‘Van Persie starts coaching career at Heerenveen, former striker signs for 2 years’

NOS Football•today, 10:06

Robin van Persie will be head coach in the Premier League from next season, the AD and the Leeuwarder Courant report. The 40-year-old former striker will sign a two-year contract with SC Heerenveen.

After the summer, Van Persie will start working as Kees van Wonderen’s successor at the Abe Lenstra Stadium. In March it was announced that Van Wonderen would leave the current number ten in the Premier League at the end of this season.

Van Persie retired as a footballer in the summer of 2019. The attacker played 102 international matches and is still the Dutch team’s all-time top scorer with 50 goals. The Rotterdam native started and ended his career at Feyenoord and in between played for the English top clubs Arsenal and Manchester United and in Turkey at Fenerbahçe.

After his football career, Van Persie started working as a specialist and youth coach at Feyenoord. This season he is in charge of the youngest youth team.

At SC Heerenveen, Van Persie meets an old acquaintance with technical director Ferry de Haan. They were teammates in the Feyenoord team that won the UEFA Cup in 2002.

De Haan also spoke with other potential trainers in recent months. For example, a photo leaked showing former Ajax coach Maurice Steijn speaking to a delegation from the Frisian club. And VVV Venlo coach Rick Kruys also confirmed that he was in discussions with Heerenveen.

Ultimately, Heerenveen’s choice is Van Persie, according to the AD and the Leeuwarder Courant.