Feyenoord manager Robin van Persie has insisted his decision to hand son Shaqueel a senior debut in Thursday’s Europa League clash against Celtic was made strictly in his capacity as coach, not father.
The Dutch side fell 3-1 at home, with the 19-year-old forward introduced in the 81st minute as Feyenoord chased a two-goal deficit. Shaqueel replaced defender Jordan Lotomba, but Celtic struck again almost immediately through Benjamin Nygren to seal victory.
Van Persie, the former Arsenal and Manchester United striker, defended the call, stressing it was based on tactical need. “I made that call as a coach, not as a dad because we needed a goal,” he said. “Shaqueel is a player who can score a goal from all angles. That was the reason I brought him on.”
Shaqueel, who signed his first professional contract with Feyenoord in 2022, had been named in the first-team squad for the first time last weekend but remained an unused substitute in the Eredivisie defeat to NEC Nijmegen.
While acknowledging the personal significance of his son’s debut, Van Persie said his focus remained on the match. “From a father’s point of view, when your son makes his debut that is always a special moment,” he noted. “But I wasn’t that busy with enjoying that moment, I was doing my work like Shaqueel was.”
Feyenoord will look to bounce back in the Eredivisie when they face SC Telstar on Sunday.
