Van Persie Receives Support from Veteran Coach Advocaat at Feyenoord
Robin van Persie is receiving support from experienced football manager Dick Advocaat as Feyenoord navigates a challenging stretch of the season. The 78-year-old Advocaat has joined the Rotterdam club as an advisor until the end of the season, aiming to alleviate some of the pressure on the under-fire Van Persie.
The move comes as Feyenoord currently sits 16 points behind league leaders PSV Eindhoven, with the potential for PSV to clinch the title should Feyenoord fall to Ajax in their upcoming Klassieker match on Sunday. Despite their position in the league table, Feyenoord holds a three-point advantage over NEC Nijmegen and a five-point lead over Ajax in the race for the second Champions League spot, with seven matches remaining.
Advocaat recently resigned from his position as coach of Curaçao’s national team last month, a role in which he successfully guided the Caribbean nation to their first-ever World Cup finals appearance, in order to be closer to his daughter, who is facing a serious illness. He previously managed Feyenoord from 2019 to 2021 and as well served in an advisory capacity during an earlier stint with the club.
“I’ve known Robin for nearly 20 years and we have always had a decent rapport,” Advocaat said in a statement. “When I was coach here he always wanted to share his knowledge as a top striker with the forwards we had at Feyenoord. Now I can support him in turn and I’m happy to do so.”
Van Persie has faced increasing scrutiny in his first full season as Feyenoord coach, due to inconsistent form and a disappointing performance in the Europa League, where the team lost six of their eight group stage matches. The board recently voiced their support for Van Persie through the end of the season.
Advocaat’s role will be primarily behind the scenes, serving as a sounding board for Van Persie rather than taking a visible presence in the dugout during matches. This appointment echoes a similar dynamic from 2016, when Advocaat assisted Giovanni van Bronckhorst during a difficult period for the club. Van Persie recently expressed his gratitude for Advocaat’s advice following a 1-1 draw against Ajax, acknowledging the value of the veteran coach’s insights.
The arrival of Advocaat is hoped to provide stability and allow Van Persie to focus on leading the team as they push for a Champions League qualification spot.
