Robin van Persie dismissed by Feyenoord after 16-month spell in 2026

Feyenoord have terminated Robin van Persie's managerial position after 16 months, despite guiding them to Champions League football.

Managerial departure confirmed Feyenoord have relieved Robin van Persie of his duties as first-team manager just 16 months into his tenure. The former striker took charge in the summer of 2024 and led the Eredivisie side to a runners-up finish last season. His departure comes shortly after Devy Rigaux was named technical director and Robert Eenhoorn took on the general manager role. Van Persie’s exit follows a difficult campaign where the club finished 19 points adrift of league champions PSV Eindhoven. ## Club cites analysis for decision The club stated that an internal review highlighted concerns over both playing style and a downward trend in points across domestic and European competitions. In an official statement, Rigaux acknowledged Van Persie’s efforts during a challenging period, emphasizing his contribution to securing Champions League qualification. The technical director added, "Robin van Persie has given everything for the club over the past 1.5 years. 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." Rigaux continued, "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." ## Van Persie's Feyenoord legacy Robin van Persie enjoyed two spells as a player at Feyenoord, scoring 46 goals in 122 appearances during his time in Rotterdam. After hanging up his boots, he served as an assistant coach under Dick Advocaat and also worked with the club’s youth teams. His first managerial role came at Heerenveen in May 2024, but he returned to Feyenoord less than a year later. As a player, he spent eight years at Arsenal from 2004, winning the FA Cup, before joining Manchester United in 2012, where he claimed the Premier League title in his debut season. ## Image and caption details An image sourced from Getty Images accompanied the article, with a caption noting that Van Persie won 30 of his 58 matches in charge of Feyenoord. The photograph highlighted his brief but impactful spell as manager of the Rotterdam club.