Robin van Persie

hou2use about Robin van Persie

Unique sustainable portrait of Robin van Persie (Dutch national team) hand-painted with paint residue on waste wood

Robin van Persie (Rotterdam, August 6, 1983) is a former Dutch professional footballer who played as a center striker, shadow striker, midfielder or winger. He played between 2001 and 2019 for Feyenoord, Arsenal, Manchester United, Fenerbahçe and again Feyenoord. Van Persie is known as a technically gifted footballer and is praised for his passing and kicking technique.

Van Persie played in youth with Excelsior and Feyenoord and made his official first-team debut with the latter in 2002. That same year he won the UEFA Cup with Feyenoord and was named Dutch Talent of the Year. In 2004, he made the move to Arsenal, where he won the Community Shield and FA Cup in his first season. In his remaining seven seasons with The Gunners, he picked up "only" personal titles such as the Premier League Golden Boot as top marksman and that for the best player of the year 2011/2012.

Van Persie left for rival Manchester United in the summer of 2012. In his first season at Old Trafford, he captured the English national title and finished as the Premier League's top scorer (26 goals) for the second time in a row. After the departure of figurehead Alex Ferguson as manager, both Van Persie and Manchester United experienced two disappointing seasons.

Van Persie made his debut in the Dutch national team in June 2005. Of this, he became captain and top scorer of all time in 2013. He represented the Netherlands at three World Cups (2006, 2010 and 2014) and two European Championships (2008 and 2012).