ROCKIN' ROBIN

Van Persie used to strike fear into defences on the pitch, now he's doing it as a coach ...inspired by guru Guardiola

- SIMON MULLOCK

ROBIN VAN PERSIE has been tapping into the genius of Pep Guardiola in his bid to become a top coach.

The former Manchester United and Arsenal striker rejected the chance to become part of Erik ten Hag's Old Trafford backroom staff when the United boss quit Ajax in the summer of 2022 - because he wanted to continue cutting his teeth with Feyenoord's youth team.

Van Persie, 40, does harbour an ambition to eventually return to the Premier League as a manager - and he was allowed into Guardiola's inner sanctum last season, to cast an admiring eye over how the Catalan was plotting Manchester City's Treble chase.

Feyenoord manager Arne Slot is another disciple of Guardiola - and despite his history with the red side of Manchester, RVP identifies with the same attack-orientated philosophies as the City boss.