Thursday night turned into an unexpectedly emotional one for the Van Persie household, even if the scoreboard didn’t offer much to celebrate.
Feyenoord manager Robin van Persie sent his 19-year-old son, Shaqueel, onto the pitch for his first senior appearance—yet the moment came during a 3–1 defeat to Celtic that left the Dutch side frustrated in their Europa League campaign.
A Late Introduction That Couldn’t Change the Result
With time running out and Feyenoord chasing the game, the former Manchester United and Arsenal striker dipped into his bench and called on his son.
Shaqueel, who came through Manchester City’s academy before returning to the club where his father began his career, entered for the final 10 minutes.
It wasn’t enough to turn the tide. Feyenoord slumped to their fourth straight loss in the competition, and the youngster struggled to make a noticeable impact.
Father and Manager: Two Roles, One Decision
After the match, Van Persie didn’t hide how meaningful the milestone was—but he made it clear that sentimentality didn’t guide his decision.
He explained that he brought Shaqueel on because he needed a goal scorer, not because he wanted to create a family moment.
“I made the call as a coach, not as a dad,” he said, adding that Shaqueel’s knack for finishing justified the change.
Still, he admitted the moment hit differently, even if he didn’t allow himself to dwell on the emotion while the match was still alive.
“When your son makes his debut, it’s always special,” he said, “but I was focused on the job.”
Keeping the Lines Clear Between Family and Football
Asked whether it’s difficult to manage his own child, Van Persie didn’t hesitate.
For him, the separation is simple—and it’s something the pair agreed upon long before this debut ever came close.
He insisted Shaqueel is “just one of the players” and that their father-son dynamic is set aside whenever they’re at the club.
Only once they’re home, he said, do they allow themselves to share the personal pride that comes with a milestone like this one.
A Young Player Working Toward His Moment
Shaqueel’s journey back to Feyenoord began in 2017 after a stint at Manchester City’s youth academy.
He eventually signed his first professional deal in 2022 but only recently broke into a competitive senior squad, making the bench for the first time during last weekend’s 4–2 loss to NEC Nijmegen.
The teenager has been working to earn this opportunity for years—and his father has pushed him to develop the mindset that professional football demands.
A Hard Lesson That Changed Everything
Van Persie has been open about how he’s challenged his son to stay grounded.
One memorable moment from Shaqueel’s youth career came when he was upset after being benched for a Feyenoord U-14 match.
On the drive home, he complained about his coach, teammates, and everything except himself—until the former Netherlands international stepped in.
Van Persie recounted the exchange on the High Performance Podcast years earlier, describing how he told Shaqueel that complaining sounded like losing.
Winners, he said, take responsibility and look inward first.
The message clicked immediately. “I saw a tiger,” he recalled—someone suddenly hungry to train harder, run more, and take control of his development.
Eyes on His Next Opportunity
Now that his first senior minutes are behind him, Shaqueel won’t have to wait long for another chance.
Feyenoord face Telstar on Sunday in Eredivisie action, and the teenager will be hoping that this time, he doesn’t just step onto the pitch—but makes an impact.
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