Advertise on this site

PIC OF THE DAY This Week more>> MOVIES Hot movies rated and reviewed by our Staff. Check out the movie(s) that received 5 perfect stars! Browse our movie gallery here. ADVERTISEMENTS ADVERTISEMENT Your Ad Here

BIOGRAPHY

Robin van Persie
	BIOGRAPHY | GALLERY | GOSSIP

Robin van Persie, born August 6, 1983 in Rotterdam, is a Dutch footballer currently playing at English FA Premier League team Arsenal as a striker. He can play as a striker (as he normally does for Arsenal) or on either wing, as he primarily does for the Netherlands.

Van Persie began his career as a youth player for Dutch side Excelsior Rotterdam and later Feyenoord Rotterdam, earning caps in the process for Netherlands U19 and U21 teams. He was unexpectedly called up to Feyenoord's injury plagued first-team squad soon after he signed a three-and-a-half year deal with the club in January 2002. His performances with Feyenoord, including his playing an integral part in the 3-2 UEFA Cup final victory over Borussia Dortmund at the De Kuip on May 8, 2002, earned him the prestigious Best Young Talent award offered by the Dutch PFA for the 2001-02 season.

As a result of a back injury suffered during the summer of 2002, there was uncertainty as to whether Van Persie could start the new season. Van Persie, however, showed no such worries come the beginning of the season, scoring 8 goals in 28 league games as well as playing twice in the UEFA Champions League. Despite his talent Robin Van Persie had a difficult relationship with the Feyenoord manager Bert van Marwijk, a strict discipliniarian, who sent him home on the eve of the European Super Cup against Real Madrid in Monaco.

Robin Van Persie received his first full international cap against Romania on 4th June 2005. Despite not being an automatic first choice to start for Arsenal, Van Persie was selected as one of Holland's forwards for the 2006 FIFA World Cup by national coach Marco Van Basten. His first World Cup goal came in the group match against Côte d'Ivoire, a powerfully-struck free kick in the 23rd minute. He has now played twelve times for the Netherlands, scoring two goals.

Van Persie's mother is a teacher and his father an artist. His father brought him up as a single parent. He grew up in a rough neighbourhood of Rotterdam alongside its large immigrant population.