The latest on van Persie's coaching journey

Possessing a wand of a left foot, Robin had a monumental impact on United when he arrived at the club in 2012.

Eight years after his 2015 departure, the Dutchman is hoping to have a similar influence on the next generation of players.

RvP recently returned to our training ground, meeting members of the current squad and Erik ten Hag, before also interviewing the manager for BT Sport.

Still relatively new to the coaching game, van Persie says he is trying to be a “sponge” and take in all the information he can, which is exactly what he did when he observed Erik's training sessions out on the Carrington pitches.

“Yeah, so this is my second year at Feyenoord Under-16s,” he said in an exclusive interview with our club media. “Next year I will coach the Under-18s - so the team I had most of them last year.

“Together with doing my course - the pro licence course, I just finished my UEFA A licence - and at the beginning, I’m open to learning and I am learning almost every day. Every game we play, I learn something. For me, it’s fun.

“I’m now at the stage where I’m like a sponge and I try to learn and try to think as a coach, instead of as a football fan or as a player.

“Before when I was watching a football match, I was more watching it from the point of view like “ok, who is having a good game, who is doing something nice?”, and now I’m more looking at like this “what system is the opponent playing, what system should I play against that system?” So more tactics and systems these days, but it’s fun.”

When he retired from playing in 2019, van Persie says he took some time to establish his true passion. After reaffirming his ambitions, he is now striving to succeed on the touchline rather than on the pitch.

“When you first start your coaching journey, you have a lot of questions like “do I still like it after a year or so?'” he continued.  “I think what I did well after my career is that I tried many things. I did punditry, I did all kind of things, I went on holiday. In the end I asked myself the question, 'what is my true passion?' and that is football.

“Football is my passion. I still like to watch football games and now I’m involved everyday with the Under-16s. I like it. 

“Hopefully by this time next year I have my pro-licence, so it gives me the freedom of being a coach anywhere I want. But I will see how it goes. I’m not in a rush, because I see how many things come on your path. I’m sure you see it as well with Erik.

“It’s a tough job. You have to work very, very hard. At every level you have to manage it, you have to work with the media, you have to prepare your team, you have to be like a voice towards the fans. You have to produce, you have to win, you have to win matches - in a good way, especially at a club like Manchester United.

“A lot of things come onto your path, so I don’t know when, and if I take that chance, but when I do, I have to be ready and that takes time.”