Belgische trainers in beeld bij Feyenoord na vertrek Van Persie
Rotterdam, donderdag, 11 juni 2026.
Feyenoord zoekt een nieuwe trainer na het abrupte einde van het avontuur van Robin van Persie. Technisch directeur Dévy Rigaux richt zich op Belgische kandidaten. Analist Jan Boskamp noemt twee namen: Sébastien Pocognoli en Wouter Vrancken. Pocognoli werd kampioen met Union Saint-Gilloise maar faalde daarna bij Monaco. Vrancken haalde een historisch derde plek met Sint-Truiden en wees al twee aanbiedingen af. Beide trainers staan momenteel vrij. Dat maakt hen tot serieuze opties voor de Kuip, ondanks het gebrek aan internationale ervaring. De selectie ligt zwaar op de schouders van Rigaux, die zelf uit België komt. Feyenoord kwalificeerde zich wel voor de Champions League onder Van Persie.
Van Persie exit prompts swift succession debate
Feyenoord’s sudden separation from Robin van Persie has accelerated the hunt for a new manager [PREV]. While the club secured a Champions League berth, internal reviews highlighted unsatisfactory league performance with only 65 points accumulated over 34 matches [PREV]. New leadership, notably technical director Dévy Rigaux, seeks a coach aligned with a revised strategic vision [1]. This shift caught some off guard, though figures like Jan Boskamp saw the move as inevitable given Van Persie’s reported involvement in transfer talks shortly before his exit [1]. The focus now turns firmly to identifying a successor capable of restoring domestic dominance [PREV][1].
Boskamp highlights two available Belgian options
Analyst and former player Jan Boskamp has entered the public discourse by naming two free-agent Belgian managers as viable candidates [1]. Speaking on the radio program R-Uit!, Boskamp identified Sébastien Pocognoli and Wouter Vrancken as the only senior Belgian coaches currently unattached [1]. He described Pocognoli’s achievement in winning the Belgian First Division A title with Union Saint-Gilloise during the 2024/2025 season as ‘fantastic’ [1]. However, Boskamp noted Pocognoli subsequently failed to establish himself at AS Monaco [1]. For Vrancken, Boskamp praised his ability to achieve strong results with limited resources [1].
Vrancken’s rise and measured approach gains attention
Wouter Vrancken’s stock rose significantly after guiding Sint-Truiden (STVV) to a historic third-place finish in the Belgian Pro League, guaranteeing European football for the next season [4]. Despite this success, Vrancken chose to leave STVV seeking a fresh challenge [4]. His credentials include winning the Belgian Cup with KV Mechelen and managing top-tier sides KRC Genk and AA Gent [4]. Reports confirm he has already declined offers from Bulgarian champions Ludogorets and an unnamed club in Saudi Arabia [4]. This discerning approach suggests he would carefully consider any approach from Feyenoord, where sporting director Dévy Rigaux is reportedly interested [4].
Pocognoli’s profile and potential links assessed
Sébastien Pocognoli’s appeal stems directly from leading Union Saint-Gilloise to their first league championship in decades during the 2024/2025 campaign [1]. His work impressed enough to earn him a move to Ligue 1 side OGC Nice, although his tenure there involved fluctuating playing time and a diminished role towards the season’s end [5]. Feyenoord’s technical director, Dévy Rigaux, maintains connections from his time at Club Brugge and has shown interest in players associated with Pocognoli, such as Charles Vanhoutte [5]. While no direct contact regarding the head coach position has been confirmed, Rigaux’s existing network in Belgium positions him well for potential negotiations [1][5].