Van Persie becomes e-bike ambassador months after surprise Feyenoord exit

Robin van Persie has been announced as a global ambassador for e-bike brand ENGWE, several months after Feyenoord relieved the former Manchester United and Arsenal forward of his managerial duties at the end of last season.

Van Persie spent 16 months in charge at Feyenoord, guiding the Rotterdam club to a second-place finish in the Eredivisie and securing Champions League qualification — only to be surprisingly dismissed shortly after the club brought in Devy Rigaux as technical director and Robert Eenhoorn as general manager. Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Van Persie’s former Netherlands team-mate and ex-Rangers manager, was appointed as his successor.

In his new commercial role, Van Persie will represent ENGWE’s push to make electric mobility a more mainstream part of daily life. “Throughout my career, reliability has always mattered,” Van Persie said in a statement. “Being able to trust the people around you, your equipment and your decisions. That is one of the things that attracted me to ENGWE. Today, staying active and finding better ways to move are just as important to me.”

A brand spokesperson added: “Robin represents performance, discipline and reliability, but also an active way of life that goes far beyond football. Together, we want to make e-mobility a more natural part of everyday life and inspire more people to move, explore and enjoy every ride.”

Van Persie has yet to return to football management since leaving Feyenoord. During his tenure, he made headlines for handing his son Shaqueel van Persie — also a left-footed striker — his senior debut during a 3-1 Europa League defeat to Celtic. Van Persie was characteristically direct about the decision at the time: “I made that call as a coach, not as a dad, because we needed a goal. Shaqueel is a player who can score a goal from all angles.”

Shaqueel remains at Feyenoord and continues to develop under the club’s new management. His father, who scored 144 goals and contributed 59 assists across 280 Premier League appearances for Arsenal and Manchester United, has not yet indicated when or whether he plans to return to the dugout.