Terence Kongolo admits he owes his career at Feyenoord to Southampton boss Ronald Koeman.
Kongolo admits he could've joined FC Utrecht, only for Koeman, then coach of Feyenoord, to hand him a first team chance.
"I had already almost decided," Kongolo told Voetbal International. "At home, everyone agreed and also my agents thought it was a good idea so I said: 'Coach, I go to FC Utrecht'.
"But Koeman, a real boss for whom everyone had a bit of awe, sat back and said that he could not let me go. Joris Mathijsen was injured and he needed me: 'You play against Vitesse,' he said, 'and if you do well, you'll just stay there. Good luck'.
"We never discussed FC Utrecht again!"
Kongolo continued: "I got my chance, the only thing I wanted. I knew that I could take confidence in myself and in God. He never drops His own children, so I did not fear.
"Koeman kept his word. After Vitesse I stayed in. It changed my life. A few months later I was with the Dutch national team in Rio de Janeiro and now everybody wants something from me."
Manchester United and Manchester City are both tracking Kongolo this season.
