Feyenoord boss insists his choice to bring on Shaqueel was a tactical move, not a sentimental one, following a 3-1 home defeat to Celtic.
In a heartfelt post-match address, Feyenoord manager Robin van Persie explained his decision to give his son, Shaqueel, a senior debut in Thursday’s 3-1 Europa League loss to Celtic, emphasizing the move was made from the dugout, not the dinner table.
The 19-year-old forward, who signed his first professional contract with the Dutch club in 2022, earned his first minutes after being called up to replace defender Jordan Lotomba in the 81st minute with Feyenoord trailing by two goals.
“I made that call as a coach, not as a dad, because we needed a goal,” the former star striker said. “Shaqueel is a player who can score a goal from all angles. That was the reason I brought him on.”
Unfortunately, the substitution did not spark a comeback. Just a minute later, Feyenoord conceded a third goal to Celtic’s Benjamin Nygren, sealing the win for the Glasgow side.
While the result was disappointing, Van Persie acknowledged the personal milestone. “From a father’s point of view, when your son makes his debut, that is always a special moment,” he shared. “But I wasn’t that busy with enjoying that moment; I was doing my work, just like Shaqueel was.”
The attention now turns to the Eredivisie, where Feyenoord will look to rebound against SC Telstar on Sunday.
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