Inspiring week for Scottish coaches at Feyenoord Academy
The Feyenoord Academy played host to a delegation from the Scottish Football Association. Ten talented coaches plus SFA Performance Manager Neil Mackintosh visited Rotterdam to study the youth system and methodology of Feyenoord. It turned out to be an informative and inspiring week for the Scotsmen, said Mackintosh: ‘It is a special club, with special players and special people, who gave us a very special experience!’
The Scottish group spent a week at the Feyenoord Academy, during which they were able to observe up close the Feyenoord specific way of working with talented children. Apart from interactive sessions with Feyenoord’s international development coach Melvin Boel, the group enjoyed presentations by Feyenoord Academy staff members as well as first team performance analist David van Maurik.
The Scotsmen found the Feyenoord Academy staff very open, honest, knowledgeable and keen to share information. ‘The visit opened my mind to assess my own coaching practice’, said one of the participants.
Among the visitors was Brian McLaughlin, former team mate of Feyenoord and Celtic legends Henrik Larsson and Pierre van Hooijdonk.