Feyenoord Dismisses Head Coach Days Before Critical Champions League Match

Dutch football club Feyenoord has made the sudden decision to part ways with head coach Brian Priske, mere days before a crucial Champions League playoff match. The club announced the firing in a terse statement, citing “highly inconsistent results and a lack of chemistry” as the reasons for Priske’s departure.

The timing of the dismissal is particularly striking, as Feyenoord is set to face AC Milan in the first leg of their Champions League playoff round on Wednesday. The Dutch side qualified for this stage after finishing 19th in the group phase of the tournament.

Along with Priske, assistant coaches Lukas Babalola Andersson and Bjorn Hamberg have also left the club. Feyenoord stated they expect to appoint an interim coaching staff by tomorrow.

Dennis te Kloese, Feyenoord’s general and technical director, expressed disappointment at the decision but said it was necessary given the team’s lack of consistent progress in recent months. He acknowledged Priske’s achievements in the Champions League, which included impressive wins over Bayern Munich and Sparta Prague, as well as a 3-3 draw with Manchester City.

However, Feyenoord has struggled domestically this season, currently sitting 5th in the Eredivisie table with only 11 wins from 21 matches. They trail league leaders Ajax by 12 points.

The club now faces the challenge of preparing for their critical Champions League clash against Milan without Priske at the helm. The first leg will be played in the Netherlands on Wednesday, with the return fixture at San Siro scheduled for February 18th.