Robin van Persie joins Feyenoord in advisory role to see if he wants a future in coaching

Former Netherlands striker is unsure whether coaching is for him but has agreed to help his old boss Dick Advocaat tto offer his advice to the club’s forwards

Mark Gleeson
Saturday 08 August 2020 16:25 BST
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Robin van Persie has agreed to help Feyenoord boss Dick Advocaat
Robin van Persie has agreed to help Feyenoord boss Dick Advocaat (Reuters)

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Robin van Persie said he has joined Feyenoord’s staff to help their forwards with their finishing - although he is not sure what his exact title is - and to see whether coaching is something he might like to pursue.

"It is not an official function. That's why I find it difficult to give it a name. For example, I don't see myself as a striker coach. I think it's a win-win situation: I'm going to find out here if I like this and I help the staff a bit,” he told Dutch media on Saturday.

Coach Dick Advocaat is trying to persuade the 37-year-old to join his staff. The pair previously worked together at Turkish club Fenerbahce.

“I was supposed to join last season, but that didn’t happen. Dick called me and asked if I wanted to come. And you can't say no to Dick.”

Van Persie ended his playing career at Feyenoord a year ago after returning to the club where he began his playing career as a teenager.

In between he had success at Arsenal, Manchester United and Fenerbahce and won 102 caps for the Netherlands.

“Over the past year I have only done things that I enjoy,” said Van Persie.

“I worked as an analyst in England, I travelled a lot with my family. Now I'm going to see if this is also something I enjoy.”

Reuters

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