Robin van Persie has been sacked as Feyenoord manager after just 16 months in charge, the club announced on Sunday, despite securing Champions League football for next season.
The 42-year-old former Arsenal and Manchester United striker was informed of the decision during a meeting with the club's management, according to a statement from the Eredivisie side. His dismissal comes just two weeks after the appointments of Devy Rigaux as technical director and Robert Eenhoorn as general manager.
“Robin van Persie sacked by Feyenoord after 16 months despite leading them to second and Champions League qualification.”
"Robin van Persie has given everything for the club over the past 1.5 years," Rigaux said. "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."
But that was not enough. Van Persie's Feyenoord finished 19 points behind champions PSV Eindhoven in his only full season, and the club pointed to a declining trend in points collected, both in Europe and domestically. "We conducted a thorough internal analysis," Rigaux added. "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. The conclusion was that it is better to start the next season with a new head coach."
Van Persie had guided Feyenoord to third place in his first partial season after being appointed in February 2025, before this season's second-place finish. He won 30 of his 58 games in charge. But the club's new hierarchy decided the trajectory was not right.
The Dutchman's connection with Feyenoord runs deep. He began his playing career there, scoring 46 goals in 122 appearances across two spells, and returned as a player in 2018 before retiring in 2019. He then worked as an assistant to Dick Advocaat and coached youth teams, before his first managerial role at Heerenveen in May 2024. He lasted just one season there, with nine wins from 26 games, before returning to Feyenoord nine months later.
As a player, van Persie spent eight years at Arsenal from 2004, winning the FA Cup, before joining Manchester United in 2012 and winning the Premier League in his first season. He also played for Fenerbahce.
Now the 42-year-old must search for his next club, having previously returned to Manchester under Erik ten Hag to work on his coaching badges. Feyenoord will begin the 2026-27 season with a new head coach, yet to be named.