Americans Abroad

Feyenoord gives Gibbs his release after return from injury.

After six months of rehabilitaion, Cory Gibbs returned to Feyenoord, only to be cut five days later -- Feyenoord web site photo --

By Gary Davidson (in Washington, D.C.)
SoccerTimes

ROTTERDAM, the Netherlands (Tuesday, January 24, 2006) -- Five days after returning from a serious injury, United States defender Cory Gibbs was handed his release by Feyenoord Rotterdam of the Dutch Eredivisie.

"He will leave because there are many players available in his position," Feyenoord official Fred Blankemeijer told Associated Press.

Gibbs had spent the last six months rehabilitating a knee injury in Florida. Gibbs, 26, had surgery in June to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee after going down hurt in the U.S. men's 2-1 loss to England in a May 28 friendly in Chicago.

Upon Gibbs return, another Feyenoord official, Gido Vader told AP that it would be at least a month before Gibbs would be fit enough to play.

Recently, Feyenoord indicated Gibbs was one of about a half dozen players available for transfer. Now, Gibbs can sign with any other team without a transfer fee.

Gibbs expressed disappointment in Feyenoord's decision and determination to play for the U.S. in this summer's World Cup in Germany. There is no reason to believe American coach Bruce Arena won't give the former Brown University star a full chance to make the team.

"In all honesty, I feel that I want to fight for my place with Feyenoord," Gibbs told AD Sportwereld of Rotterdam. "I want to convince the coach of my qualities and attitude. That's who I am. But I have to think further now. I want to be playing because of the World Cup in Germany. I must play there with my country."

When Gibbs signed with Feyenoord in January, it was reported his contract ran to the summer of 2009. He immediately became a starter under coach Ruud Gullit, who was fired after the 2004-05 season. Gibbs never played for current coach Erwin Koeman

Gibbs had one goal in 15 Eredivisie appearances for Feyenoord. He moved to the Netherlands after completing his one season with FC Dallas of Major League Soccer in 2004.

Gibbs started his professional career with St. Pauli in Germany, which was in the Bundesliga when he signed, but was relegated twice in his two-and-one-half years with the club. He then went to MLS.

Andre Bahia and Serginho Greene have been solid in back this season for Feyenoord which signed highly-touted 20-year-old defender Ron Vlaar from AZ Alkmaar during the league's winter break. The team dumped defenders Alexander Ostlund of Sweden and Karim Saidi of Tunisia.

Feyenoord is in the thick of the Eredivisie championship race, tied for second place with AZ at 14-3-3 with 45 points, trailing PSV Eindhoven (15-2-3) by three points. Eindhoven employs the U.S. men's standout midfielder DaMarcus Beasley and recently signed American attacker Lee Nguyen who had three years of eligibility remaining at Indiana University.

Gary Davidson is SoccerTimes managing editor. E-mail Gary Davidsonn.