Brian Priske is the new Feyenoord manager, the club confirmed on Wednesday. The 47-year-old from Denmark is the replacement of Arne Slot, who left the club in Rotterdam after three years to join Liverpool. Priske will start his job on July 1 and has signed a contract with the KNVB Cup holders for three years.
Priske is joining from Sparta Prague, where he had two years remaining on his contract. Last year, he led the Czech club to its second league title in a row. The Dane has been a manager for five years and also won the league with Midtjylland in Denmark and FC Copenhagen.
Dennis te Kloese, Feyenoord’s general manager and technical director, said that the club did not rush into this decision. “It was a process of many months in which several colleagues and I were closely involved. We as a club want to continue on the growth that we have gone through and the success that we have had in the last few years.”
Te Kloese said that Priske came out as the best option after they had gone through this process. “He has shown at several clubs that he makes players better, stands for the attacking football fans want to see in De Kuip, and gets results. A nice bonus is that he has mastered the Dutch language.”
The former Denmark international played for Club Brugge and Racing Genk and therefore learned Dutch. The coach had earlier said he was open to moving to Feyenoord.
Sparta Prague and Feyenoord have now agreed on the compensation package. Ajax also appointed a foreign manager last month in the Italian Francesco Farioli.
It will be the first time Feyenoord has a foreign manager in charge in 33 years. Gunder Bengtsson was the last foreign manager of the Rotterdam club in 1991.
Priske will have his first match as Feyenoord boss in a friendly game against FC Dordrecht on July 6.
