Irakli Yegoian shines for fast-starting Excelsior after difficult road

Excelsior’s strong opening to the Eredivisie season has been powered in part by attacking midfielder Irakli Yegoian. The Rotterdam club have collected nine points from their first four games, while the 22-year-old Georgian has contributed two goals and three assists.

Yegoian added a goal and an assist in Friday’s 3-0 away victory over Willem II. His form has prompted praise from Arnold Bruggink, who was FC Twente’s technical director when the midfielder received a contract there two years ago. Bruggink told De Eretribune, in comments carried by FCUpdate, that it was one of the most gratifying deals he had handed out because of the player’s response and his family’s emotion.

Asked about the terms, Bruggink estimated that Yegoian earned €2,500 gross per month at Twente, placing him near the bottom of the club’s pay scale. Yegoian later played for Vitesse before emerging as a key figure for Excelsior. Bruggink praised his commitment to improving, telling FCUpdate that the midfielder has “an incredible character” and never gives up.

That perseverance carries added significance given Yegoian’s childhood. He arrived in the Netherlands as a refugee at the age of five and spent 11 years living in different asylum-seeker centres. Former midfielder Karim El Ahmadi also highlighted his current level, saying Yegoian was the best player on the pitch when he attended Excelsior’s recent game against Sparta Rotterdam.