Milambo has been officially part of Feyenoord’s first team since September 2023. “That was a really special moment. I was given shirt number 27 and a permanent place in the dressing room. It also gave me confidence and motivation to continue, because that is only the beginning,” he says in conversation with Hand in Hand.
Renting out was also an option, but after discussions with the club and his family, he decided to fully go for his chance at Feyenoord. And that has already paid off in a number of highlights this season. He got a starting spot against FC Volendam and PSV and scored his first goal against Vitesse. Moreover, Milambo made his debut in the Champions League, where he showed his class on the highest football stage. A special moment was when he managed to surprise Antoine Griezmann with an individual action. “I didn’t even notice it during the match, but afterwards my phone almost exploded with all the messages from friends and family with videos of that moment. It was a nice action, although it would have been even better if we had won.” (1-3, ed.)
“I am satisfied with my development so far. I put a lot of energy into training and I notice that I have become a better player. I see myself as an attacking midfielder who can also play in the number 8 position. Actually, I’m a real box-to-box player with a lot of walking ability. I am good at holding the ball with an overview and have a good shot. Of course, there is always room for improvement and I still have to show more at this level in the minutes I get. I could become even physically stronger and optimize my walking patterns. It’s all about seeing and creating the right solutions on the field. Every day I work hard to become the player I know I can be.”
Text: Ilona van der Werf
Close bond
A special moment appeared on Feyenoord’s Instagram page. Quilindschy Hartman, Quinten Timber, Lutsharel Geertruida, Santiago Giménez and Milambo stand in the catacombs, just before the important match against PSV, with their arms wrapped around each other in a circle. This intimate scene not only highlights the close bond between the players, who support and find each other in faith not only on the field, but also off it. “The basic players often do that, pray together before the match,” Milambo explains. It is no coincidence that Milambo was among them. Faith plays an important role in the life of the young footballer. For Milambo, it is a source of inner peace amid the hustle and bustle of professional football, and a reminder of the greater purposes and meanings beyond the lines of the pitch. “My faith gives me strength and self-confidence.”
2027
Earlier this year, Milambo extended his contract until 2027. “It obviously feels great to receive this confidence from the club. Feyenoord is not just a club for me; it is my home, the club where my heart lies. I am convinced that I can continue to grow and develop here as a player. There are still plenty of goals to achieve and I am determined to become a regular starter and achieve great successes together with my team. Last season I was able to experience the joy of being a champion up close, which was of course great, but it didn’t really feel like my championship. I hope to be able to play an even more important role in achieving new successes and prizes with Feyenoord in the coming years.”
Read more wonderful interviews in Hand in Hand, the magazine of FSV De Feijenoorder. Members receive the packed magazine at home. Become a member now!
