Feyenoord Rotterdam (Holland), Arsenal FC (England)
Honours
2002 UEFA Cup winner (Feyenoord) 2004 Charity Shield winner (Arsenal) 2003 Dutch Cup Finals (Feyenoord)
Biography
Robin van Persie (born August 6, 1983 in Rotterdam, Netherlands)
is a Dutch footballer currently employed by English FA Premier
League team Arsenal.
Van Persie began as a youth player for Dutch side Excelsior
Rotterdam and later Feyenoord Rotterdam, earning caps in the
process for Holland's U-19 and U-21 squads. He was unexpectedly
called up to Feyenoord's injury-plagued first-team squad soon
after he signed a three-and-a-half year deal with the club in
January 2002. These performances, including his playing an
integral part in the 3-2 UEFA Cup final victory over Borussia
Dortmund at the De Kuip on May 8, 2002, earned him the
prestigious Best Young Talent award offered by the Dutch PFA for
the 2001/02 season.
As a result of a back injury suffered during the summer of 2002,
he was an uncertainty to start the new season, but showed no
sign of such worries come the beginning of a season in which he
scored 8 goals from 28 Dutch Cup games, as well as playing twice
in the UEFA Champions League. An expiration of his contract in
2005 meant van Persie would attempt, in vain, to sign a new
contract. This, coupled with a disagreement with Feyenoord
manager Bert van Marwijk meant that he spent most of the next
English club Arsenal, undeterred by their previous rebuff during
the January 2004 transfer window, made a move for the young
Dutch striker at the end of the 2003/04 season. Van Persie also
emerged as a target for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, Bundesliga
outfit Werder Bremen, and Spanish side Sevilla. Arsenal fended
off other club interest and signed van Persie, despite already
having signed Spanish striker José Antonio Reyes from Sevilla.
Van Persie completed his move, believed to be in the range of £3
million, to the Premiership on May 17, 2004. Praised by Arsenal
manager Arsène Wenger for the strength of his talent, he made
his debut for the team in the 3-1 FA Community Shield victory
over rivals Manchester United on August 8, 2004. Early on, he
played as a left winger, but for Arsenal he mainly plays as a
striker. He is touted as Arsenal's long-term replacement for his
compatriot Dennis Bergkamp.
He spent most of his time on the bench during earlier parts of
the season and looked to have earned himself a permanent place
there with his sending off against Southampton which cost
Arsenal two points, and caused Wenger to display
uncharacteristic anger with van Persie. To his credit, van
Persie redoubled his efforts in training during his suspension
and was reintroduced in to the team when injuries to Thierry
Henry forced Wenger's hand. His return to the first team has
been marked with numerous goals, the pinnacle of his
achievements coming in the FA Cup semi-final against Blackburn
Rovers where he scored two stunning goals to secure victory for
Arsenal. He also scored the vital breakthrough goal against West
Bromwich Albion to help Arsenal secure second place in the
Premiership after the Albion defence had proved difficult to
break down. As a result of his good play he won the The
Barclay's Premiership Player of the Month.
Van Persie scored in the first game of the 2005/06 season and he
continued to show good form, winning the prestigious Player of
the month award in November after scoring 6 goals in just 4
starts.
