Despite finishing second in the Eredivisie and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League the following season, Dutch powerhouse Feyenoord has confirmed the departure of head coach Robin van Persie, ending his 16-month tenure.
The Rotterdam club made the announcement in a succinct statement on Sunday.
“A new head coach will take over for Feyenoord in 2026–2027. The team expressed gratitude to Robin van Persie for all of his contributions while serving as head coach.
After leading Feyenoord to second place in the Dutch premier division, Van Persie, who rejoined his boyhood club as manager in February 2025 on a contract set to last until 2027, departs.
The 42-year-old, a former striker for Manchester United and Arsenal and a former Netherlands international, managed 58 games and won 30 of them.
Devy Rigaux, Feyenoord’s recently recruited technical director, explained the decision by saying the club’s analysis extended beyond the final league position.
Over the past 1.5 years, Robin van Persie has given the club everything. He should be commended for finishing in second position at the end of a challenging season. This guaranteed Champions League football, which is obviously crucial,” he stated.
According to Rigaux, an internal evaluation revealed issues with the team’s general development and performance.
We carried out a comprehensive internal analysis. Among other factors, we considered the evolution of the style of play and the downward trend in the total number of points, both in the Eredivisie and in Europe. The conclusion was that hiring a new head coach for the upcoming season would be preferable.
Despite finishing second, Feyenoord battled for consistency throughout the season and finished 19 points behind champions PSV Eindhoven.
Prior to getting ready for the 2026–2027 season, the club has not yet revealed Van Persie’s replacement.
