Dick Advocaat Joins Feyenoord as Advisor to Robin van Persie

Advocaat returns to Feyenoord to aid struggling team

Former Curacao manager Dick Advocaat joins Feyenoord as special advisor to Robin van Persie, aiming to help the team turn their season around.

Feyenoord appoints 78-year-old Dick Advocaat to support new manager Robin van Persie, who joined the club in February 2025...

Dick Advocaat, former Curaçao manager, has joined Feyenoord as an advisor to Robin van Persie, aiming to help the team turn their season around. Advocaat, 78, brings extensive experience, having previously led Feyenoord from 2019 to 2021 and guiding Curaçao to their first-ever World Cup.

Feyenoord currently sits second in the Dutch Eredivisie, 16 points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven. The team's recent struggles have put pressure on Van Persie, with only three wins in 14 games between October 26th and January 18th. Advocaat's appointment is seen as a vote of confidence in Van Persie, who is in his first full season as Feyenoord manager.

Feyenoord's struggles continued as they failed to win two of their last three league games, putting second place in jeopardy. To support new manager Robin van Persie, who joined the club in February 2025, Feyenoord has appointed the experienced 78-year-old Dick Advocaat as a special advisor.

Advocaat, who has a wealth of experience in Dutch football, emphasized his role will be to support Van Persie from behind the scenes, saying, “I’d like to help Feyenoord, and Robin van Persie in particular, finish the season on a high,” in a club statement. He won't be joining Van Persie in the dug-out, instead acting in an advisory capacity.

“I’ve known Robin for almost twenty years, and we’ve always got on well. When I was a coach here, he, as a former top striker, wanted to share his knowledge with the forwards we had at Feyenoord. And now it’s my turn to support him. I’m happy to do so.”

Feyenoord's technical director Dennis te Kloese revealed that Dick Advocaat's appointment was a move that immediately resonated with Robin van Persie. “It was a conversation we had with Robin, and it was clear that Dick's experience and knowledge would be valuable to him and the team,” te Kloese said, highlighting the collaborative approach behind Advocaat's role.

“Naturally, as club management, we’ve been discussing at length – particularly over the last few days – how we can support the team and the coaching staff during this crucial phase of the season. The first time I mentioned Dick Advocaat’s name to Robin, he reacted with immediate enthusiasm. I then noticed the same enthusiasm during my first meeting with Advocaat, so it all came together very quickly this week.”

Dick Advocaat gaat tot en met het einde van het seizoen een adviserende rol spelen richting de staf van Feyenoord. Hij zal hoofdtrainer Robin van Persie de komende periode met raad en daad bijstaan.

Het adviseurschap van Advocaat gaat per direct in en zal zich op de achtergrond… pic.twitter.com/F0iJpQbeXU

— Feyenoord Rotterdam (@Feyenoord) March 18, 2026

Dick Advocaat has a wealth of experience in European football, having managed several top clubs, including his previous stint at Feyenoord from October 2019 to May 2021. His appointment as advisor brings a familiar face to the Rotterdam club, where he's known for his successful track record.

Advocaat recently stepped down as Curaçao manager on February 23rd due to his daughter's health issues. Under his leadership, Curaçao qualified for their first-ever FIFA World Cup, securing a spot in Group D alongside Germany, Ecuador, and Ivory Coast.