Feyenoord have officially ended their relationship with manager Robin van Persie after a 16-month spell in charge of the club.
Despite steering the Rotterdam side to a second-place finish in the Eredivisie and securing qualification for the UEFA Champions League, the club’s hierarchy decided to relieve the Dutch icon of his duties following a campaign marked by uneven domestic form and declining consistency.
Van Persie, a former Netherlands forward, initially took over in February 2025, succeeding Brian Priske, and his departure brings an abrupt close to a tenure that had promised long-term stability.
The 16-month spell featured a bright start, particularly during the opening phase of the 2025–26 season, but Feyenoord’s momentum faded sharply amid a difficult stretch of just three wins in 14 matches across all competitions between October and January.
Ultimately, the inability to sustain a title challenge against rivals PSV Eindhoven, combined with early exits from European competition and the Dutch Cup, contributed to growing frustration among supporters and decision-makers.
The dismissal also comes shortly after structural changes within the club, including the appointment of new general manager Robert Eenhoorn and technical director Devy Rigaux.
In a statement on the club’s official website, Rigaux acknowledged Van Persie’s contribution while explaining the decision.
“Robin van Persie has given everything for the club in the past 1.5 years,” Rigaux said in a statement on Feyenoord’s website.
“He certainly deserves credit for ending a difficult season with second place in the end. With that, Champions League football was secured, which is, of course, very important.
“We have conducted a thorough analysis. We have included the development of the game delivered and the downward trend in terms of points, both in Europe and the Eredivisie.
“The conclusion was that it would be better to start next season with a new head coach.”
Before returning to De Kuip, Van Persie had a short managerial spell with SC Heerenveen, and he previously developed his coaching experience within Feyenoord’s youth setup after retiring as a player
He also served as a technical coach under Arne Slot, who later moved on to manage Liverpool FC.
