Robin van Persie dismissed as Feyenoord head coach as new directors opt for fresh start

Robin van Persie's tenure as Feyenoord head coach has come to an abrupt end. The Rotterdam club announced that his contract, originally set to expire in the summer of 2027, has been terminated with immediate effect. Despite securing direct qualification for the Champions League last season, the club's new management concluded after an internal review that a change in leadership was needed as part of its future plans, NOS reports.

Incoming general director Robert Eenhoorn and incoming technical director Dévy Rigaux were responsible for the decision. While both executives are only due to officially begin their roles on July 1, they have already been closely assessing the club's recent campaign and evaluating its sporting direction ahead of their arrival.

Van Persie's time in charge was marked by fluctuating results. Feyenoord endured a particularly difficult spell toward the end of 2025, with performances and results falling well below expectations. Amid growing unrest around the club, former manager Dick Advocaat was appointed as an adviser in March to help guide and support Van Persie.

The new leadership team signaled early on that Van Persie's future was far from certain, refusing to offer assurances about his position during their introductory presentation. Internally, relations between the incoming directors and the club legend reportedly failed to develop into a strong working partnership.

Robin van Persie was appointed Feyenoord head coach on February 23, 2025, following the dismissal of Brian Priske. During his tenure, he oversaw 58 competitive matches at De Kuip before his departure.

Although the club endured several difficult periods during the campaign, Feyenoord ultimately secured a second-place finish in the Eredivisie, earning direct qualification for the Champions League.

Feyenoord has yet to announce who will replace Van Persie as head coach. The future of assistant coaches René Hake and John de Wolf also remains uncertain, with Hake widely rumored to be on his way out. Several members of the coaching staff, including Etiënne Reijnen and Jyri Nieminen, had already departed before the latest changes were made.

With Van Persie still under contract until 2027, Feyenoord is expected to face a significant financial settlement to terminate the deal early. The club will likely have to pay a considerable severance package as part of his departure.