Veteran Dutchman Leo Beenhakker has been appointed as caretaker coach of Feyenoord Rotterdam on temporary basis, the club announced. The Rotterdam-born veteran will replace Erwin Koeman, who resigned this week following the club's humiliating closing day Eredivisie 5-1 defeat to Heerenveen, which dumped Feyenoord to seventh place. Beenhakker, who is currently coaching the Polish national team, said he agreed to help his hometown club out of a sense of duty, especially that Feyenoord are fighting to reach the UEFA Cup from the upcoming Dutch playoffs. "This is a duty call that I cannot refuse. I will do my utmost to ensure that Feyenoord get into Europe despite everything," Beenhakker was quoted by the club's official site on Saturday.
Ekrami The Rotterdam giants, where Egyptian goalkeeper Sherif Ekrami plays, had a difficult season under Koeman, and Beenhakker was called to his old club's rescue. The 64-year-old tactician guided Feyenoord to their most recent Eredivisie title in 1999, he will start his new campaign by facing Groningen in the Dutch playoffs next Thursday. Beenhakker is an experienced coach whose latest achievement was leading Trinidad and Tobago to the 2006 World Cup finals for the first time.
