Robin van Persie’s bizarre ‘illogical’ managerial decision horribly BACKFIRES as his team crash out of the cup at hands of amateur club

  • SC Heerenveen was eliminated from the KNVB Cup after a 3-2 defeat in extra time
  • A fateful tactical change left Robin van Persie red-faced after the final whistle
  • LISTEN NOW: It all starts! Is Everton where they need to be or are the club’s fans delusional?

Robin van Persie’s ‘illogical’ tactical gamble yielded no results when his team at SC Heerenveen were dropped from the KNVB Cup last night by amateur opponents.

Heerenveen, ninth in the Eredivisie, were eliminated after a humiliating 3-2 defeat in extra time, despite leading 2-1 in the match before Van Persie’s fateful decision.

The head coach, who took charge in his first managerial role in May 2024, brought on goalkeeper Andries Noppert to deal with Quick Boys’ aerial threat, but an error from the substitute saw him give away a penalty from which the hosts equalized.

Noppert’s embarrassment was compounded when he was beaten at the death by Levi van Duijn’s header, leaving Heerenveen reeling from a shock setback.

Mickey van der Hart had started the match between the sticks and put in a strong performance, forcing Van Persie to reveal after the match that the change was for technical reasons and not grant Noppert a farewell before a possible move to Argentina.

“I looked at the playing time, the score and what they were going to do,” said Van Persie. ‘They started playing 3-3-4, with two towering strikers. I expected a lot of crosses. I looked at what we needed as a team. And that was Andries.’

Robin van Persie’s tactical gamble led to his SC Heerenveen team dropping out of the KNVB Cup

Eredivisie club Heerenveen was eliminated after losing to amateurs Quick Boys in extra time

Eredivisie club Heerenveen was eliminated after losing to amateurs Quick Boys in extra time

Back-up goalkeeper Andries Noppert was brought on late, but conceded a penalty

Back-up goalkeeper Andries Noppert was brought on late, but conceded a penalty

However, Van Persie admitted the substitution was unusual, adding: ‘It almost never happens in football so I understand it feels illogical to people.

‘But the fact that it almost never happens was no reason for me not to do this. And we have often discussed this with Mickey and Andries in recent months.’

Quick Boys match winner Van Duijn later claimed the minnows believed Noppert’s surprise introduction was ‘doomed to failure’.

The stopper last featured on November 23, taking the field after a brief warm-up, leading to theories that a lack of rhythm may have led to his mistakes.

“That could be possible,” said Van Persie. ‘But on the other hand, I don’t think it was a penalty and with the other goal it was also difficult for Andries to do anything.

‘You can think of all kinds of reasons why that replacement was not a good choice. But I mainly look at why it was a good choice.’

Noppert made no apologies for his actions and said he was ‘ashamed’.

“I felt like I hit the ball and it wasn’t a penalty,” he said. ‘But it happened to me. This is unacceptable and a shame. I should be ashamed.

Milan Zonneveld sent Noppert the wrong way and the stopper later admitted that he was ashamed

Milan Zonneveld sent Noppert the wrong way and the stopper later admitted that he was ashamed

Noppert was even humiliated full-time by a Quick Boys supporter during a pitch invasion

Noppert was even humiliated full-time by a Quick Boys supporter during a pitch invasion

Van Persie took over Heerenveen in May 2024, his first managerial role

Van Persie took over Heerenveen in May 2024, his first managerial role

‘Then you look for excuses. I have to look at myself first. I got the chance to show myself. If that doesn’t work, it’s your own fault. It’s a big man’s world.

“I can only blame myself for this.”

Van Persie has won nine of his 21 games in charge of Heerenveen so far, but was in charge of a cleansing 9-1 defeat to AZ Alkmaar in September.