Feyenoord sack Robin van Persie after 18 months despite Champions League finish

Robin van Persie has been sacked as Feyenoord head coach, the club confirmed on Sunday, ending his tenure after less than 18 months despite finishing second in the Eredivisie and securing UEFA Champions League qualification for the 2026-27 season.

The 42-year-old was appointed in February 2024 and led Feyenoord to third place in his first season before improving to second in his second — results that, on paper, represent progress. Yet the club’s management concluded that an internal evaluation pointed in the other direction.

Technical Director Dévy Rigaux acknowledged Van Persie’s efforts while explaining the decision. “Robin van Persie has given everything for the club over the past 18 months,” Rigaux said. “He deserves credit for guiding the team through a challenging season and ultimately securing second place. That ensured qualification for the UEFA Champions League, which is of great importance to the club.”

Rigaux added, however, that a “downward trend in points collected, both in Europe and in the Eredivisie” had been identified during the evaluation, and that the club felt it was better to begin the new season under fresh leadership.

Feyenoord’s statement was direct: “Feyenoord will begin the 2026-2027 season with a new head coach. Robin van Persie was informed of this decision today during a meeting with the club’s management.”

Van Persie’s connection to Feyenoord runs deep. He began his playing career at the Rotterdam club before leaving for Arsenal in 2004, going on to win the Premier League title with Manchester United in 2012-13 — a season in which he was the division’s top scorer — before spells at Fenerbahce and a final return to Feyenoord, where he retired in 2019.

He remained at the club as an assistant to Dick Advocaat before stepping into management for the first time with Heerenveen in 2024. That stint lasted a single season — nine wins from 26 games — before Feyenoord brought him back in a head coaching capacity.

Van Persie will now look for his next role in management. He previously returned to Manchester to work on his coaching badges under Erik ten Hag, and his development as a coach will continue to be watched closely given his stature as one of the Premier League era’s most celebrated strikers.