Feyenoord and Van Persie End Their Association

Feyenoord has officially ended its relationship with manager Robin van Persie after a 16‑month tenure.

Although he guided the Rotterdam giants to a second‑place finish and a UEFA Champions League qualification spot, the club’s board decided to dismiss the Dutch icon following a season marked by uneven domestic results.

The decision brings an abrupt close to his managerial spell, which began in February 2025 when he succeeded Brian Priske.

Read Also:Super Eagles World Cup Miss: Gusau Not To Blame — Gara‑Gombe

While his period at the club featured promising moments, notably a strong start to the 2025‑26 campaign, momentum stalled during a frustrating run of only three wins in 14 matches across all competitions between October and January.

His inability to challenge PSV for the Eredivisie title, coupled with early exits in both European competitions and the Dutch Cup, fueled growing dissatisfaction among supporters.

Van Persie’s dismissal follows the appointment of a new general manager, Robert Eenhoorn, and a new technical director, Devy Rigaux.

“Robin van Persie has given everything for the club in the past 1.5 years,” Rigaux said in a statement on Feyenoord’s website.

“He certainly deserves credit for ending a difficult season with second place in the end. With that, Champions League football was secured, which is, of course, very important.”

“We have conducted a thorough analysis. We have included the development of the game delivered and the downward trend in terms of points, both in Europe and the Eredivisie.”

Read Also:Friendly: Super Falcons Target Another Win Against Senegal

“The conclusion was that it would be better to start next season with a new head coach.”

The Dutchman had a brief spell in charge of Heerenveen before being lured back to Feyenoord last year.

Van Persie initially earned his managerial credentials within the Rotterdam‑based giants’ youth set‑up after retiring as a player.

He also served as a technical coach while Arne Slot, who was sacked by Liverpool last month, was in the hot seat.