Van Persie Gives Son Debut 'as A Coach - Not As A Dad'

Robin van Persie says his determination to manus boy Shaqueel a elder debut successful Feyenoord's Europa League conclusion by Celtic was made "as a coach" and not retired of sentiment.

The 19-year-old guardant spent 2 seasons astatine Manchester City's academy, earlier pursuing successful his father's footsteps pinch a move to Feyenoord successful 2017 and signing a first master statement pinch nan Dutch nine successful 2022.

Fast guardant to 2025 and Shaqueel was named successful Feyenoord's first-team squad for nan first clip successful Sunday's Eredivisie conclusion by NEC Nijmegen.

Four days later he made his elder debut, coming connected successful nan 81st infinitesimal of Feyenoord's Europa League nonaccomplishment to Celtic.

"I made that telephone arsenic a coach, not arsenic a dada because we needed a goal," said erstwhile Arsenal and Manchester United guardant Robin afterwards.

"Shaqueel is simply a subordinate who tin people a extremity from each angles. That was nan logic I brought him on.

"From a father's constituent of view, erstwhile your boy makes his debut that is ever a typical moment. But I wasn't that engaged pinch enjoying that moment, I was doing my activity for illustration Shaqueel was."

The London-born teen didn't person chance to make an effect and had conscionable 1 changeable successful Celtic's box.

He came connected pinch nan people astatine 2-1, pinch Martin O'Neill's broadside scoring their 3rd a infinitesimal aft his introduction.

"The measurement I spot Shaqueel is arsenic 1 of nan players," added Robin. "This is what we some agreed to a mates of years agone erstwhile we already worked together. Shaqueel was handling that really well, I americium excessively successful my opinion.

"Later connected erstwhile we are location of people we will person a bully moment, erstwhile we are proud of each other. I americium proud of Shaqueel because, for illustration each subordinate who makes his debut, location is simply a full process going connected earlier he made his debut. He worked hard, deserved it and, for him, is simply a typical moment."

Van Persie is not nan first head to springiness his boy a debut arsenic BBC Sport picks retired immoderate of nan others, positive different father-son duos to person featured successful nan aforesaid team.

Netherlands fable Johan Cruyff is 1 of football's astir revered names - a leader arsenic a subordinate and head pinch Ajax and Barcelona.

His boy Jordi played 54 times for nan Spanish giants during Johan's clip arsenic Barca leader - and some near nan nine successful nan summertime of 1996.

Jordi had a decent profession by normal standards, and besides played for Manchester United and 9 times for his country, but could ne'er unrecorded up to his father's iconic status.

"He was demanding to maine successful beforehand of others, absolutely. He would springiness maine a outcry and nan hairs would guidelines up," he told BBC Radio 5 Live successful 2019 astir moving pinch Johan.

Jamie Redknapp started and ended his profession nether Harry astatine different clubs - playing 38 times for him successful total. He came done astatine Bournemouth nether his dada astatine nan property of 16, earlier moving to Liverpool successful 1991. And aged 31, he joined Harry astatine Southampton successful 2005, though he retired six months later done injury.

Harry besides managed his nephew Frank Lampard erstwhile he was West Ham boss.

Alex Bruce played much games (116) nether his dada Steve than he did immoderate different manager. That was astatine Birmingham successful 2005-06 and past 3 years astatine Hull later successful his career.

He besides worked connected his dad's coaching unit astatine West Brom.

Club fable Zinedine Zidane really played 2 of his sons astatine Real Madrid. Midfielder Enzo played 1 Copa del Rey match, and scored, while goalkeeper Luca played 2 La Liga games.

Both had near Real earlier Zinedine's 2nd spell ended successful 2021.

Midfielder Darren played for Sir Alex Ferguson astatine Manchester United, but near for Wolves successful 1994 aft being portion of his dad's Premier League title-winning squad successful 1992-93.

He came done nan younker ranks astatine Old Trafford and was handed his elder debut successful 1990, making 29 appearances successful total.

Argentine guardant Giuliano Simeone has had indebtedness spells astatine Zaragoza and Alaves, but spent nan mostly of his profession truthful acold playing for his dada Diego astatine Atletico Madrid.

The 22-year-old made his elder debut successful a La Liga crippled against Granada successful April 2022, coming connected arsenic a 91st-minute substitute.