Feyenoord Academy (Varkenoord)
Encyclopedia
Feyenoord Academy, often referred to as Varkenoord, is the joint academy
of the professional football clubs Feyenoord and Excelsior located in Rotterdam
, the Netherlands
. The academy is a result of the extensive partnership between the two Rotterdam
clubs. For the season 2009–10 both clubs merged its reserve
teams, while the youth academies officially merged in the summer of 2010.
Feyenoord Academy is based on the structure of the former Feyenoord youth academy, with the addition of various Excelsior youth players and staff members. The newly formed Feyenoord Academy gained the official regional youth academy status from the KNVB
and is located at Sportcomplex Varkenoord
. All academy teams participate under the name Feyenoord/Excelsior and wear the Feyenoord jersey.
In May 2010, Feyenoord Academy won the Rinus Michels Award
for best youth academy in the Netherlands. Ajax and Sparta Rotterdam
were the other nominees. Feyenoord Academy won the award for its innovation within the academy, the overall success of its teams in the national youth leagues and the high amount of players in the national youth teams.
, who was appointed in the summer of 2009. The team plays its home matches at Stadion Woudestein
, the home venue of Excelsior.
As of the season 2010–11 the reserve team was officially disbanded, but kept participating in the Beloften Eredivisie without a permanent squad. The formation varies and consists of reserve players from Feyenoord and Excelsior first team squads, with the possible addition of emerging academy players. The players train with their own teams, without having the chance to actually train together. On match days the team is coached by André Hoekstra
.
The Feyenoord Academy comprises age-group teams ranging from U8's up to the flagship U19's. The youngest players are scouted at amateur clubs in the direct surroundings of Rotterdam
. For the age of twelve and older the academy extends its scouting area, mainly to the remaining part of the Netherlands
, Belgium
and Scandinavia
. Until the U12 team, the players only have training sessions during the evening and are largely guided by part time coaches. When players are ready to join secondary education they start training during daytime. A close partnership with LOOT-school Thorbecke allows Feyenoord Academy to offer players a full time training program, while the school adapts its time table to the players training program.
b>Feyenoord (14)
Youth system
Youth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...
of the professional football clubs Feyenoord and Excelsior located in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The academy is a result of the extensive partnership between the two Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
clubs. For the season 2009–10 both clubs merged its reserve
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
teams, while the youth academies officially merged in the summer of 2010.
Feyenoord Academy is based on the structure of the former Feyenoord youth academy, with the addition of various Excelsior youth players and staff members. The newly formed Feyenoord Academy gained the official regional youth academy status from the KNVB
Royal Dutch Football Association
The Royal Dutch Football Association is the governing body of football in the Netherlands. It organises the main Dutch football leagues , the amateur leagues, the KNVB Cup, and the Dutch national football team. It is based in the municipality of Zeist.The KNVB came into being on 8 December 1889...
and is located at Sportcomplex Varkenoord
Sportcomplex Varkenoord
Sportcomplex Varkenoord is a sports facility located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Varkenoord is the home base of both the Feyenoord Academy and the amateur football club SC Feyenoord. The fields are also being used as training ground by Feyenoord's first team squad.-External links:* at...
. All academy teams participate under the name Feyenoord/Excelsior and wear the Feyenoord jersey.
In May 2010, Feyenoord Academy won the Rinus Michels Award
Rinus Michels Award
The Rinus Michels Award is an annual prize in Dutch football. It is supported by the official football coaches union...
for best youth academy in the Netherlands. Ajax and Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
were the other nominees. Feyenoord Academy won the award for its innovation within the academy, the overall success of its teams in the national youth leagues and the high amount of players in the national youth teams.
Reserves
In the summer of 2009 Feyenoord and Excelsior merged its reserve teams. The Feyenoord/Excelsior reserves play under the name Jong Feyenoord/Excelsior. The current reserve team manager is André HoekstraAndré Hoekstra
André Hoekstra is a retired Dutch footballer who was active as a midfielder. Hoekstra made his professional debut at Feyenoord Rotterdam and also played for RKC Waalwijk...
, who was appointed in the summer of 2009. The team plays its home matches at Stadion Woudestein
Stadion Woudestein
Stadion Woudestein is a multi-use stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Excelsior Rotterdam. The stadium is able to hold 3,531 people and was built in 2000....
, the home venue of Excelsior.
As of the season 2010–11 the reserve team was officially disbanded, but kept participating in the Beloften Eredivisie without a permanent squad. The formation varies and consists of reserve players from Feyenoord and Excelsior first team squads, with the possible addition of emerging academy players. The players train with their own teams, without having the chance to actually train together. On match days the team is coached by André Hoekstra
André Hoekstra
André Hoekstra is a retired Dutch footballer who was active as a midfielder. Hoekstra made his professional debut at Feyenoord Rotterdam and also played for RKC Waalwijk...
.
Structure
Feyenoord Academy was officially founded in the summer of 2010, when the youth academies of Feyenoord and Excelsior continued as one academy. The rise in transfer fees and the increase in value of young players have signalled a further need for Feyenoord and Excelsior to further support the academy. Despite being a mutual academy, the goal of the Feyenoord Academy remains to develop young players into professional football players for Feyenoord's first team squad.The Feyenoord Academy comprises age-group teams ranging from U8's up to the flagship U19's. The youngest players are scouted at amateur clubs in the direct surroundings of Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. For the age of twelve and older the academy extends its scouting area, mainly to the remaining part of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
. Until the U12 team, the players only have training sessions during the evening and are largely guided by part time coaches. When players are ready to join secondary education they start training during daytime. A close partnership with LOOT-school Thorbecke allows Feyenoord Academy to offer players a full time training program, while the school adapts its time table to the players training program.
Feyenoord/Excelsior U19
The final team of the Feyenoord Academy is Feyenoord/Excelsior U19, previously known as Feyenoord/Excelsior A1.Academy graduates in first team squad
By the dismantle of the reserve team squad in the summer of 2010, the extra step between the academy and the first team squads was taken away. This means a high amount of academy graduates are currently active in both Excelsior and Feyenoord's first team squads.| EWLINE | |||
| Name | Age | Pos | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
 Marley Berkvens |
FW | 2011–12 | |
| Mick van Buren |
FW | 2011–12 | |
| Kevin Jansen |
MF | 2011–12 | |
| Daan Smith |
DF | 2011–12 | |
| Tim Eekman Tim Eekman Tim Eekman is a Dutch professional footballer, who currently plays for Excelsior in the Dutch Eredivisie.-External links:... |
DF | 2010–11 | |
 Nayib LagouirehNayib Lagouireh Nayib Lagouireh is a Belgian footballer who currently plays as a right winger for Dutch Eredivisie club Excelsior.-Career:... |
FW | 2010–11 | |
| Andréa Fileccia Andréa Fileccia Andréa Fileccia is a Belgian footballer who currently plays as a striker for Dutch Eredivisie club Excelsior.-Career:... |
FW | 2010–11 | |
| Kevin Wattamaleo Kevin Wattamaleo Kevin Wattamaleo is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Dutch Eredivisie club Excelsior.-Career:... |
MF | 2008–09 | |
| Norichio Nieveld Norichio Nieveld Norichio Nieveld is a Dutch professional footballer who plays for Excelsior, as a defender.-Career:Born in Den Bosch, Nieveld made his senior debut for Feyenoord during the 2008–09 season, before moving to Excelsior a season later.... |
DF | 2008–09 | |
| Jerson Anes Ribeiro Jerson Anes Ribeiro Jerson Anes Ribeiro , is a Dutch footballer of Cape Verdian descent offensive midfielder. He plays currently for Almere City FC, on loan from SBV Excelsior.... |
MF | 2007–08 | |
| Tim Vincken Tim Vincken Tim Vincken is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a right-winger for SBV Excelsior... |
FW | 2005–06 |
| Name | Age | Pos | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jordy Clasie Jordy Clasie Jordy Clasie is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Dutch Eredivisie club Feyenoord.-Career:... |
MF | 2010–11 | |
| Kaj Ramsteijn Kaj Ramsteijn Kaj Ramsteijn is a Dutch professional footballer, who currently plays for Feyenoord in the Dutch Eredivisie.-Club career:... |
DF | 2010–11 | |
| Shabir Isoufi Shabir Isoufi Shabir Isoufi is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Feyenoord.-External links:*... |
MF | 2010–11 | |
 Kostas Lamprou |
GK | 2010–11 | |
| Bruno Martins Indi Bruno Martins Indi Bruno Martins Indi is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a defender for Dutch Eredivisie club Feyenoord and the Netherlands U-19.-Early life:... |
DF | 2010–11 | |
| Jerson Cabral Jerson Cabral Jerson Cabral is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a left winger for Dutch Eredivisie club Feyenoord and the Netherlands U-21.-Career:... |
FW | 2010–11 | |
| Ricky van Haaren |
MF | 2009–10 | |
| Miquel Nelom Miquel Nelom Miquel Nelom is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a defender for Dutch Eredivisie club Feyenoord.-Career:... |
DF | 2009–10 | |
| Bart Schenkeveld Bart Schenkeveld Bart Schenkeveld is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a defender for Dutch Eredivisie club Feyenoord and the Netherlands U19.-Early life:... |
DF | 2009–10 | |
| Stefan de Vrij Stefan de Vrij Stefan de Vrij is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a defender for Dutch Eredivisie club Feyenoord and the Netherlands U17.- Early life :... |
DF | 2009–10 | |
| Kelvin Leerdam Kelvin Leerdam Kelvin Leerdam is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a right back for Dutch Eredivisie club Feyenoord and the Netherlands U21.-Early life:Leerdam was born in Paramaribo, the capital and largest city of Suriname... |
MF | 2008–09 | |
| Leroy Fer Leroy Fer Leroy Johan Fer is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a central midfielder for Dutch Eredivisie club FC Twente and the Netherlands U21.... |
MF | 2007–08 | |
| Erwin Mulder Erwin Mulder Erwin Mulder is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Dutch Eredivisie club Feyenoord.-Early life:... |
GK | 2006–07 | |
| Diego Biseswar Diego Biseswar Diego Marvin Biseswar , nicknamed Diogs, is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a left winger for Dutch Eredivisie club Feyenoord and the Netherlands U21.... |
FW | 2004–05 |