February 6th 2024.
Over the weekend, a familiar face was spotted at Old Trafford, watching Manchester United's victory over West Ham. It was none other than Robin van Persie, the former striker who has now turned to coaching. Van Persie has returned to the club this week to complete part of his coaching badges at Carrington training ground.
After spending eight years at Arsenal, Van Persie has been a youth coach at Feyenoord since 2020. However, he still holds a special place in his heart for United, where he had a successful stint as a player. On Sunday, he was seen cheering on his old club as they secured a 3-0 win over West Ham.
The following day, Van Persie spent four hours at a restaurant with United manager Erik ten Hag and his agent Kees Vos. And now, it has been revealed that he will be spending the rest of the week at Carrington to complete a mandatory element of his UEFA Pro License.
As part of the license requirements, the Dutch Football Association requires coaches to spend time at a foreign club. And Van Persie chose United, despite his history with Arsenal. Coincidentally, he was once teammates with current Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
Ten Hag, who is also Dutch, approved Van Persie's request to visit Carrington. During his time there, he will be allowed to watch training sessions and conduct interviews with staff. He will also have the opportunity to work with Ten Hag, his assistant Mitchell van der Gaag, and football director John Murtough.
Van Persie is currently in charge of Feyenoord's Under-18 side and is joined by two other coaches from the Netherlands who are also completing the course. It is clear that Van Persie still has a strong connection to United and has made multiple visits to the club, including one in December to watch their comeback victory against Aston Villa.
In an interview with MUTV, Van Persie expressed his love for United and the fans. He also mentioned the special memories he has with the club, particularly the game against Villa. He was thrilled to be able to attend the match and witness another victory for his former team.
As Van Persie continues his journey as a coach, it is clear that he still holds a special place for United. And with the opportunity to learn from the likes of Ten Hag and Murtough, it is sure to be a valuable experience for him.
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