Robin van Persie has been officially appointed as the new manager of Feyenoord, signing a contract that will keep him at the club until 2027. The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker takes over at De Kuip after leaving his role at Heerenveen.
At 41 years old, van Persie returns to his boyhood club with managerial experience, having led Heerenveen to ninth place in the Eredivisie. His tenure with the Friesland-based side saw mixed results, securing seven victories in 23 games, but also enduring a record 9-1 defeat to AZ Alkmaar earlier in the season.
Van Persie’s connection with Feyenoord runs deep. His playing career began at the club before he made a high-profile move to Arsenal in 2004. After eight successful years in England, he joined Manchester United, where he won the Premier League title in 2013. Later, he moved to Fenerbahce before returning to Feyenoord in 2018, where he played until his retirement in 2019. His international career was equally impressive, earning 102 caps for the Netherlands and scoring 50 goals, making him one of the country’s all-time greats.
His coaching journey started in 2020 when he joined Feyenoord as an assistant to Dick Advocaat. He later took on various roles in the club’s youth setup, helping to develop young talents before making the leap to first-team management with Heerenveen. Despite the challenges there, his potential as a coach was evident, and Feyenoord’s decision to bring him back signals their belief in his ability to lead the club forward.
Speaking about his new role, van Persie expressed excitement at the opportunity to return to familiar surroundings. “Everyone knows how special my bond with Feyenoord is,” he said. “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, supported by the Legion [fans], playing matches and achieving successes together.”
Feyenoord currently sits third in the Eredivisie, trailing leaders Ajax by 11 points. The club has had a turbulent season, with Brian Priske being dismissed as head coach on 11 February after a disappointing run of results. Priske had been brought in as a replacement for Arne Slot, who left for Liverpool in the summer, but his tenure was cut short after failing to meet expectations.
Following Priske’s departure, Pascal Bosschaart stepped up as interim manager, overseeing Feyenoord’s progress in both domestic and European competitions. Under his guidance, the club secured an impressive victory over Milan in the Champions League playoffs, setting up a last-16 clash against Inter. While Bosschaart’s efforts were commendable, the club’s leadership opted for a long-term solution, turning to van Persie to lead Feyenoord into the future.
With his deep understanding of the club’s culture and his experience at the highest levels of the game, van Persie will now be tasked with closing the gap on Ajax and competing for major honors. The challenge ahead is significant, but his appointment has been met with optimism by fans who see him as the ideal figure to bring success back to De Kuip.
As he begins this new chapter in his career, all eyes will be on how van Persie transitions from a legendary player to a top-tier manager. His return to Feyenoord marks a new era, one that supporters hope will bring both exciting football and silverware in the years to come.
