Ruben Schaken insists he is not seeking personal vindication following a tumultuous few months regarding his 17-year-old son, Jerayno Schaken, though the former Feyenoord winger acknowledges the recent turn of events has proven his initial criticisms correct, 1908.nl reported. The teenage right-winger recently made his official debut for Feyenoord against N.E.C., scoring almost immediately after coming off the bench, just weeks after his father publicly lambasted the Rotterdam club over its handling of the youngster’s development and contract situation.
The Conflict Over Playing Time and Valuation
The friction between the Schaken family and Feyenoord escalated sharply in August when Ruben Schaken criticized the club on ESPN for assigning his son to the Under-21 squad rather than integrating him into the first team. Twente Insite reported that Eredivisie rivals FC Twente had pursued the young forward during the preseason, lodging a reported bid of one million euro after the player allegedly reached a verbal agreement with the Enschede club over more secure pathways to senior minutes. Feyenoord countered by setting a high valuation of ten million euro, prompting the senior Schaken to label the club’s stance as “sabotage” at the time.
Reflecting on the intense backlash that followed his televised remarks, Ruben Schaken maintained that his blunt intervention was necessary to protect his son’s career trajectory. “I fell the most over that I was set up as a bit of an emotional and crazy father,” he told FCUpdate, as cited by Twente Insite. He explained that accepting meager youth contract terms would have backfired once the teenager reached the senior dressing room and realized the pay disparity, comparing the situation to selling a high-performance sports car for a fraction of its true value.
From Under-21s to Senior Debut Against N.E.C.
The dynamic shifted dramatically when Jerayno Schaken stepped onto the pitch for his debut against N.E.C. and scored a stunning goal shortly after his substitution.
The breakthrough also coincided with high-level recognition. This week, Jerayno Schaken was included in The Guardian‘s prestigious list of the sixty best young football talents in the world. His father admitted that achieving such global recognition at age 17 surpasses his own playing career accomplishments, reinforcing his conviction that the youngster required a more substantial professional commitment from Feyenoord than initially tabled.
Contract Talks and Future Prospects at De Kuip
In the wake of the debut and subsequent global recognition, dialogue between the family and Feyenoord’s hierarchy has improved significantly. Ruben Schaken confirmed he held positive discussions with Feyenoord technical director Dévy Rigaux, who expressed a strong desire to extend and improve the winger’s contract. Schaken revealed that Rigaux sent a congratulatory message following the goal against N.E.C., to which the father playfully replied that the promotion should have happened much sooner.
Representation for the young forward is currently managed by the Muy Manero agency, leaving contract negotiations in professional hands while the player focuses on earning further minutes under the heavy demands of the Eredivisie, KNVB Cup, and UEFA Champions League fixtures. Although foreign interest has surfaced—alongside a memorable encounter where former manager Robin van Persie expressed admiration for the teenager’s ability—the family’s immediate focus remains on securing a prominent role within Feyenoord’s senior setup.
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