Arne Slot’s tenure as head coach of Feyenoord is coming to an end, but he is determined to leave the club on a high note. On Sunday, Feyenoord secured their sixth consecutive victory with an 87th-minute goal. This winning streak is a testament to Slot’s leadership and the team’s strong performance.
In their latest match, Feyenoord faced a tough opponent in NEC Nijmegen, who were vying for fifth place in the Eredivisie to secure a spot in Europa League qualifying. Feyenoord arrived at the game with an impressive 12-game unbeaten run and five consecutive wins. Their only loss in their previous 24 matches was against AS Roma in the Europa League, and that loss was only on penalties.
Feyenoord took the lead just before half-time when Calvin Stengs expertly cut onto his left foot and found the bottom corner from outside the box. However, NEC quickly equalized with a similar effort from Kodai Sano after the restart. The game took a turn in Feyenoord’s favor when NEC’s Bram Nuytinck was sent off, and Newcastle loanee Yankuba Minteh capitalized on a brilliant team move to put Feyenoord ahead 2-1.
But NEC fought back, and Sontje Hansen danced through Feyenoord’s defense to level the score at 2-2. It seemed like the game would end in a draw, but Ayase Ueda came to Feyenoord’s rescue in the 87th minute. Ueda tapped in a low cross from former Brighton forward Alireza Jahanbakhsh to secure a 3-2 victory for Feyenoord. This win extends their winning streak to six matches.
While Feyenoord’s second-place finish behind champions PSV Eindhoven is already confirmed, NEC’s hopes of finishing in the top five were dashed by a 3-0 victory for Ajax. Interestingly, Jordan Henderson started for Ajax amidst speculation that he could be sold in the summer transfer window.
For Arne Slot, these final matches with Feyenoord have been a resounding success. He has been in charge of the club for the past three years, and his last game as head coach will be against Excelsior on May 19th. However, due to Dutch FA sanctions, thousands of Feyenoord fans will be unable to attend his farewell match. Nonetheless, Slot has received immense support from the fans, as demonstrated by the emotional scenes at De Kuip following their 5-0 win over PEC Zwolle.
It is worth noting that Feyenoord currently holds the 10th-longest unbeaten league run in Europe, with 19 games without defeat. This achievement highlights the team’s consistency and Slot’s ability to maintain a strong performance throughout the season. It is the 15th-longest unbeaten run in any league this season, showcasing Feyenoord’s resilience and competitiveness.
As Arne Slot prepares to bid farewell to Feyenoord, he can take pride in the team’s recent successes and the positive impact he has had on the club. His tenure will be remembered for the impressive winning streak and the team’s strong performances.