Arsenal & Man Utd favourite Robin van Persie lands new role

Former Arsenal and Manchester United striker Robin van Persie has been appointed head coach at first professional club Feyenoord.

Van Persie's relationship with Feyenoord stretches to 1999 when he joined the club's youth ranks after a falling out with coaching staff at fellow Rotterdam side Excelsior.

He made 78 first-team appearances before a 2004 transfer to Arsenal and then also finished his playing career back at De Kuip after spells at Manchester United and Fenerbahce.

"Everyone knows how special my bond with Feyenoord is," Van Persie said. "I am enormously looking forward, together with a strong staff, to working with the player group at 1908 and then in De Kuip, supported by the Legion, playing matches and achieving successes together."

Van Persie's staff includes assistant coach Rene Hake, who was part of Erik ten Hag's backroom team at Manchester United until early November.

The 41-year-old started his coaching career at Feyenoord as a casual assistant to coaching legend Dick Advocaat as soon as he hung up his boots. That became a more formal role a year later, working with the first-team and leading younger age groups.

Heerenveen took the plunge and handed Van Persie his first senior gig last summer, with Feyenoord bringing him back ‘home’ less than a year later.

Van Persie was denied an early meeting with former club Arsenal when they were kept apart in the recent Champions League last 16 draw, with the Gunners paired with PSV Eindhoven instead.

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