Robin van Persie grew up in Rotterdam, where 15-time Dutch champions Feyenoord are something like a religion. Van Persie joined the club’s youth system as a 16-year-old after spending his formative years with Feyenoord satellite club Excelsior. He made his debut at 17 and spent three seasons with the first team before his transfer to Arsenal.
Now, aged 34, RVP has just returned to Feyenoord after cancelling his contract with Turkish giants Fenerbahce. On Thursday, he scored his first goal since coming back to the Netherlands in the club’s 3-0 victory over Groningen in Eredivisie play.
As the video shows, RVP had just come on as a substitute, scoring 50 seconds after taking the pitch. The finish was world-class from the Dutchman — a clever flick takes him around one defender before a right-footed strike from 18 yards out is fired inside the far post.
The 2012-13 Premier League champion might not have the knees for it anymore, but he’s still blessed with that lovely footballing brain.