GIOVANNI VAN BRONCKHORST
FourFourTwo UK|April 2024
"I almost had a dream farewell, with the World Cup trophy in my hands - then suddenly it dawns on you that your career is over"
Guus Hetterscheid
GIOVANNI VAN BRONCKHORST

Few footballers can say that they played their last ever match in a World Cup final, but Giovannivan Bronckhorst is one of them. The Dutchman earned that honour in 2010 after scoring the most famous goal of his career just four days earlier, firing home sensationally from 30 yards in a semi-final victory over Uruguay.

As Oranje captain, he wanted to bid farewell by lifting the famous trophy on his 106th and last appearance for his country. But, as with France skipper Zinedine Zidane four years prior, it ultimately ended in defeat – though thankfully without any headbutts.

 CLUBS (PLAYER) 
1993-98 Feyenoord
1993-94 RKC Waalwijk (loan)
1998-2001 Rangers
2001-04 Arsenal
2003-04 Barcelona (loan)
2004-07 Barcelona
2007-10 Feyenoord

COUNTRY (PLAYER) 
1996-2010 Netherlands

CLUBS (MANAGER) 
2015-19 Feyenoord
2020 Guangzhou R&F
2021-22 Rangers

After a fine playing career in which Van Bronckhorst won the Champions League with Barcelona and the Premier League at Arsenal, he transitioned into management with two of his old clubs – and duly took Feyenoord to their first league title in 18 years, before guiding Rangers to a Europa League final.

His tenure at Ibrox came to an end in November 2022, just six months after that European showpiece. He has since been spending some quality time with his wife and sons in his home city of Rotterdam, and that’s where FFT meets the 49-year-old today.

Denne historien er fra April 2024-utgaven av FourFourTwo UK.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra April 2024-utgaven av FourFourTwo UK.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA FOURFOURTWO UKSe alt
NINE REASONS TO BE EXCITED FOR COPA AMERICA
FourFourTwo UK

NINE REASONS TO BE EXCITED FOR COPA AMERICA

Family feuds, Bielsa's return and an Icelandic dentist - it's all been going on ahead of South America's biggest tournament hosted by, er, the USA. Oh, and Messi's going to be there as well...

time-read
7 mins  |
June 2024
30 GREATEST PUNDITS EVER
FourFourTwo UK

30 GREATEST PUNDITS EVER

FFT rates the finest opinion offerers in the history of UK television, via Del Boy, Space Jam and Donald Trump...

time-read
9 mins  |
June 2024
"TERRY VENABLES PUT HIS FAITH IN ME AT EURO 96 - I COULDN'T LET HIM DOWN"
FourFourTwo UK

"TERRY VENABLES PUT HIS FAITH IN ME AT EURO 96 - I COULDN'T LET HIM DOWN"

Only Cristiano Ronaldo and Michel Platini have more goals at the Euros than Alan Shearer's seven - the forward hit five on home soil to secure the Golden Boot in 1996, and tells FFT why he found form at the perfect moment

time-read
10+ mins  |
June 2024
HOW DID I FEEL AFTER SCORING NINE GOALS IN FIVE GAMES AT EURO 84? TIRED!
FourFourTwo UK

HOW DID I FEEL AFTER SCORING NINE GOALS IN FIVE GAMES AT EURO 84? TIRED!

Forty years ago, Michel Platini's Euros-record tally propelled France to glory on home soil... and he wasn't even a forward. No player has ever had a finer European Championship - now, in his own words, he recalls it to FFT

time-read
10+ mins  |
June 2024
WHY ENGLAND COULD TAKE THE HANDBRAKE OFF AT THE EUROS
FourFourTwo UK

WHY ENGLAND COULD TAKE THE HANDBRAKE OFF AT THE EUROS

Gareth Southgate has been labelled a cautious coach in recent major tournament near-misses - in Germany he might just be more adventurous, which brings risks but also potential reward

time-read
9 mins  |
June 2024
GEORGIA ON THEIR MIND
FourFourTwo UK

GEORGIA ON THEIR MIND

A Frenchman, an Englishman and a local genius walk into a Caucasus country to qualify for a first major tournament - is this a joke? Not for Georgia, who are dreaming big

time-read
10 mins  |
June 2024
SYIVINHO KING OF ALBANIA
FourFourTwo UK

SYIVINHO KING OF ALBANIA

The former Arsenal defender was an unexpected appointment last year, but he guided the Balkan nation to Euro 2024 - and now he tells FFT that he wants to spring another surprise...

time-read
7 mins  |
June 2024
CAPITAINE LEADER LEGENDE
FourFourTwo UK

CAPITAINE LEADER LEGENDE

Kylian Mbappe wrote his name into history at successive World Cups. Now France's captain and desperate to break his Euros goal drought, can he make it to the Berlin final and succeed where Zinedine Zidane failed 18 years ago?

time-read
7 mins  |
June 2024
JUDE AWAKENING
FourFourTwo UK

JUDE AWAKENING

Three years ago, Jude Bellingham briefly became the European Championship's youngest ever player - now, after a superb debut season at Real Madrid, he's ready to make a greater impact

time-read
7 mins  |
June 2024
VIVA RONALDO
FourFourTwo UK

VIVA RONALDO

Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal career was as good as over when he was dropped at the last World Cup - instead, CR7 goes to Euro 2024 as their main man once more, aged 39. Will this be the end, and can he make one last pitch to be considered the greatest?

time-read
8 mins  |
June 2024