Hated ex-Arsenal star sacked | OneFootball

The Dutch club cited a downward trend in results and performances despite Van Persie guiding Feyenoord to second place and Champions League qualification.

Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Robin van Persie has been sacked by Feyenoord, with the Dutch club confirming they will begin the 2026-27 season with a new head coach.

The former Arsenal forward’s departure was confirmed after a meeting with the club’s management, ending his time in charge after 18 months. His contract had been due to run until mid-2027, but Feyenoord have now decided to move on following an internal review.

For Arsenal supporters, there will be little sympathy.

Van Persie remains despised by many fans, not simply for leaving to join Manchester United which is how it is generally frames, although that did not help, but for the way he tried to turn supporters against the club in order to force his exit.

Feyenoord confirmed the decision in a statement on their website, writing that, “Feyenoord will begin the 2026-2027 season with a new head coach. Robin van Persie was informed of this decision today during a meeting with the club’s management.”

Technical Director Dévy Rigaux added, “Robin van Persie has given everything for the club over the past 18 months. He deserves credit for guiding the team through a challenging season and ultimately securing second place. That ensured qualification for the UEFA Champions League, which is of great importance to the club.

Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

“We conducted a thorough internal evaluation in which we looked at several factors, including the development of the team’s performances and the downward trend in points collected, both in Europe and in the Eredivisie. The conclusion was that it would be better to start the new season with a new head coach.”

Feyenoord expects to announce Van Persie’s successor within the next few weeks.

The decision follows the arrival of new directors Devy Rigaux and Robert Eenhoorn, who had announced that they would assess Van Persie’s work after taking over following the departure of general manager Dennis te Kloese at the end of April.

Van Persie had hoped direct qualification for the Champions League would be enough to keep him in post after Feyenoord finished second in the Eredivisie. After securing that place, he spoke of “relief”, “joy” and “pride”, while also acknowledging it had been a “long and hard” season. “It was full of challenges at all levels.”

But second place did not tell the full story. In his first full season as coach, Van Persie failed to achieve any of the club’s other targets, including European progression beyond the winter and winning the KNVB Cup.

Feyenoord also failed to beat a top-six club all season, with no wins against PSV, FC Twente, NEC, Ajax or AZ. They finished second with 65 points, equalling the unwanted record for the lowest points total by an Eredivisie runner-up, previously recorded by Willem II in 1999, PSV in 1985 and Fortuna ’54 in 1997.

It is not yet clear whether assistant coaches Rene Hake and John De Wolf will also leave.

This was van Persie’s longest managerial stint of his post-playing career and his second managerial role after time with Heerenveen, which he ended to move to Rotterdam.