Former Manchester United and Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has become a free agent after his latest managerial setback at Eredivisie side Feyenoord.
Robin van Persie, who had two separate spells at Feyenoord as a player, became the head coach of the Dutch club in 2025 after he replaced Brian Priske.
The 42-year-old former Manchester United star led Feyenoord for only 16 months before the Eredivisie outfit made the decision to sack him from his role.
Van Persie’s first — and only — full season at Feyenoord saw the Dutch side secure a second-place finish in the Eredivisie and Champions League qualification as well.
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Feyenoord technical director Devy Rigaux speaks out on Robin van Persie’s exit from the Eredivisie club
Robin van Persie’s Feyenoord side fell a whopping 19 points short of PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie title race in the 2025-26 campaign.
Devy Rigaux was appointed the technical director of Feyenoord last month and the 38-year-old Belgian has broken his silence on Van Persie’s sacking now.
The Feyenoord technical director, who began his role at the club at the start of this month, explained what the “internal analysis” revealed about Van Persie’s reign.
“Robin van Persie has given everything for the club over the past 1.5 years,” he said, as per BBC Sport.
“He certainly deserves credit for concluding a difficult season with a final second-place finish. This secured Champions League football, which is, of course, very important.
“We conducted a thorough internal analysis. In this, we took into account, among other things, the development of the style of play and the declining trend in terms of points total, both in Europe and in the Eredivisie.
“The conclusion was that it is better to start the next season with a new head coach.”
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Feyenoord’s statement on former Man Utd striker Robin van Persie getting axed from his managerial role
Van Persie, who was part of United’s last Premier League title-winning side in 2013, is now back at the drawing board over his next move in his managerial career.
Feyenoord dropped a clear-cut statement thanking the former Netherlands striker for his contribution to the Dutch club after the end of the 2025-26 Eredivisie campaign.
“Feyenoord will start the 2026-2027 season with a new head coach,” reads the club’s statement, as per Sky Sports.
“The club would like to thank Robin van Persie for everything he gave during his time as head coach.”
Van Persie began his managerial career at Heerenveen in 2024 before his disappointing reign at the Dutch club came to an end in 2025.
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