The venerable Robin van Persie, a former icon of Manchester United, has just been appointed as the new head coach of the esteemed SC Heerenveen club.
The Dutch maestro has signed a two-year contract with the Abe Lenstra stadium outfit, marking his first foray into the realm of management after a glittering playing career. Van Persie now joins the illustrious ranks of compatriots like Mark van Bommel and Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who have also transitioned seamlessly from the pitch to the touchline.
Since 2020, the 40-year-old has been honing his coaching acumen, serving as an assistant and co-manager for the youth teams of Feyenoord. Now, he is poised to take the helm and impart his wealth of experience and expertise to the Heerenveen squad.
During his playing days, Van Persie etched his name in the annals of club and international football. As an Arsenal and Manchester United marksman, he amassed an incredible tally of 132 and 58 goals respectively. At the national level, the Dutch legend donned the Oranje jersey 102 times, finding the back of the net on 50 occasions and helping his country finish runners-up in the 2010 World Cup and secure third place in 2014.
Following his retirement in 2019, Van Persie embarked on his coaching journey, with initial speculation linking him to a potential role within the Manchester United setup. Now, he has firmly established himself on the sidelines, ready to embark on a new chapter as the guiding force behind the ambitions of SC Heerenveen.