Shaqueel van Persie Scores on Unofficial Debut Under His Father’s Guidance

The son of a former Premier League champion made his mark in senior football during an unofficial debut, after being given the opportunity by his renowned father.

The friendly match took place in the Netherlands between Feyenoord and Dordrecht during the international break. Notably, Robin van Persie, who previously played for Manchester United and Arsenal, is now managing Feyenoord, and his former teammate Dirk Kuyt, a former Liverpool forward, is coaching Dordrecht.

Van Persie, in his first full season as Feyenoord manager, selected a squad largely composed of youth players due to many senior team members being away on international duty. During the game, Van Persie introduced his 18-year-old son Shaqueel as a substitute.

The young forward made an immediate impact, heading the ball into the net from Goncalo Borges’ cross in the 80th minute, helping Feyenoord reduce their deficit against Dordrecht, who led 1-0 at halftime following Sem Valk’s header. Dordrecht extended their lead with a goal from Joshua Pynadath, but Shaqueel’s goal was a promising sign for his future.

Despite Shaqueel’s goal, Feyenoord lost the match 2-1. Robin van Persie had spoken earlier about the possibility of integrating his son into the first team, as Shaqueel has been part of Feyenoord’s youth system after transitioning from Manchester City’s academy and has represented the Netherlands at youth levels.

Robin van Persie, who helped Manchester United win the Premier League in 2013, received praise from Kuyt after the game. Kuyt highlighted Feyenoord’s strong performance, good organization, and excellent defense, expressing excitement about their prospects this season.

While Van Persie and Kuyt played together at Feyenoord and for the Dutch national team, they faced each other during their Premier League careers on opposite sides. Their shared history adds an interesting layer to the emerging talents within Feyenoord’s squad.