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Van Bronckhorst takes charge of Feyenoord after Rutten exit

Giovanni van Bronckhorst has taken charge of Feyenoord after Fred Rutten left the club following their failure to reach an automatic qualifying place for next season's Europa League.

Rutten was due to step down in the summer after a disagreement with the club's hierarchy but, after Sunday's 3-0 defeat at Zwolle saw them finish in the postseason playoffs for Europe, the club acted quicker.

"The club management has decided it is better if Fred Rutten and Feyenoord split straight away. Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who was due to take over from Rutten next season, will now take charge," the club said in a statement.

Netherlands international Van Bronckhorst played for Arsenal, Rangers and Barcelona before retiring in 2010 and has been a part of the Feyenoord backroom staff since 2011-12.

The club finished fourth behind champions PSV Eindhoven, runners-up Ajax and AZ Alkmaar after losing their final five games of the season. They now face Heerenveen over two legs and will take on Zwolle or Vitesse Arnhem for a place in the Europa League if they win.

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