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Feyenoord does not want to lose Robin van Persie to SC Heerenveen, head coach Arne Slot said on Friday afternoon during a press conference of the Rotterdam club. Van Persie, trainer of Feyenoord Under 18, has an expiring contract in De Kuip. The forty-year-old Rotterdammer has had an exploratory conversation with Heerenveen, but Slot hopes he will stay.
Van Persie is one of the trainers with whom Heerenveen director Ferry de Haan has spoken in the search for a successor to the departing Kees van Wonderen. The Frisians also spoke with Maurice Steijn, Rick Kruys and Ruud van Nistelrooij. According to the Leeuwarder Courant Van Persie is willing to leave Feyenoord for a job as head coach at Heerenveen.
However, Slot hopes that Van Persie will make a different choice, as he revealed during a Feyenoord press conference. “There is always a place available for his qualities, but he has to want it himself.”
“When we were looking for an assistant coach, he didn't want one. He is involved with us, because he is taking the course to become a coach in professional football,” Slot further explained. “You can't see that as an assistant, but he does assist us on the days he is there.” Etiënne Reijnen was eventually appointed as Pusic's permanent successor.
Slot does not want to influence Van Persie's choice. “I don't think Robin needs my advice, because I think one of the special things about Robin is that he knew so clearly what he wants quite early in his career.”
Feyenoord's success coach enjoys how Van Persie works. “He does everything he can and I think that's really nice to see from the side. Of course he is the former top player who has brought a lot of experience from football and as a trainer he would very much like to take that experience with him, but also add things to it.”
“His fanaticism and drive with which he does this are also nice to see,” says Slot, who thinks it is logical that Van Persie has gathered a large technical staff around him. “Not only to help his players, but also to develop himself. Robin doesn't need my advice on this.” Van Persie has been working as a trainer at Feyenoord since 2019 in various roles.
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