Robin van Persie Biography

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 the main striker or as a second striker, in the mould of his retired compatriot Dennis Bergkamp. Van Persie is a convert to Islam due to a childhood friend and he is married to a Dutch-Moroccan called Bouchra.[1]

Van Persie began 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. These performances, 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.
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As a result of a back injury suffered during the summer of 2002, he was an uncertainty to start the new season, but showed no sign of such worries come the beginning of a season in which he scored 8 goals from 28 Dutch Cup games, as well as playing twice in the UEFA Champions League. An expiration of his contract in 2005 meant van Persie would attempt, in vain, to sign a new contract. This, coupled with a disagreement with Feyenoord manager Bert van Marwijk meant that he spent most of the next season as a fading light at the club.

English club Arsenal, undeterred by their previous rebuff during the January 2004 transfer window, made a move for the young Dutch striker at the end of the 2003/04 season. Van Persie also emerged as a target for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, Bundesliga outfit Werder Bremen, and Spanish side Sevilla. Arsenal fended off other club interest and signed van Persie, despite already having signed Spanish striker José Antonio Reyes from Sevilla. Van Persie completed his move, believed to be in the range of Ł3 million, to the Premiership on May 17, 2004. Praised by Arsenal manager Arsčne Wenger for the strength of his talent, he made his debut for the team in the 3-1 FA Community Shield victory over rivals Manchester United on August 8, 2004. Early on, he played as a left winger, but for Arsenal he mainly plays as a striker. He is touted as Arsenal's long-term replacement for his compatriot Dennis Bergkamp.

He spent most of his time on the bench during earlier parts of the season and looked to have earned himself a permanent place there with his sending off against Southampton which cost Arsenal two points, and caused Wenger to display uncharacteristic anger with van Persie. To his credit, van Persie redoubled his efforts in training during his suspension and was reintroduced in to the team when injuries to Thierry Henry forced Wenger's hand. His return to the first team has been marked with numerous goals, the pinnacle of his achievements coming in the FA Cup semi-final against Blackburn Rovers where he scored two stunning goals to secure victory for Arsenal. He also scored the vital breakthrough goal against West Bromwich Albion to help Arsenal secure second place in the Premiership after the Albion defence had proved difficult to break down. As a result of his good play he won the The Barclay's Premiership Player of the Month.

Van Persie scored in the first game of the 2005/06 season and he continued to show good form, winning the prestigious Player of the month award in November after scoring 6 goals in just 4 starts. He has played seven times for the Netherlands, scoring 1 goal.

Despite not being an automatic first choice to start for Arsenal, Van Persie was selected as one of Holland's forwards for the 2006 World Cup by Marco Van Basten.

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ROBIN VAN PERSIE BIOGRAPHY