Feyenoord thriving thanks to leadership of Van Bronkhorst & Kuyt

When visiting De Kuip, the home of Feyenoord Rotterdam, you can't escape the smell of history; everywhere stories of their glorious past are being told, but more importantly, there are signs of a prosperous future. The club's de facto mantra – "Kein geloel, fussball spielen!" loosely translating into 'forget the crap, just play football' – is a message to visitors of who they are and closer to home what they can yet achieve.

Uttered by their most celebrated manager, Ernst Happel, it also serves as a painstaking reminder of how far they've fallen. Since the Austrian tactician left office in 1973, after guiding the Rotterdammers to a single championship and European Cup across a three-year period, they've collected four more Eredivisie shields over a span of 43 years.

Of the traditional 'big three' – alongside Ajax and PSV – they have been the paupers. But it doesn't mean things must remain the way they are. Feyenoord, with its passionate legion, are ready to once again be number one in the Netherlands.

A generation of supporters, incredibly, have never celebrated a championship at the Coolsingel – the main Rotterdam thoroughfare where victorious Feyenoord sides are honoured on the balcony of city hall – given their last triumph came in 1998/99. Interestingly that was the season captain Dirk Kuyt made his professional debut. Kuyt, now 36, today is more than a 'cult hero', on the count of epitomising every virtue supporters demand, he serves as Feyenoord's fulcrum and will be pivotal if they are to finally realise their ambitions.

Across the last decade and a half, enduring highs and lows in equal measure, the club has seen four different chairmen and thirteen managerial changes. The current incumbent is Kuyt's former Oranje teammate and Rotterdam native Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who succeeded Fred Rutten in the summer of 2015 to become manager of his boyhood club, where he made over 200 appearances and also enjoys legendary status.

To say he's gone through everything is an understatement. From the onset Van Bronckhorst's primary objective was to make Feyenoord a difficult proposition for their opponents. Despite a promising start they succumbed to seven consecutive defeats midway through last season, which saw their championship hopes evaporate, and the goodwill he inherited slowly dissipate with it. However, looking back it was the best thing to happen in his short managerial career.

You learn more about yourself through adversity, and that is exactly what happened to Van Bronckhorst. This most difficult period – with a demanding local media on top of him – taught him whether he's cut out for the job. As a player Van Bronckhorst never allowed external forces to determine what could or could not be done. By retaining his composure, the 41-year-old steered them to a third place finish, collecting eight wins and three draws from their last eleven games, ultimately giving him a platform to work from.

The challenge now is continuing that momentum. It's fair to say, after the opening six matches, he's done just that. Gio, as he's affectionately known, has put everyone on alert. Feyenoord remain the only Eredivisie club with a 100% record, a feat made all the more impressive considering their goalkeeping crisis heading into the campaign. An injury to first choice Kenneth Vermeer, as well as his deputy Warner Hahn, saw Brad Jones – formerly of Liverpool – join on a free transfer from NEC and he's exceeded expectations.

Starting in every fixture he's kept four clean sheets whilst conceding twice in the process, averaging 3.8 saves per game, including a stunning stop to deny Hector Moreno a late PSV equaliser over the weekend. At the other end Feyenoord, in an already high-scoring season, have racked up 16 goals through eight different goalscorers.

Van Bronckhorst's vision is clearly defined. The former Arsenal and Barcelona full-back prefers a 4-2-3-1 system consisting of a deep-lying playmaker and box-to-box midfielder, with strong emphasis on transition play and rapid ball circulation (averaging 438 short passes per game).

His managerial style is that of a 'teacher', someone best suited to a squad needing guidance. Although the average age of the squad is 25 it's still a team laced with many in their early 20s. Van Bronckhorst might come across as stoic, but those who know him speak of a highly charismatic personality. In these last few weeks his players are giving off the impression they would run through a brick wall for him.

It also helps given he's enjoyed a successful period as a footballer, which brings immediate respect, from there Van Bronckhorst knows he's in control. Keeping a highly ambitious squad happy, every single individual yearning for regular playing time, is a skill in itself which Van Bronckhorst has mastered. A 17-game unbeaten run, winning 14 of those, has only strengthened his position and authority.

A mixture of regulars from last season, retaining some consistency, and smart purchases – which centre-forward Nicolai Jørgensen is turning out to be – make up Van Bronkhorst’s predominant starting line-up. A well-balanced team, laced with individuals comfortable on the ball, who have no trouble generating chances and finding the back of the net (2.6 goals per game). The spine of Van Bronkhorst's team is as formidable as their rivals. At the heart is Kuyt.

His return last summer galvanised everyone associated with the club. Through a strong sense of belief and sheer determination, he became "Mr. Feyenoord", managing 19 goals and four assists across 32 league matches.

Kuyt's speed of thought and footballing acumen, capable of operating in a number of roles, is matched by boundless energy and fierce commitment. It's something Feyenoord supporters (Het Legioen) – who revere players that reflect the will-power and never-say-die attitude they display – greatly appreciate. Though not a Rotterdammer, born in Katwijk aan Zee, he feels like one.

As demonstrated throughout his career he's a footballer continuously in motion switching between defence (averaging 1.3 tackles and 0.8 interceptions per game this season) and offence (3.2 shots and 1.7 key passes per game) with minimal ease. Already with three goals to his name, from his position as the 'number ten', Kuyt subscribes to Happel's principle of the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and sees his goals as nothing but a means to an end. He would rather become a champion, something that has eluded him in the Netherlands before, than win another golden boot.

Togetherness is at the core of Feyenoord's ethos, a commonly sung anthem on the terraces of De Kuip is "hand in hand kameraden (comrades)", and in abidance Van Bronkhorst has forged a slick collective spirit. Kuyt's presence, and his 'been there done that yet still hungry for more' mentality, has had an overwhelmingly positive influence on a relatively young Feyenoord team.

Someone benefitting immensely is Tonny Vilhena, who's now starting to deliver on his promise. Close to leaving during the summer, Italian giants Internazionale were heavily interested, he chose to continue his education with the club that's given him everything.

One of the many youth graduates scattered across the first team Vilhena, 21, is a modern box-to-box midfielder, who plays between the lines, moving between defence (2.3 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game) and attack (one goal from 2.3 shots per game plus creating 1.8 key passes per game). More than ever he's instrumental in Feyenoord's midfield engine, often rotating with Kuyt, who recently celebrated his 36th birthday, and strongly feels they can achieve something special after the week Van Bronkhorst's men have experienced.

A historic win over Manchester United, in the Europa League, courtesy of a typical Vilhena strike was followed by going away to champions PSV, who finished 21 points above them last season, and leaving with all three points. Brazilian centre-back Eric Botteghin, much-maligned during his first year, scored the winner. A statement of intent if there ever was one.

However, there's no guarantee of success. On ten previous occasions the Rotterdammers begun with at least six consecutive victories, but only twice (1968/69 and 1998/99) have they gone on to become champions.

The past, though, is the past. History is there to be made. Only time will tell if this current incarnation, which you can't accuse of lacking talent, is made of the right stuff to become heroes for a new generation.

Will Feyenoord be able to hold off the threat of PSV and Ajax? Let us know in the comments below