Excelsior Rotterdam

Excelsior
Feyenoord’s satellite club Excelsior could be considered an under-21 team that play senior football. Last season, in the club’s promotion/relegation playoff against Sparta Rotterdam, the side’s oldest player was just 26. Led by the 44-year-old Alex Pastoor, the Rotterdam club gained promotion with a squad that included five players born in 1988, four in 1989, four in 1990 and three in 1991. Most of these were on loan from the Feyenoord youth team, so they headed back at the end of the season. A new group of young promising players can help Excelsior to survive in the Eredivise, while some veterans have been added to bring much needed experience. One to watch out for could be 19-year-old forward Roland Bergkamp, former Arsenal star Dennis Bergkamp’s second cousin.

Key arrivals: Cees Paauwe (FC Twente); Wouter Gudde (RKC Waalwijk); Tim Vincken (Feyenoord)

Key departures: Arjan van Dijk (RKC Waalwijk); Ard van Peppen (RKC Waalwijk) Kamohelo Mokotjo (Feyenoord); Vojtech Machek (Helmond Sport); Michal Janota (Feyenoord); Kermit Erasmus (Feyenoord)

Prediction: 14th