Manchester United currently have several former players working in management roles across various clubs.

Among the most prominent examples is Michael Carrick, who serves as the club’s permanent manager.

Although not a former United player, assistant manager Kieran McKenna recently made headlines by leading Ipswich Town back into the Premier League.

Robin van Persie, who joined Manchester United in 2012, made a significant impact by scoring 30 goals in his debut campaign as the club retained the Premier League title ahead of Manchester City.

After spending two additional seasons at Old Trafford, van Persie went on to play for Fenerbahce and Feyenoord before retiring from professional football.

He began his managerial journey with Heerenveen during the 2024–2025 season and was later appointed as head coach of Feyenoord.

In August 2025, van Persie earned the Manager of the Month honour and even received backing from pundit Ruud Gullit, who tipped him as a potential future Manchester United manager.

However, things have not gone smoothly for the former United striker. Feyenoord endured a difficult campaign, finishing second in the Eredivisie but trailing champions PSV Eindhoven by a significant 19-point margin.

The club also suffered early exits from European and domestic competitions—bowing out of the Europa League during the league phase and being eliminated in the second round of the KNVB Cup.

As a result, Feyenoord officially announced their decision to end their association with van Persie, stating, “Feyenoord parts ways with Robin van Persie. Feyenoord will start the 2026–2027 season with a new head coach. The club would like to thank Robin van Persie for everything he gave during his time as head coach.”

Technical Director Dévy Rigaux added, “Robin van Persie has given everything for the club over the past 18 months. He deserves credit for guiding the team through a challenging season and ultimately securing second place. That ensured qualification for the UEFA Champions League, which is of great importance to the club.”

Despite achieving a second-place finish, van Persie’s tactical approach and man-management style have been under scrutiny throughout his short tenure as Feyenoord boss.