Robin van Persie remains unfazed after Heerenveen's record 9-1 defeat
Robin van Persie, newly appointed head coach of Heerenveen, has reassured fans that neither he nor his team are "shaken" by their recent 9-1 defeat to AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie 2024-25 season. This loss in Dutch top-flight football league marks a record low for the Dutch club in their league history. Despite this setback, the former Arsenal and Manchester United striker remains committed to his original game plan and strategy. Here are the details.
Van Persie's early managerial career marked by record defeat
The crushing defeat came just four games into van Persie's managerial career, having taken over as head coach in May. The former, Arsenal, Manchester United and Netherlands striker acknowledged the severity of the loss. "This is tough. You'll encounter a number of bumps in your career. This was a very big bump," he said in a press conference. He also noted that his team learned several lessons from this match than usual.
Heerenveen's performance and future plans
Despite an early goal from Sven Mijnans for AZ, Luuk Brouwers managed to equalize for Heerenveen in the first half. Former Tottenham striker Troy Parrott wasted no time making an impact for AZ, netting his debut goal following his £6.7m summer move. In the second half, Parrott added three more goals in just eight minutes, securing a historic win for AZ Alkmaar and propelling them to second place in the Eredivisie standings.
Van Persie's response and future strategy
Despite the heavy defeat, van Persie remains optimistic about his team's performance and future prospects. He stated, "This is part of football. I have not been traumatized by this and neither have my players." He also emphasized the importance of sticking to their agreed-upon strategies even when facing challenges on the field. Looking ahead, he said "Tuesday is the next chance against FC Twente," indicating his readiness to move forward from this setback.
Heerenveen's season so far
The Dutch club is currently placed 13th in Eredivisie with four points. They have won just one and lost two matches (one drawn) of their four matches this season. The club netted six goals but have conceded 11 goals in return. They take on FC Twente (away)in their next fixture on September 17. Last season, Heerenveen finished 11th with 37 points from their 34 matches (Wins: 10, Draws: 7, Losses: 17).
Robin van Persie's career numbers
Heerenveen head coach van Persie made 278 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 132 goals. .e scored 96 goals for Arsenal in the Premier League. He made 105 appearances for Manchester United, scoring 58 goals for them in all competitions. Meanwhile, the former Dutch striker featured in 123 matches for Feyenoord netting 46 goals across two spells. He played 87 matches for Fenerbahce, scoring 36 times. Additionally, he appeared in 102 matches for the Netherlands, managing 50 goals for them.
