Shaqueel van Persie Debuts in Feyenoord’s Europa League Match

Post by : Raina Nasser

In a notable moment in sports, Feyenoord's head coach Robin van Persie justified his choice to give his son Shaqueel a senior debut in the recent Europa League encounter against Celtic. He asserted that the decision was made purely from a coaching perspective and not influenced by their father-son relationship. Feyenoord faced a disappointing 3-1 defeat at home on Thursday night, with Shaqueel introduced late into the match.

Nineteen-year-old Shaqueel van Persie, who inked his first professional contract with Feyenoord in 2022, recently joined the first-team roster. Although he remained an unused substitute during Feyenoord's Eredivisie loss to NEC Nijmegen on Sunday, he made his senior debut against Celtic four days later, stepping onto the pitch in the 81st minute to replace defender Jordan Lotomba as the team trailed by two goals.

After the game, Robin van Persie remarked, "I made the decision as a coach, not as a dad, because we were in need of a goal. Shaqueel can score from various positions, which was the reason for bringing him in." However, shortly after his entry, Feyenoord conceded yet another goal, with Benjamin Nygren securing Celtic’s victory with a 3-1 scoreline.

On a personal note, Van Persie shared, "From a father’s perspective, witnessing your son making his debut is undeniably special. Yet, I was more focused on my coaching duties, just as Shaqueel was concentrated on his."

Looking ahead, Feyenoord aims to recover in the Eredivisie when they take on SC Telstar on Sunday, eager to regain their form and spotlight their emerging talents, including Shaqueel, who has started to leave his mark at the senior level.

This meticulously planned debut underlines Feyenoord's dedication to developing young talent while upholding professional integrity, even amidst personal connections. Despite the loss against Celtic, Shaqueel van Persie’s inaugural appearance signals an encouraging start to his football journey in the Netherlands.