Robin van Persie: Difference between revisions
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==Personal life== |
==Personal life== |
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Van Persie's mother is a teacher and his father an artist. His father brought him up as a single parent. He grew up in a rough neighbourhood of |
Van Persie's mother is a teacher and his father an artist. His father brought him up as a single parent. He grew up in a rough neighbourhood of Rotterdam. He had a series of behavioral problems at school and was often excluded from classes.<ref name="younggunner">{{cite web | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2093-2047109,00.html | title=Young Gunner | work=The Times}}</ref> He is married to Bouchra, a Dutch-[[Morocco|Moroccan]]. They have one child together, a boy named Shaqueel, born on [[November 16]][[2006]]. They live in [[Hampstead]], [[North London]].<ref name="youngmans">{{cite web | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2093-1378139,00.html | title=Young man’s game | work=Sunday Times }}</ref> While some sources claim he is a convert to [[Islam]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2006-06/24/04.shtml | title=Muslim World Cup Players Promote Image | work=IslamOnline }}</ref> Van Persie has never disclosed his faith in interviews.<ref name="younggunner"/> <ref name="youngmans"/> <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2005/12/17/sfnsmi17.xml | title=Van Persie happy to adopt the Arsenal way | work=Daily Telegraph}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web | url=http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/arsenal/article330843.ece | title=The Premiership Interview - Robin ready to join the superheroes | work=The Independent}} Article mirrored [http://groups.google.co.uk/group/alt.sports.soccer.arsenal/browse_frm/thread/53f7410e7452cd8e/9948cf8d139c7ad6?tvc=1 here]</ref> |
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During the 2005 close season van Persie was accused of [[rape]] by a Dutch [[beauty queen]]. Dutch police eventually released van Persie without charge after they completed their investigations.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1720164,00.html?gusrc=rss | title=Van Persie escapes charges | work=The Guardian}}</ref> |
During the 2005 close season van Persie was accused of [[rape]] by a Dutch [[beauty queen]]. Dutch police eventually released van Persie without charge after they completed their investigations.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1720164,00.html?gusrc=rss | title=Van Persie escapes charges | work=The Guardian}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 16:15, 6 April 2007
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
 Arsenal | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 December 2006 | |||
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 a striker (as he normally does for Arsenal) or on either wing, as he primarily does for the Netherlands.
Van Persie was brought up in the Kralingen area of east Rotterdam.
Biography
Feyenoord
Van Persie began his career 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. His performances with Feyenoord, 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 given by the KNVB for the 2001-02 season.
As a result of a back injury suffered during the summer of 2002, there was uncertainty as to whether Van Persie could start the new season. Van Persie, however, showed no such worries come the beginning of the season, scoring 8 goals in 28 league games as well as playing twice in the UEFA Champions League. Despite his talent Robin Van Persie had a difficult relationship with the Feyenoord manager Bert van Marwijk, a strict disciplinarian, who sent him home on the eve of the European Super Cup against Real Madrid in Monaco.
With Van Persie's Feyenoord contract due to expire in 2005, a disagreement with Bert van Marwijk combined with the fact that the club had not offered him a new contract meant that he spent most of the following season as a fading light at the club.
Arsenal
English club Arsenal, undeterred by a rebuff during the January 2004 transfer window, made a move for the 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. However 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 for a fee believed to be in the range of £3 million, to the Premiership on May 17, 2004. Praised by Arsenal manager Arsène 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 he predominantly plays as a striker for Arsenal. He is touted as Arsenal's long-term replacement for his idol 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 in public with a player. 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 (at that time) coming in the FA Cup semi-final against Blackburn Rovers where he scored two 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 six goals in just four starts. So far he has been playing as a second striker alongside Thierry Henry. He signed a contract extension keeping him at the North London club until 2011. In the early part of the 2006-07 season, against Charlton Athletic, he scored what turned out to be BBC's Goal of the Month, an airborne volley from the edge of the 18-yard box. Arsène Wenger described it as 'technically perfect'. Another notable contribution was made during a 2-1 loss to Fulham FC. As Arsenal's inconsistent form continued with Fulham FC taking a shock lead, Robin gave the Gunners a glimmer of hope with a blistering free kick from the better part of 30 yards. These and his international performances for his country earned him the title Rotterdam Sportsman of the year 2006. Shortly after being named Rotterdam sportsman of the year, five goals in four games against Blackburn Rovers, Watford and Charlton illustrated his importance to the Arsenal team.
In a match against Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on 21 January2007, Arsenal were trailing United 1-0 for much of the second half. Van Persie came on as a substitute and scored the equalising goal in the 84th minute. In doing so, Van Persie fractured his fifth metartarsal in his right foot while celebrating, an injury that will keep him out until the end of the season.[1]
International career
Robin Van Persie received his first full international cap against Romania on 4 June2005. Despite not being an automatic first choice to start for Arsenal, Van Persie was selected as one of the Netherlands' forwards for the 2006 FIFA World Cup by national coach Marco Van Basten. His first World Cup goal came in the group match against Côte d'Ivoire, a blistering free kick in the 23rd minute. Despite the Netherlands premature exit out of the world elite competition, Van Persie has forced himself into the first eleven following impressive displays in Germany
During the Euro 2008 qualifiers, van Persie made an instant impact during games against Luxembourg and Belarus. Despite an unconvincing 1-0 win against the central European minnows, Luxembourg, Van Persie was a constant threat surging forwards throughout the match. Yet his performance against the Belarussians surely illustrated why van Basten has handed him the coveted number 7 shirt. Two perfectly struck goals in either halves and a clinical cross to feed Dirk Kuyt helped the Netherlands claim a comfortable 3-0 win. He continued his great form in the next two games, scoring against Bulgaria in a 1-1 draw and also in the 2-1 victory against Albania a few days later.
Personal life
Van Persie's mother is a teacher and his father an artist. His father brought him up as a single parent. He grew up in a rough neighbourhood of Rotterdam. He had a series of behavioral problems at school and was often excluded from classes.[2] He is married to Bouchra, a Dutch-Moroccan. They have one child together, a boy named Shaqueel, born on November 162006. They live in Hampstead, North London.[3] While some sources claim he is a convert to Islam,[4] Van Persie has never disclosed his faith in interviews.[2] [3] [5] [6]
During the 2005 close season van Persie was accused of rape by a Dutch beauty queen. Dutch police eventually released van Persie without charge after they completed their investigations.[7]
Career statistics
(correct as of 21st January 2007)
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | ||
| Feyenoord | 2001-02 | 8 | - | ? | - | - | - | 7 | - | - | 15 | - | - |
| 2002-03 | 23 | 9 | ? | - | - | - | 2 | - | - | 25 | 9 | - | |
| 2003-04 | 28 | 6 | ? | - | - | - | 3 | - | - | 31 | 6 | - | |
| Total | 71 | 15 | - | ||||||||||
| Arsenal | 2004–05 | 26 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 4 | - | 6 | 1 | - | 41 | 10 | 1 |
| 2005–06 | 24 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 4 | - | 7 | 2 | - | 38 | 11 | 1 | |
| 2006–07 | 21 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 30 | 13 | 8 | |
| Total | 110 | 34 | 10 | ||||||||||
| Career Total | 181 | 49 | 10 | ||||||||||
Footnotes
- ^ "Van Persie set to sit out season". BBC Sport. Retrieved March 30.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "Young Gunner". The Times.
- ^ a b "Young man's game". Sunday Times.
- ^ "Muslim World Cup Players Promote Image". IslamOnline.
- ^ "Van Persie happy to adopt the Arsenal way". Daily Telegraph.
- ^ "The Premiership Interview - Robin ready to join the superheroes". The Independent. Article mirrored here
- ^ "Van Persie escapes charges". The Guardian.
External links
- The biggest Robin van Persie fansite English/Dutch
- Robin van Persie at Soccerbase
- Profile at 4thegame.com
- Profile at sporting-heroes.net
- van Persie's Netherland stats at voetbalstats.nl
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