessen wrote. He also pointed to a potential lack of international connections and experience in the transfer market.
The appointment comes as Feyenoord seeks to restructure its leadership, moving away from the dual role currently held by Dennis te Kloese as both general and technical director. The club recently saw Sjaak Troost resign from his position on the Board of Commissioners, and this move is seen as an attempt to “get the spirit back in the bottle,” according to Driessen.
Driessen fears the appointment could prove problematic for the club, stating that the situation “fits the image of Feyenoord as a casino on the Maas.” He added, “The ball has rarely fallen well in recent years, and that is what causes the most fear for Feyenoord.”
While acknowledging Te Kloese’s positive impact on the club’s finances, Driessen criticized the current administrative structure as unsuitable for a top club. He pointed to the unsuccessful appointment of Arne Priske as a previous misstep, and the subsequent, costly move to bring in Robin van Persie as head coach, despite concerns raised in Friesland about his performance. FR12.nl reports that Driessen believes the club is taking a significant gamble with this latest appointment.
The appointment of Van Wonderen is a major undertaking, with Footballtransfers.com noting a “gigantic task” awaits him as technical director. It remains to be seen how this decision will impact Feyenoord’s future performance, and ambitions.
