FEYENOORD SACK ROBIN VAN PERSIE AFTER 16 MONTHS AS HEAD COACH

Feyenoord have dismissed Robin van Persie as head coach after 16 months in charge of the Rotterdam club. The decision follows a thorough internal analysis conducted by newly appointed technical director Devy Rigaux and general manager Robert Eenhoorn, both of whom joined the club two weeks ago. Rigaux cited a declining points total in both the Eredivisie and European competition as central to the conclusion. The club stated it would be better to begin the next season under a new head coach.

Van Persie guided Feyenoord to second place in the Eredivisie in his only full season in charge, securing Champions League qualification in the process. The club finished 19 points behind Eredivisie winners PSV Eindhoven. Van Persie had previously taken charge of Heerenveen in May 2024 before returning to Feyenoord nine months later. As a player, he made 122 appearances for the club across two separate spells, scoring 46 goals, and later served as assistant coach under Dick Advocaat before working with the youth teams.

Van Persie spent eight years at Arsenal from 2004, during which he won the FA Cup. He joined Manchester United in 2012 and won the Premier League in his first season there. Rigaux acknowledged that Van Persie deserved credit for finishing second and securing Champions League football, describing it as very important for the club. Feyenoord have not announced a replacement.