Robin van Persie returns to Manchester United as part of UEFA coaching course

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 22:  Robin van Persie of Manchester United celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford on April 22, 2013 in Manchester, England.  (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
By Laurie Whitwell
Feb 6, 2024

Robin van Persie is at Manchester United’s Carrington training ground this week so he can complete a mandatory element of his UEFA Pro Licence.

United have opened the doors to their former striker, allowing him to watch training under Erik ten Hag and conduct interviews with staff.

Van Persie, a coach at Feyenoord since 2020, is taking the final step of his qualifications as he aims to build a career in management.

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Those undertaking the Pro Licence with the Dutch FA are required to spend time learning domestically but also at a foreign club and Van Persie requested to visit United, with Ten Hag agreeing.

Van Persie will be at Carrington until Thursday, and as well as observing first-team sessions will workshop with Ten Hag, assistant Mitchell van der Gaag, and football director John Murtough. He is joined by two other coaches from the Netherlands also doing the course.

The 40-year-old was at Old Trafford on Sunday for United’s 3-0 win over West Ham, and was pictured meeting Sir Alex Ferguson, who signed him from Arsenal in 2012.

Van Persie spent eight years at Arsenal, scoring 132 goals in 278 games to rank eighth on the club’s all-time list. But he made the dramatic switch to United after Ferguson called Arsene Wenger to strike a deal. Arsenal had declined to offer Van Persie a new contract.

Van Persie was instrumental in United winning the title in his first and only campaign under Ferguson, who retired at the end of the 2012-13 season.

Van Persie scored 58 goals in 105 games for United, before moving to Fenerbahce in 2015. He rejoined his boyhood club Feyenoord in 2017 and retired from playing two years later.

go-deeper

GO DEEPER

The Premier League 60: No 49, Robin van Persie

(Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Laurie Whitwell worked for the Daily Mail from 2010, covering midlands football for the last five years, including Leicester’s remarkable Premier League triumph. Whitwell was nominated for sports scoop of the year at the 2019 SJAs for breaking Wayne Rooney’s move to DC United. He will be reporting on Manchester United for The Athletic. Follow Laurie on Twitter @lauriewhitwell