Luigi Bruins

Luigi Bruins

Bruins with Feyenoord in August 2008
Personal information
Full name	Luigi Maud Bruins
Date of birth	(1987-03-09) 9 March 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth	Rotterdam, Netherlands
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1993–2004	Excelsior
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004–2007	Excelsior	66	(10)
2007–2011	Feyenoord	90	(11)
2011	Red Bull Salzburg	3	(0)
2012	Excelsior	9	(2)
2013–2014	Nice	22	(1)
2013–2014	Nice II	4	(1)
2014–2021	Excelsior	173	(22)
2021–2024	VV Smitshoek	16	(1)
International career‡
2007–2008	Netherlands U21	10	(2)
Managerial career
2024–	VV Zwaluwen
Medal record Men's football Representing   Netherlands UEFA European Under-21 Championship Winner 2007 Netherlands
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 January 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 August 2007

Luigi Bruins (born 9 March 1987) is a football manager and a retired Dutch professional footballer. Bruins played in the position of attacking midfielder.

After being declined by Feyenoord at the age of six, the Rotterdam-born went through the complete Excelsior youth academy. Bruins made his first team debut in the season 2004–05 and managed to win the Eerste Divisie title in the subsequent season. After a successful Eredivisie debut, Bruins signed a four-year deal with the club that first declined him, Feyenoord.

Bruins was part of the Netherlands U21 squad winning the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship in 2007.

Club career

Excelsior Rotterdam

1993–2004: Youth teams

Bruins was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Bruins started playing football at the age of six. As the Rotterdam-born was aiming for the highest level, he signed up for a talent practice session at Feyenoord. However, Feyenoord decided not to invite Bruins to join the youth academy. Eventually, Bruins was asked to join Excelsior instead. Bruins went through the complete Excelsior youth academy, until he made his professional debut in 2005. ^[1]

2004–2006: Breakthrough

Bruins made his professional debut for Excelsior in the season 2004–05. On 28 January 2005, Bruins replaced Santi Kolk in the 78th minute of the Eerste Divisie away match against FC Eindhoven (3–0). ^[2] It was the first and only match Bruins played in his first season.

Bruins had his breakthrough in the season 2005–06. Under the management of the new Excelsior coach Mario Been, Bruins was positioned on his favorite right midfielder position in a 4–3–3 system. Bruins scored his first professional goal in the season opening away match against Cambuur Leeuwarden (0–1) on 12 August 2005. ^[3] From the start of the season, Excelsior unexpectedly battled for the Eerste Divisie championship. When Excelsior won the home match against championship favorite VVV-Venlo (3–1) on 31 March 2006, the third club from Rotterdam secured the Eerste Divisie 2005–06 title. ^[4] Bruins played an important role in Excelsior's Eredivisie promotion, scoring 4 goals in 35 matches.

2006–2007: Eredivisie

After Excelsior's surprising promotion, the Rotterdam club was an almost certain relegation candidate for the season 2006–07. The club had the lowest Eredivisie budget and only few players with Eredivisie experience. Bruins made his Eredivisie debut on 19 August 2006, in the home match against Roda JC (0–1). ^[5] Bruins scored his first Eredivisie goals on 9 September 2006, as he scored two penalty kicks in the home match against SC Heerenveen (3–1). ^[6] Excelsior finished the Eredivisie on a 16th place, which meant they had to compete in the promotion/relegation playoffs. After wins against BV Veendam and RBC Roosendaal, Excelsior remained in the top tier. ^[7]

While at Excelsior, Bruins was linked to various domestic and foreign clubs. Besides the Dutch sides Ajax, AZ and PSV, also Tottenham Hotspur were interested in the talented midfielder. ^{[8] [9]} On 26 January 2006, Feyenoord announced the signing of Bruins. The youngster would join the club for the season 2007–08, signing a four-year deal. ^[10]

2007–2011: Feyenoord

Bruins transfer to Feyenoord was overshadowed by the arrival of experienced players like Roy Makaay from Bayern Munich, Giovanni van Bronckhorst from Barcelona and Kevin Hofland from VfL Wolfsburg. Due to the heavy competition within the team, it was expected the talented Bruins would mainly play a role as substitute. However, after the departure of Royston Drenthe to Real Madrid, Feyenoord coach Bert van Marwijk promoted Bruins to a first team regular, filling in the left winger position. Bruins played 27 Eredivisie matches in his first Feyenoord season, scoring six goals.

After various minor injuries, Bruins slowly started to lose his first team regular status in the season 2008–09. Due to lack of playing time, player agent Sietje Mouch stated it was better for Bruins to temporary leave Feyenoord on loan in the winter transfer window of January 2010. ^[11]

2011–2014: Salzburg, Excelsior and Nice

In October 2011, Bruins signed a contract with Red Bull Salzburg until the end of the 2011–12 season. His contract was cancelled after only three games and he left Salzburg at the end of 2011. ^[12]

Luigi Bruins went on trial at Rangers F.C. ^[13] and was linked with VVV-Venlo. On 9 March 2012, Bruins signed with his former team Excelsior until the end of the season.

Bruins signed a contract with OGC Nice on 15 January 2013. In one and a half years' time, he played 22 matches for the French side, in which he scored once. After his contract had not been extended, he left the club as a free agent in June 2014.

2014–2024: Excelsior and Smitshoek

On 13 September 2014, it was announced that Bruins had returned to Excelsior for the third time. He signed a deal until the end of the season.

In July 2021, Bruins joined fifth-tier Hoofdklasse club VV Smitshoek for a three-year term. ^[14] After these three years, he retired from playing football.

International career

Bruins was part of the Netherlands U21 winning the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. Jong Oranje retained its 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship title in style with a 4–1 win over Serbia U21 in the final. Bruins scored the fourth Dutch goal, securing the victory. ^[15]

In the summer of 2008, Bruins missed out on a place in the Netherlands Olympic team. He was mentioned in the pre-selection, but wasn't part of the final 18. ^[16]

Managing career

Bruins started managing VV Zwaluwen in 2024.

Career statistics

As of 1 August 2020 ^{[17] [18]}

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Excelsior	2004–05	Eerste Divisie	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	2005–06	Eerste Divisie	35	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	35	4
	2006–07	Eredivisie	30	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	30	6
	Total		66	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	66	10
Feyenoord	2007–08	Eredivisie	27	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	27	6
	2008–09	Eredivisie	22	1	1	0	0	0	4 [a]	0	27	1
	2009–10	Eredivisie	21	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	22	2
	2010–11	Eredivisie	20	2	1	0	0	0	2 [b]	0	23	2
	Total		90	11	3	0	0	0	6	0	99	11
Red Bull Salzburg	2011–12	Austrian Bundesliga	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
Excelsior	2011–12	Eredivisie	9	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	2
Nice II	2012–13	CFA 2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	2013–14	CFA	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1
	Total		4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	1
Nice	2012–13	Ligue 1	10	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	1
	2013–14	Ligue 1	12	0	3	0	2	0	0	0	17	0
	Total		22	1	3	0	2	0	0	0	27	1
Excelsior	2014–15	Eredivisie	22	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	24	2
	2015–16	Eredivisie	18	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	19	0
	2016–17	Eredivisie	24	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	25	2
	2017–18	Eredivisie	27	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	28	5
	2018–19	Eredivisie	29	6	1	1	0	0	2 [c]	0	32	7
	2019–20	Eerste Divisie	25	4	2	0	0	0	0	0	27	4
	2020–21	Eerste Divisie	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		145	19	8	1	0	0	2	0	155	22
Career total			339	44	15	1	2	0	8	0	364	45

1. One Appearance in Johan Cruyff Shield, three Appearances in UEFA Europa League
2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
3. Appearances in Eredivisie play-offs

Honours

Excelsior

• Eerste Divisie: 2005–06

Feyenoord

• KNVB Cup: 2007–08

Netherlands U21

• UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship: 2007

References

1. "Luigi Bruins". Kameraadjes (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 8 September 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
2. "FC Eindhoven – Excelsior (28-01-2005)". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 28 January 2005. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
3. "Cambuur Leeuwarden – Excelsior (12-08-2005)". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 12 August 2005. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
4. "KAMPIOENEN!!!" [CHAMPIONS!!!]. ERFC (in Dutch). 31 March 2006. Archived from the original on 1 August 2007. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
5. "Excelsior – Roda JC (19-08-2006)". VI (in Dutch). 19 August 2005. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
6. "Excelsior – SC Heerenveen (09-09-2006)". VI (in Dutch). 9 September 2005. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
7. "Slory houdt Excelsior in eredivisie" [Slory keeps Excelsior in Eredivisie]. KNVB (in Dutch). 24 May 2007. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
8. "Jacht op Luigi Bruins geopend" [Hunting opened on Luigi Bruins]. AD (in Dutch). 18 December 2006. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
9. De jacht op Luigi Bruins is geopend Archived 28 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine , ajax.blieb.nl (in Dutch)
10. "Feyenoord legt Luigi Bruins vast" [Feyenoord signs Luigi Bruins]. Feyenoord.nl (in Dutch). 26 January 2006. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
11. "Luigi Bruins heading for Feyenoord exit". Goal.com. 29 December 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
12. "Salzburg fehlt die sportliche Leitlinie". kurier.at (in German). 22 December 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
13. "Bruins determined to impress". Sky Sports. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
14. "Luigi Bruins kiest voor vv Smitshoek" (in Dutch). VV Smitshoek . Retrieved 3 October 2021.
15. "2007: Dutch double for De Haan". UEFA. Archived from the original on 17 September 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
16. "Bruins niet in Olympische selectie" [Bruins not part of Olympic team]. Feyenoord.nl (in Dutch). 15 July 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
17. "Luigi Bruins » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
18. Luigi Bruins at Soccerway. Retrieved 31 January 2018.

External links

• Luigi Bruins at WorldFootball.net
• Luigi Bruins at Feyenoord.nl at the Wayback Machine (archived 2009-09-01)(in Dutch)
• Luigi Bruins at Kameraadjes Club at the Wayback Machine (archived 2009-09-08)(in Dutch)
• Luigi Bruins at Voetbal International (in Dutch)