Feyenoord Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Eddy Pieters Graafland (🇳🇱) · Ben Wijnstekers (🇳🇱) · Rinus Israel (🇳🇱) · Wim Rijsbergen (🇳🇱) · Cor Veldhoen (🇳🇱) · Puck van Heel (🇳🇱) · Willem van Hanegem (🇳🇱) · Wim Jansen (🇳🇱) · Cor van der Gijp (🇳🇱) · Ove Kindvall (🇸🇪) · Coen Moulijn (🇳🇱)

Feyenoord focuses on directness and heavy wing play through a 5-2-3 formation. This lineup is built to use width and rapid transitions to catch opponents out of position. The team seeks to control the tempo through the central players while relying on the flanks to provide the main attacking threat.

Eddy Pieters Graafland stays between the posts to manage the defensive line. A back five provides a deep layer of security with Puck van Heel sitting in the center to command the area. Rinus Israel operates as the right centre back to cover the space, while Wim Rijsbergen plays on the left to maintain the defensive block. Ben Wijnstekers plays as an attacking wing back on the right to provide width, whereas Cor Veldhoen acts as the left wing back to push high up the pitch. This unit works together to defend zonally and ensure there is always cover behind the wing backs.

The midfield relies on a double pivot to link the defensive unit with the front three. Wim Jansen acts as the engine, working to win the second ball and shield the back five. Alongside him, Willem van Hanegem uses his exceptional passing range to drive the team forward and progress through the thirds. This duo must manage the space between the lines, with Jansen focusing on covering ground while van Hanegem looks to find the feet of the striker or switch play to the wide areas.

Attacking duties are spread across three front players who look to stretch the defence. Cor van der Gijp operates as a lone striker, working to hold up the ball and find space in the box. Coen Moulijn and Ove Kindvall act as wide attackers, with Moulijn looking to cut inside and Kindvall providing presence on the right. The formation is designed to create runs in behind and allow the wing backs to overlap the wingers. When the team wins the ball back high up the pitch, they look to break quickly through these combinations.

One major advantage for Feyenoord is the ability to create wide overloads from the overlapping wing backs. The defensive solidity of the three centre backs allows the midfielders to push higher without leaving the back line too exposed. This setup also provides high levels of compactness when defending deep in a low block.

This 5-2-3 formation creates a hard unit to break down while remaining dangerous on the break. It is best suited for games against teams that commit many players forward, allowing the wide players to exploit the space left behind.