By Martin Graham
Robin van Persie insisted that his decision to introduce his son, Shaqueel, during Feyenoord’s Europa League loss to Celtic was driven entirely by footballing needs rather than emotion.
The 19-year-old attacker, who previously spent two years in Manchester City’s youth ranks before joining Feyenoord in 2017, earned his first professional deal with the Rotterdam side in 2022.
His initial involvement with the senior squad came in the recent Eredivisie match against NEC Nijmegen, where he was named among the substitutes for the first time.
Only a few days later, he stepped onto the pitch for his competitive debut in Europe, entering the match in the closing stages with Feyenoord trailing 2-1.
Van Persie said his priority was finding a goal, describing Shaqueel as someone capable of finishing from difficult positions. The teenager managed a single attempt in Celtic’s penalty area before the home side added a quick third.
The Feyenoord boss explained that both he and his son agreed long ago to keep their professional relationship free from family dynamics. He added that the specialness of the moment would be felt later, once they were back at home.
Other managers who selected their sons
Johan and Jordi Cruyff
Johan Cruyff, celebrated for his influence at Ajax and Barcelona, coached his son Jordi during his spell in charge of the Catalan club. Jordi made over 50 appearances for Barça under his father before the pair departed in 1996.
Jordi later reflected on the high standards demanded of him, noting that his father never hesitated to be tough in front of others.
Although Jordi enjoyed a solid career, including time at Manchester United and a handful of international outings, he was inevitably compared with one of football’s most iconic figures.
Harry and Jamie Redknapp
Jamie Redknapp featured for his father at both Bournemouth and Southampton, accumulating dozens of matches under Harry’s management. He first broke into senior football as a teenager at Bournemouth before moving to Liverpool and much later reunited with his father on the south coast.
Harry also coached his nephew, future England midfielder Frank Lampard, during his time at West Ham.
Steve and Alex Bruce
Alex Bruce played more games under Steve Bruce than under any other coach, representing him at Birmingham and later at Hull City.
Beyond his playing career, Alex also served on his father’s backroom team when Steve worked at West Bromwich Albion.
Zinedine with Enzo and Luca Zidane
Zinedine Zidane handed senior appearances to two of his sons while managing Real Madrid. Enzo marked his only cup outing with a goal, while Luca played twice in the league.
Both moved on from the club before Zidane’s second managerial tenure came to an end in 2021.
Sir Alex and Darren Ferguson
Darren Ferguson came through the youth system at Manchester United and made his debut under his father, Sir Alex.
He collected a Premier League winner’s medal before leaving the club for Wolves in the mid-1990s.
Diego and Giuliano Simeone
Giuliano Simeone made his La Liga bow for Atlético Madrid in 2022 during a match against Granada, coming on in stoppage time.
He has spent time on loan at Zaragoza and Alavés but has largely remained connected to the club managed by his father, Diego Simeone.
Danny and Daley Blind
Daley Blind played for the Netherlands national team while his father, Danny, served as head coach between 2015 and 2017.
The versatile defender, known for spells at Ajax and Manchester United, continued to represent his country throughout that period.
