"You have to find your passion as soon as possible!' He is, however, self-aware enough to realise how parental monologues are received. I was passion this, passion that'. It went on and on and on. It was Dina who brought him up short. Yeah, Dad, but what is your passion now? Van Persie, Premier League winner at Manchester United, star of Arsene Wenger's young Arsenal team, twice the Premier League Golden Boot winner, had just quit playing in 2019."
"When you stop as a player some part of you dies. It was the thing I did my whole life, my identity, who I am. And that question really got to me. I said: My passion is football but I cannot play any more. I work for BT [as a pundit] now.' She asked: Is that really your passion?' I like it, I really learn a lot from that,' he said."
Robin van Persie retired from playing in 2019 after a decorated career and experienced a loss of player identity. He worked as a BT pundit but did not consider punditry his true passion. A probing question from his daughter prompted self-reflection and a decision to pursue coaching despite reluctance about badges and theory work. He began writing theses on football tactics, learned to use a laptop, and created slideshows. He now prepares materials illustrating Feyenoord's key values, training schedules, and personal development plans as he transitions toward a coaching role.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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