Dávid Hancko is once again having an impressive season at Feyenoord. The Slovak is a permanent fixture in coach Arne Slot’s team and always manages to reach a high level. The 26-year-old central defender feels at home in De Kuip, but also realizes that a big club could come along.
When a top club actually comes forward for Hancko, he can count on the full cooperation of Dennis te Kloese. The general manager of Feyenoord recently made a promise to the left foot. Hancko has extended his contract until mid-2028, mainly to increase his market value and make Feyenoord stronger in future negotiations.
“I extended my contract in February,” Hancko told ESPN. “Then I spoke to our general manager Dennis te Kloese. He said: ‘We want to keep you here as long as possible. But if an opportunity comes up at one of the big clubs, or something you really want, then I will take you the airport.’ That’s how we discussed it. But it is not an issue at the moment. There is no pressure on my player’s agent or on the club.”
ESPN DOC
Fans can enjoy the ESPN DOC “Dávid Hancko: Think first, act second” on Sunday evening. The full documentary can be seen on ESPN 1 starting at 9:15 PM. The Feyenoord player talks about his dream club and idol David Beckham, among other things. “He was my role model. I am wearing his shirt here,” says Hancko, showing a childhood photo of himself. “When I was little I was a Liverpool fan because Martin Skrtel was the central defender of Slovakia, so I was crazy about Liverpool, but Beckham was always my idol.”
Every football player has a ritual, and Hancko is no exception. The defender writes in a booklet before each match. “This is a ritual that I have developed and that I now do before every match. I always write down the name of the match and the date. I try to write down the things that I have to do later on the field. I reread the moments that I write down and I have been doing it this way for about a hundred to two hundred matches now.”
“I write with the pen with which I signed my contract with Feyenoord. That is my ritual that I think helps me to prepare for the match. It helps me to be half a second faster, but above all it helps in my head. And also during the discussions we have with the trainer, I write down the instructions about my position and the opponent. That can be crucial, and I certainly write it down in my book.”
