In the second year of our partnership with Sparta Rotterdam, we had the privilege of sitting down with Bruno Martins Indi, the seasoned former Dutch international who joined the club this summer as one of the new leaders within the squad. From his early days in Feyenoord’s youth academy to stints in Porto, the Premier League, and AZ, Bruno has built a career defined by discipline, reflection and evolving forms of leadership on and off the pitch.

After photographing him at Het Kasteel, Sparta’s historic stadium, we sat down to talk about his journey, one that began explosively, the challenges he has faced, and the mindset that has guided him through setbacks and injuries. He reflects on his return to his hometown last summer to take on a leadership role at a new club, mentoring younger teammates and the principles that continue to shape his career and personal growth.

Bruno’s story is one of perseverance and thoughtfulness, where every decision on the field and in life has been guided by instinct, experience and a commitment to authenticity. Now, as he gradually turns his attention to life beyond football, he is already thinking about the next stage of his career, embodying the ambition and forward-looking mindset that Atelier Munro celebrates. Still fully focused on his performances on the pitch, his move to Sparta marks a new chapter in the city he calls home, offering a platform to share the many lessons he has learned while continuing to lead, grow and perform at the highest level of Dutch football.

Every step of Bruno’s journey reflects the same care and precision that define made-to-measure tailoring, where individuality and attention to detail turn intention into lasting impact.

One of the things we want to talk to you about is leadership, and also about how you moved to Sparta as an experienced player and leader for the team. But let’s go back to the beginning first. How did your career begin? When you think back to your debut and eventually joining Feyenoord’s first team, how do you look back on the Bruno of that time – the young player who made it to Feyenoord 1?

Bruno: I’m from Rotterdam, of course. I was actually scouted quite late, around the age of 13 or 14. Then I joined Feyenoord’s youth academy, worked my way through the different teams, and eventually reached the first team.

At what stage of the Feyenoord academy was that? Were those strong generations?

Bruno: Yes, definitely. We came through during a financial crisis at Feyenoord. Our group basically helped spark a kind of revival. Of course, quality played a role, but the club’s financial situation accelerated the process – young players had to move up faster so the club could have value on the pitch. That was important because, as a young player, you also felt that responsibility: it really had to happen.

What was your role in the youth teams at that time? Were you already a leader?

Bruno: I was someone who got along with everyone – a connector. I could express myself well and would speak up on the pitch when needed. Communication came naturally to me. Especially as a defender, leadership is essential, and I felt that from an early age.

So that step to the first team – that’s what you work toward throughout your teenage years. Many players never make it, even if they might be more technically gifted.

Bruno: That’s true. It was also a turbulent time at Feyenoord, with a lot happening at board level. After a good Under-19 European Championship, I was told I might be loaned to Excelsior. But a few days later, the coach Mario Been gave me a chance with Feyenoord. I was over the moon. I joined the first-team pre-season and eventually made my debut against KAA Gent. That first year, I played around 15 matches.

What position did you play?

Bruno: I came on as a left central defender, and sometimes at left-back. Under Koeman, I became a regular starter, but that didn’t happen overnight. Injuries to other players gave me the opportunity to really break through.

Who were the leaders in that team?

Bruno: We, the young players from the academy, actually had a lot of influence. We knew the club and each other well, and that helped. Of course, there were also players in their mid-twenties who came from elsewhere, but we had the upper hand because we understood the city and the club. My intrinsic motivation was there from a young age – I was always playing football outside, despite not having a super stable environment. Football gave me direction and helped me develop perseverance. Football shaped my personality and gave me something to hold on to. It also taught me how to deal with setbacks. And also Feyenoord played an important role in helping me.

Your environment potentially could have had an influence away from football, but you chose your own path.

Bruno: Exactly. It’s about changing yourself, not your environment. That’s how I’ve always seen it.

And you also quickly made it into the national team. Did you feel that in the same context?

Bruno: Yes. I’ve always stayed true to myself. I treat everyone with respect, regardless of their status. That allowed me to quietly do my thing in what was the final stages of that golden generation.

Eventually you transferred abroad away from where you grew up, to FC Porto.

Bruno: Yes. I wanted to go to Portugal because of my roots. I was born there and thought, “Let me take an intermediate step before reaching the absolute top.” I wanted to play in the Champions League and that’s what they did quite successfully. We almost reached the semi-finals in my first year. It was a fantastic experience, with a very talented team. But we didn’t win any titles for various reasons. And then a new coach arrived who didn’t believe in me. That’s when I decided to move to England, to test myself in a bigger league and to maintain my position in the national team.

Did Portugal still feel like home because of your roots?

Bruno: Absolutely. Professionally and personally, it felt very good – a strong institution, a great club, fantastic climate. Everything felt right.

Despite that feeling, you didn’t want to stay idle and risk losing your spot with the national team, so you left for England?

Bruno: Exactly. When the opportunity arrived I also wanted to test myself in that competition. And I played well in my first year in the Premier League at Stoke City FC. I also really saw a long-term vision there. But ultimately, we were relegated in my second year, which was mentally tough.

How was it physically and mentally: the relegation and picking up a few injuries at Stoke City FC?

Bruno: That relegation year was tough. I had many injuries, couldn’t perform continuously, but I kept going. It was also about learning to understand your body and discovering limits. Now I truly know my body. Before, and especially at that time, I always pushed beyond my limits. That’s not me trying to act tough – it’s just how I was. Late in my career, I learned to change those habits. That has great value, not just individually but for the team. At that time I just pushed through, for which you always pay a price eventually.

What did that relegation mean for Bruno the person – did you have to adjust your perception of your potential career?

Bruno: At some point, you realize that the absolute top is no longer attainable. When I was young, my career skyrocketed. But setbacks arrived, and I had to deal with them. Eventually, I had a realization: what I associated with the absolute top was playing for the national team. In that sense, I was already where I envisioned myself as a young boy. Of course, I also wanted to play for a top club, but for me, the absolute highlight was a World Cup semi-final, playing for my country. That’s unique – the pressure, the experience. When I had that insight, that gave me a lot of peace and pride.

So, in terms of clubs, I knew the absolute top wouldn’t be reached by me, but I always competed against top-club players and could measure myself, even in the national team. That’s why, when I eventually returned to the Netherlands, my primary goal at AZ was to win a trophy and prove myself as an international again. I wanted to be “closer to the fire,” because in the Netherlands, you’re more visible than in the Championship. Despite everything, I still felt I was an international, even if I wasn’t in the squad.

The move back to The Netherlands was your deliberate strategy?

Bruno: I’m convinced that because of that move to AZ, I achieved my two last international caps. And eventually, I was off the pitch with a major injury just before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar – which then coach Louis van Gaal even warned me about. That also became an important learning moment. Because of my mindset, I still didn’t really listen to my body; the urgency to play was too great. At that point, I truly understood I had to change this if I wanted to continue playing into my thirties.

And then came a long rehabilitation?

Bruno: Yes, a year long. It was tough, but it taught me a lot and I did manage to come back strong.

What did the injury do to your position in the dressing room?

Bruno: The young Bruno is still inside me. I never lost his mindset. At AZ, I entered a young dressing room full of talented players, and I recognized myself in them. I connect quickly, serve as a bridge, and try to help the team evolve. Sometimes silence is best; sometimes speaking up is necessary.

In my first two years at AZ, I was vice-captain, but I didn’t really feel that. In the third year, I officially became captain. And that gave me the mission to actively cultivate a certain dressing room culture, something I didn’t always receive myself as a young player. As a connector, I always take responsibility and want to take others along with me – for the club, the players, and the staff.

That didn’t stop when I was injured. In fact, I believe it helped me return well after the injury. It’s all about respect, eventually. It’s about being active, being around the team even when not playing. I never felt that my respect was taken away due to my injury. Because that can happen too, you know? The dressing room has an element of competition as well. There are always layers to leadership.

You couldn’t underline your role as a leader on the pitch.

Bruno: Indeed, and people can start doubting you. And they should, because you’re competing at the highest level. You have to prove yourself time and again. That’s how I go about things anyway. I live by this idea: I don’t ask who you were. I ask who you are. Here and now.

To take your responsibility and show your leadership during a long injury also feels like enormous personal growth.

Bruno: Absolutely. And I have to mention: it helped me a lot too during rehabilitation, to maintain a role in the team process.

This summer, after five years at AZ, you made the step to Sparta. In a way, full circle, back in Rotterdam.

Bruno: Absolutely.

Did you want to return to Rotterdam? How did that feel?

Bruno: As we spoke about, I had a major injury later in my career. In recent years, I couldn’t play as much as I would have liked, and I’d dealt with a big disappointment last season – losing the cup final with AZ. Then you head into the summer, and I had indicated for myself: I needed to move into an uncomfortable situation again. I was too comfortable. I wanted to challenge myself again.

It was clear what you needed at this stage in your career.

Bruno: I was too comfortable. I had to move into an uncomfortable situation to really reignite the fire within myself again. It was necessary. We discussed it at home – how do we wrap up those fifteen, sixteen, or eighteen years? That’s an ongoing conversation with my wife. And I started thinking: what defines you? You’re not a quitter; you’re always a fighter. You want to leave something behind. What is the fitting move?

Then at some point, I get a call from Sparta. We had a good conversation about football, and I quickly thought: yes, I want to finish in a footballing way, with the perspective that I can fully challenge myself. And it’s beautiful that it’s in Rotterdam. Everything felt right. Sparta matched exactly what I was looking for at that moment when I had to make the choice. Football itself has also changed a lot during my career. And it feels right to be here now, close to home.

It is interesting to consider the time in which you started compared to the circumstances in which young players debut today, looking at social media, public awareness, and their role at large.

Bruno: It’s completely different, but it’s also about how you view it yourself and how you manage it. I consciously choose, for example, not to have social media.

That’s almost a radical choice today.

Bruno: Correct, but it’s a very healthy choice.

At Sparta we are seeing an experienced Bruno, a leader, who is ready to use all that and still show the mindset of the young player whose started in a different part of Rotterdam?

Bruno: Yes, I play weekly, I feel fit. My numbers are good. We want to finish as high as possible with Sparta – better than last season. From there, we provide a platform for younger players; the youth academy is strong. I see growth in every aspect of the club. Even collaborations outside of football, like this one with Atelier Munro, show the club moves with the times. Sparta has a rich tradition, but you need to evolve, and I feel the club is in the middle of such processes.

And looking at yourself, what is your future perspective, do you think about your life after your active career?

Bruno: Certainly. You can’t avoid it. At 30-plus, you think about it. Reality comes closer. You’re in the autumn of your career, which is the toughest phase. And as I explained earlier, when it comes to my body, I have been quite stubborn throughout my career until the last few years. And I even have a pretty clear idea of what I would like to come next: a management or administrative role. In that area, I see a natural evolution from my role on the pitch and in the dressing room. There, I see the most interesting challenges and ambitions to pursue in my next career.

That fits perfectly. It’s a nice full circle regarding leadership. There’s a red thread in how the connecting aspect of your character manifested in different phases. And it’s valuable to already have a sense of that while you are still playing.

Bruno: One hundred percent. That’s why I always say: dream big, but start small. The idea is there, but I’m moving step by step. First, I’m still an active footballer – that’s the priority. And when possible, I want to grow into that role later. That’s still something for the future, because I have ambitions to continue playing as long as possible. My biggest passion remains on the field – and off it, in the dressing room, everything else.

Your leadership skills as a footballer translate almost one-to-one into a boardroom or management role. Those elements around a team, being a connector and the dressing room dynamics you describe – there’s a clear parallel to the world of corporate management. And in achieving those ambitions, you’ll become a new best version of yourself, without a doubt.

Bruno: After a few more great years on the pitch, I see a beautiful trajectory ahead where I can grow as a professional and as a person. You hear about the void after an active career; I mostly see exciting challenges to dedicate myself fully to. But first a few more years on the pitch at Sparta, where they’ll still get to see an even stronger version of myself based on the lessons learned in the most recent phase of my career.