Robin van Persie has been appointed the new manager of Feyenoord, with the former Manchester United and Arsenal forward signing a deal until 2027. The 41-year-old, who won the Premier League title with United in 2013 and FA Cup with Arsenal in 2005, leaves Heerenveen to take over at De Kuip. Van Persie collected seven victories from his 23 games in charge at Heerenveen, leading the club to ninth place in the Eredivisie.
Van Persie began his playing career with Feyenoord before moving to Arsenal in 2004, joining Manchester United eight years later. He left Old Trafford for Fenerbahce in 2015 and then returned to Feyenoord in 2018, retiring a year later. Van Persie also earned 102 caps for the Netherlands, scoring 50 international goals.
In May 2020, Van Persie worked as an assistant to Dick Advocaat at Feyenoord, and later took on coaching roles in his hometown club’s youth setup. He signed a two-year deal with Heerenveen in the summer but had experienced mixed results, including a record 9-1 away defeat to AZ Alkmaar in September.
“Everyone knows how special my bond with Feyenoord is,” said Van Persie. “I am enormously looking forward, together with a strong staff, to working with the player group at 1908 [the club’s training ground] and then in De Kuip [the stadium], supported by the Legion [fans], playing matches and achieving successes together.”.
Feyenoord are third in the Eredivisie, 11 points behind leaders Ajax. They will play Inter in the last 16 of the Champions League after knocking Milan out in the playoffs under interim manager Pascal Bosschaart. Sign up to Soccer with Jonathan Wilson. Jonathan Wilson brings expert analysis on the biggest stories from European soccer.
after newsletter promotion. Previously the club’s under-21 coach, Bosschaart stepped up after Brian Priske was sacked on 11 February. Priske, who was previously the coach of Sparta Prague, had been appointed in the summer as replacement for Liverpool-bound Arne Slot.
