Editing Feyenoord (section)

===Ronald Koeman era: revival with youth players===
At the beginning of the [[2011–12 Feyenoord season|2011–12 season]], Feyenoord lost valuable players [[Leroy Fer]], [[Georginio Wijnaldum]] and [[André Bahia]] to [[FC Twente|Twente]], PSV and [[Samsunspor]] respectively. In return, the club restocked with players such as [[Jordy Clasie]], [[Miquel Nelom]], [[Guyon Fernandez]] and [[Kaj Ramsteijn]], who came mostly from their own youth academy. Two other players were loaned, [[John Guidetti]] from [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] and [[Otman Bakkal]] from PSV. Feyenoord started the season well and played the first match of the Eredivisie against the other Rotterdam club in the league, Excelsior. Feyenoord ended the season by placing second in the Eredivisie, resulting in the third qualifying round for Champions League football.<ref>{{cite web |date=2012-05-06 |title=Feyenoord tweede na logische zege op SC Heerenveen |url=https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/feyenoord-tweede-na-logische-zege-op-sc-heerenveen |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120715071655/http://www.vi.nl/nieuws/220566/Feyenoord-tweede-na-logische-zege-op-SC-Heerenveen.htm |archive-date=15 July 2012 |access-date=6 May 2012 |website=[[Voetbal International]] |language=nl}}</ref>

On 16 December 2011, it was revealed that Feyenoord had been placed in the more favorable second category (Categorie 2), meaning Feyenoord were no longer in debt, according to the KNVB. They achieved the reclassification following the transfer of several significant players and a large capital injection made by the organisation VVF (Friends of Feyenoord, Vrienden Van Feyenoord). However, to remain in the second category, Feyenoord needed to obtain the same number of points earned, rounding up to at least 65&nbsp;points.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/5619/Feyenoord/article/detail/3079368/2011/12/16/Feyenoord-heeft-voldoende-punten-voor-Categorie-2.dhtml |title=Feyenoord heeft voldoende punten voor Categorie 2 – Home – AD |language=nl |publisher=Ad.nl |date=16 December 2011 |access-date=24 January 2013}}</ref> On 13 April 2012, Feyenoord was officially out of what has been described as the "financial dangerzone" and was officially placed in the second category. According to club chairman Eric Gudde, the placing in the more favourable category came earlier than anticipated; he also congratulated the fans and promised to maintain the same policy until Feyenoord was completely healthy again, saying the club will never fall back into the first category.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2698/Sport/article/detail/3240389/2012/04/13/Feyenoord-uit-financiele-gevarenzone.dhtml |title=Feyenoord uit financiële gevarenzone – Sport – Voor nieuws, achtergronden en columns |website=De Volkskrant}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nusport.nl/eredivisie/2786767/feyenoord-promoveert-categorie-ii.html |title=Feyenoord promoveert naar categorie II – NU – Het laatste nieuws het eerst op NU.nl |website=www.nusport.nl |access-date=14 April 2012 |archive-date=14 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414185058/http://www.nusport.nl/eredivisie/2786767/feyenoord-promoveert-categorie-ii.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Despite no longer having to request permission from the KNVB to invest in new players, Feyenoord kept continuing the policy for the 2012–13 season, only contracting players who were either out of contract or available for a low transfer fee. [[John Goossens]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fr12.nl/nieuws/17095-john-goossens-wordt-feyenoorder.html |title=John Goossens wordt Feyenoorder &#124; Feyenoord nieuws |publisher=FR12.nl |access-date=24 January 2013 |archive-date=29 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729022830/http://www.fr12.nl/nieuws/17095-john-goossens-wordt-feyenoorder.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Ruud Vormer]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/5619/Feyenoord/article/detail/3074509/2011/12/13/Vormer-tekent-voor-drie-jaar-bij-Feyenoord.dhtml |title=Vormer tekent voor drie jaar bij Feyenoord – Home – AD |language=nl |publisher=Ad.nl |date=13 December 2011 |access-date=24 January 2013}}</ref> and [[Daryl Janmaat]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nos.nl/artikel/336256-janmaat-in-zomer-naar-feyenoord.html |title=Janmaat in zomer naar Feyenoord – NOS Sport |date=February 2012 |publisher=Nos.nl |access-date=24 January 2013}}</ref> were out of contract and signed a deal with Feyenoord over their respective prior clubs. [[Mitchell te Vrede]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.feyenoord.nl/pages/newsdetail/S1/10010000040037-999-10010000000003.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801121228/http://www.feyenoord.nl/pages/newsdetail/S1/10010000040037-999-10010000000003.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 August 2012 |title=Feyenoord neemt Mitchell te Vrede over van Excelsior |publisher=Feyenoord.nl |access-date=24 January 2013 }}</ref> played for the affiliated football club [[Excelsior Rotterdam|Excelsior]], as well as for the highest-ranked academy team [[Feyenoord Academy (Varkenoord)|Jong Feyenoord/Excelsior]] and was promoted to the main senior team. [[Harmeet Singh (footballer)|Harmeet Singh]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.feyenoord.nl/pages/newsdetail/S2/20120705_singh_contract.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222151328/http://www.feyenoord.nl/pages/newsdetail/S2/20120705_singh_contract.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 February 2013 |title=Feyenoord versterkt zich met Harmeet Singh |publisher=Feyenoord.nl |access-date=24 January 2013}}</ref> and [[Lex Immers]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.feyenoord.nl/pages/newsdetail/S2/20120605_immers.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222125551/http://www.feyenoord.nl/pages/newsdetail/S2/20120605_immers.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 February 2013 |title=Lex Immers wordt Feyenoorder |publisher=Feyenoord.nl |access-date=24 January 2013}}</ref> were the only two players whom Feyenoord paid a transfer fee for. Singh, a Norwegian midfielder and one of two non-Eredivisie players joining Feyenoord, was purchased from [[Vålerenga Fotball|Vålerenga]], while Immers joined from [[ADO Den Haag]]. The other non-Eredivisie player joining Feyenoord was [[Omar Elabdellaoui]], who was brought in on loan from Manchester City.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fr12.nl/nieuws/18892-omar-elabdellaoui-meldt-zich-op-21-juli-bij-feyenoord.html |title=Omar Elabdellaoui meldt zich op 21 juli bij Feyenoord &#124; Feyenoord nieuws |publisher=FR12.nl |date=3 July 2012 |access-date=24 January 2013}}</ref>

On 2 July 2012, [[Karim El Ahmadi]] completed his transfer from Feyenoord to English [[Premier League]] club [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of €2.6&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12691/7858933/Villa-clinch-El-Ahmadi-deal |title=Villa clinch El Ahmadi deal &#124; Latest Football Transfer News |publisher=Sky Sports |date=2 July 2012 |access-date=24 January 2013}}</ref> On 15 July, Aston Villa supports uploaded a picture on Twitter which showed [[Ron Vlaar]], Feyenoord captain since 2010–11, visiting [[Villa Park]] – Aston Villa's home ground – in [[Birmingham]]. Shortly after, Martin van Geel confirmed Vlaar sought to leave Feyenoord.<ref>{{cite web |first=Graeme|last=Bailey|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12691/7903736/Villa-in-Vlaar-talks |title=Villa in Vlaar talks |publisher=Sky Sports |date=16 July 2012 |access-date=24 January 2013}}</ref><ref name="nu.nl">{{cite web |url=http://www.nu.nl/sport/2864492/transfer-vlaar-aston-villa-lijkt-af-ketsen.html |title=Transfer Vlaar naar Aston Villa lijkt af te ketsen &#124; nu.nl/sport &#124; Het laatste nieuws het eerst op |date=22 July 2012 |publisher=Nu.nl |access-date=24 January 2013}}</ref> After the incident, Villa did not contact Vlaar, prompting Ronald Koeman to issue Villa a deadline of 23 July to negotiate Vlaar's transfer. On 23 July, Vlaar told the public that he would not leave Feyenoord, and said that he felt he was kept "dangling" by Villa.<ref name="nu.nl"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7926460/Vlaar-Villa-move-off-for-now |title=Vlaar – Villa move off for now &#124; Football News |publisher=Sky Sports |date=22 July 2012 |access-date=24 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2698/Sport/article/detail/3290095/2012/07/22/Vlaar-Ik-wil-niet-meer-aan-het-lijntje-worden-gehouden.dhtml |title=Vlaar: Ik wil niet meer aan het lijntje worden gehouden – Home |language=nl |publisher=Volkskrant.nl |date=22 July 2012 |access-date=24 January 2013}}</ref> However, four days later, Vlaar told the public he would eventually be joining Villa, as he had agreed personal terms and would sign for Villa subject to him passing a medical. On 1 August, Vlaar officially joined Aston Villa, signing a three-year contract. Feyenoord supporters received the news generally mixed, with some congratulating and wishing the best of luck and others feeling betrayed by Vlaar for misleading them.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nusport.nl/eredivisie/2868908/vlaar-alsnog-aston-villa.html |title=vlaar alsnog naar aston villa &#124; nusport.nl/eredivisie &#124; Voor het laatste nieuws van elke sport |publisher=Nusport.nl |access-date=24 January 2013 |archive-date=29 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729001802/http://www.nusport.nl/eredivisie/2868908/vlaar-alsnog-aston-villa.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Stefan de Vrij]] became the new Feyenoord captain, with Jordy Clasie, who because of his good play and tenacity soon became one of the most popular players among the supporters, becoming vice-captain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/5619/Feyenoord/article/detail/3293746/2012/07/30/Trotse-De-Vrij-nieuwe-captain-van-Feyenoord.dhtml |title=Trotse De Vrij nieuwe captain van Feyenoord – Home – AD |language=nl |publisher=Ad.nl |date=30 July 2012 |access-date=24 January 2013}}</ref>

On 7 August, Feyenoord was eliminated by [[FC Dynamo Kyiv|Dynamo Kyiv]] in [[2012–13 UEFA Champions League qualifying phase and play-off round|the third qualifying round]] of the [[2012–13 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] following losses in both legs. Feyenoord was therefore demoted to [[2012–13 UEFA Europa League qualifying phase and play-off round|the play-off round]] of the [[2012–13 UEFA Europa League|UEFA Europa League]]. Koeman said that Feyenoord was the better side over the two legs but had missed a scoring striker, referring to John Guidetti, who had rejoined Manchester City following the end of his loan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nos.nl/artikel/404145-dinamo-schakelt-feyenoord-uit.html |title=Feyenoord redt het niet tegen Kiev – NOS Sport |date=7 August 2012 |publisher=Nos.nl |access-date=24 January 2013}}</ref> On 10 August 2012, Dutch international and [[Málaga CF|Málaga]] defender [[Joris Mathijsen]] joined Feyenoord on a three-year contract. Málaga had made clear to Mathijsen that he needed to find a new club to generate income for the financially suffering Málaga after Sheikh Al Thani left. Stefan de Vrij remained captain, despite Mathijsen being more experienced at both international and club level.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vi.nl/nieuws/225474/Medisch-goedgekeurde-Mathijsen-tekent-bij-Feyenoord.htm |title=Voetbal International – Medisch goedgekeurde Mathijsen tekent bij Feyenoord |publisher=Vi.nl |access-date=24 January 2013 |archive-date=20 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121220024433/http://www.vi.nl/nieuws/225474/Medisch-goedgekeurde-Mathijsen-tekent-bij-Feyenoord.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

After drawing the first leg of the Europa League qualifier at home 2–2 against [[AC Sparta Prague|Sparta Prague]], Feyenoord was eliminated following a 2–0 loss in the second leg, meaning Feyenoord would not be playing European football in 2012–13.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportdome.nl/Nieuws/51962-Voorronde-EL--geen-Europees-voetbal-voor-Feyenoord.html |title=Voetbal – Voorronde EL: geen Europees voetbal voor Feyenoord |publisher=Sportdome.nl |access-date=24 January 2013}}</ref> Following these events, Feyenoord loaned [[Parma Calcio 1913|Parma]] and former AZ striker [[Graziano Pellè]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.voetbal4u.com/2012/08/31/koeman-graziano-pelle-is-net-wat-we-nodig-hebben/ |title=Koeman: 'Graziano Pelle is net wat we nodig hebben' |publisher=Voetbal4u.com |date=31 August 2012 |access-date=24 January 2013}}</ref> and exchanged [[Jerson Cabral]] for Twente striker [[Wesley Verhoek]] in a straight player swap.<ref>{{cite web |author=Tijd |url=http://www.voetbalprimeur.nl/nieuws/item/feyenoord-en-twente-akkoord-over-ruil-cabral-verhoek |title='Feyenoord en Twente akkoord over ruil Cabral-Verhoek' &#124; VoetbalPrimeur |language=nl |publisher=Voetbalprimeur.nl |date=31 August 2012 |access-date=24 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023120335/http://www.voetbalprimeur.nl/nieuws/item/feyenoord-en-twente-akkoord-over-ruil-cabral-verhoek |archive-date=23 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Feyenoord ended the season in third, behind champions [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] and second-placed [[PSV Eindhoven|PSV]]. Pellè surprised many after scoring 27 goals in 29 matches, prompting Feyenoord to sign him permanently from Parma on a contract lasting until summer 2017.

In the [[2013–14 Eredivisie|2013–14 season]], Feyenoord recorded the worst start in its history, losing its first three matches to [[PEC Zwolle]], Twente and Ajax respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.voetbalzone.nl/doc.asp?uid=194575 |title=Feyenoord beleeft slechtste seizoenstart ooit: 'Het is niet dramatisch' |language=nl |publisher=Voetbalzone.nl |date=18 August 2013}}</ref> Feyenoord would recover, but its performances were unstable throughout the season. However, because the Eredivisie's other top teams also played inconsistently, Feyenoord remained in the title race, although it eventually finished second, four points behind Ajax.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.v-bal.nl/nieuws/259008/feyenoord-wint-ruim-van-cambuur-en-eindigt-tweede.html |title='Feyenoord wint ruim van Cambuur en eindigt tweede' |language=nl |publisher=V-bal.nl |date=27 April 2014 |access-date=31 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903054900/http://www.v-bal.nl/nieuws/259008/feyenoord-wint-ruim-van-cambuur-en-eindigt-tweede.html |archive-date=3 September 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the [[2013–14 UEFA Europa League|UEFA Europa League]], Feyenoord was eliminated in the third qualifying round by [[FC Kuban Krasnodar|Kuban Krasnodar]], making it Feyenoord's fifth consecutive season without European football.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elfvoetbal.nl/nieuws/291693_feyenoord-verliest-ook-thuis-van-krasnodar|title='Feyenoord verliest ook thuis van Krasnodar' |language=nl |publisher=Elfvoetbal.nl |date=29 August 2013}}</ref>

On 1 February 2014, Ronald Koeman announced he would be resigning at the end of the season. On 3 March 2014, [[Fred Rutten]] was named the new manager for the 2014–15 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nu.nl/sport/3716249/rutten-volgt-koeman-bij-feyenoord.html|title='Rutten volgt Koeman op bij Feyenoord'|language=nl |publisher=nu.nl|date=3 March 2014}}</ref>

During the summer of the 2014–15 season, Feyenoord lost four of its best players: Daryl Janmaat to [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]], Stefan de Vrij to Lazio, [[Bruno Martins Indi]] to [[FC Porto|Porto]] and Graziano Pellè to [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]], with Southampton having just appointed Koeman as its new manager. To replace them, as well as other departed players, Feyenoord signed [[Warner Hahn]] from [[FC Dordrecht|Dordrecht]], [[Luke Wilkshire]] from [[FC Dynamo Moscow|Dynamo Moscow]], [[Khalid Boulahrouz]] from [[Brøndby IF|Brøndby]], [[Bilal Başaçıkoğlu]] from [[SC Heerenveen|Heerenveen]], [[Colin Kazim-Richards]] from [[Bursaspor]], [[Jens Toornstra]] from Utrecht, [[Kenneth Vermeer]] from Ajax and Karim El Ahmadi from Aston Villa, returning to the club after two years in England.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.voetbal.com/teams/feyenoord/2015/6/|title='Feyenoord transfers 2014/2015'|date=9 March 2020 |language=nl |publisher=voetbal.com}}</ref>

With new players as well as a new head coach, Feyenoord began the [[2014–15 Eredivisie|2014–15 Eredivisie season]] with just five points after four matches. However, the club was successful in reaching [[2014–15 UEFA Europa League group stage|the Europa League group stage]] for the first time in six years. After losing to [[Beşiktaş J.K.|Besiktas]] 5–2 aggregate in the third [[2014–15 UEFA Champions League qualifying phase and play-off round|qualifying round]] of the Champions League,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rijnmond.nl/sport/06-08-2014/feyenoord-verliest-ook-istanbul|title='Feyenoord verliest ook in Istanbul'|language=nl|publisher=rijnmond.nl|date=6 August 2014|access-date=4 September 2014|archive-date=11 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811125211/http://www.rijnmond.nl/sport/06-08-2014/feyenoord-verliest-ook-istanbul|url-status=dead}}</ref> they defeated [[FC Zorya Luhansk|Zorya Luhansk]] in the final qualifying round of the [[2014–15 UEFA Europa League|Europa League play-off]], 5–4 aggregate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rijnmond.nl/sport/28-08-2014/feyenoord-worstelt-zich-naar-groepsfase-europa-league|title='Feyenoord worstelt zich naar groepsfase Europa League'|language=nl|publisher=rijnmond.nl|date=28 August 2014|access-date=4 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831074132/http://www.rijnmond.nl/sport/28-08-2014/feyenoord-worstelt-zich-naar-groepsfase-europa-league|archive-date=31 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Feyenoord won with 2–1 against [[Standard Liège]] in their first home match in Group G of the Europa League. It was the first victory for Feyenoord in the Europa League group stage in eight years. Feyenoord also beat [[HNK Rijeka|Rijeka]] (2–0) and defending champions [[Sevilla FC|Sevilla]] (2–0), results sufficient for Feyenoord's progress to the knockout round for the first time in ten years. In the knockout round, Feyenoord lost to [[A.S. Roma|Roma]] 3–2 on aggregate. After this loss, Feyenoord did not recover. Despite nearly securing a spot in [[2015–16 UEFA Europa League|next season's Europa League qualification rounds]], they failed to win any of their last five matches, ending the year in the fourth spot, behind AZ. In the play-offs to earn a spot for Europa League, they were eliminated by Heerenveen. After manager Fred Rutten opted not to extend his contract, on 23 March 2015 Feyenoord announced former Dutch international and Feyenoord player Giovanni van Bronckhorst would become its new manager. That summer the club contracted several new key players, [[Eric Botteghin]] from [[FC Groningen]], [[Jan-Arie van der Heijden]] from [[SBV Vitesse|Vitesse]], and [[Eljero Elia]] from [[SV Werder Bremen]]. It also welcomed back club legend [[Dirk Kuyt]] from [[Fenerbahçe S.K. (football)|Fenerbahçe]] on a one-year contract.

Feyenoord started the season well and was in title contention until the winter break. However, Feyenoord hit a low point by losing seven matches a row.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ad.nl/nederlands-voetbal/harde-cijfers-feyenoord-eredivisiestand-over-2016~a448f1c6/|title='Harde cijfers Feyenoord: eredivisiestand over 2016'|language=nl|publisher=ad.nl|date=15 February 2016|access-date=30 October 2023}}</ref> In the Eredivisie the team came third, a distance behind Ajax and the champions PSV. However, Feyenoord also booked a success. After eight years without any prizes, Feyenoord won its 12th KNVB Cup on 24 April 2016. That next summer Feyenoord managed to do some good business in the transfer market. The contracts of starting players like Dirk Kuyt and Eljero Elia were extended. Furthermore, it acquired [[Nicolai Jørgensen]] from [[F.C. Copenhagen]] for €3,500,000 and [[Brad Jones (footballer)|Brad Jones]] was contracted on a free transfer from NEC as a replacement for injured first-choice goalkeeper [[Kenneth Vermeer]].