GIOVANNI VAN BRONCKHORST

"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

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.