Former Arsenal and Manchester United striker Robin van Persie has been appointed as Feyenoord’s new head coach.

The 41-year-old, who retired from playing in 2019, has left fellow Dutch side Heerenveen to take charge of the club he had two spells at as a player, making 122 appearances for them and scoring 46 goals.

Van Persie was also assistant coach at Feyenoord under Dick Advocaat and worked with their youth teams before taking charge of Heerenveen in May last year.

The former Netherlands international leaves the club ninth in the Eredivisie after winning seven of his 23 games in charge.

Van Persie has signed a contract until 2027 and will be assisted by Rene Hake, who was previously part of Erik ten Hag’s coaching staff at Manchester United.

“Everyone knows how special my bond with Feyenoord is,” he said.

“I am enormously looking forward, together with a strong staff, to working with the player group.”

Feyenoord are third in table and 11 points behind leaders Ajax. They dismissed Dane Brian Priske last week after a run of one win in six league games.

Priske had succeeded Arne Slot last summer after the Dutchman left to join Liverpool.

Van Persie spent eight years at Arsenal from 2004 and helped them to win the FA Cup before joining Manchester United in 2012 where he won the Premier League in his first season at the club.

‘We are delighted that with Robin van Persie we can appoint a true club icon as the new coach of Feyenoord,” said general manager Dennis te Kloese.

“Robin knows the club incredibly well and knows exactly what is needed to achieve results.”