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Robin van Persie (born August 6, 1983 in Rotterdam) is a Dutch footballer. He grew up in the Kralingen area of east Rotterdam, beginning his football career at Dutch side Excelsior as a youth player. In 2002 he was signed by Feyenoord, where he made a name for himself as a talanted young striker. Following disciplinary problems at his new club, he then signed for English club Arsenal in 2002 for an estimated fee of £3 million. In 2005, he was called up to the The Netherlands national squad, where during his first three seasons he scored 7 goals in 19 matches. Also, during his first three seasons at The Gunners, he scored 34 goals in 109 appearances despite suffering from several injuries. He is currently contracted with Arsenal until 2011.

Early life
Robin van Persie was born to Dutch parents in the working-class neighbourhood Kralingen in Rotterdam. His mother, José Ras, was a painter, and he was raised by his father, Bob, a sculptor. He grew up with his two sisters, Lily and Kiki. As a result of his creative parents, he was frequently encouraged to use his hands creatively as a child. However, it soon became apparent that he had more skill with his feet as he played football on the streets. Growing up, van Persie also had disciplinary problems at his school in Rotterdam. He was frequently sent out of the classroom as punishment for misbehaving. However, spending so much time out of the classroom resulted in him forming a friendship with 40-year-old Sietje Moush, the school's caretaker. Aged 14, van Persie was advised by Moush to concentrate on his studies rather than going out to nightclubs. Moush's advice eventually led to van Persie starting his professional football career.

Early career
Van Persie joined Dutch side Excelsior as a youth player; though after clashing with the coaches at the club, he signed for Feyenoord, again as a youth player in 2001. Van Persie made his début for Feyenoord aged 17, though soon after, he fell out with the club coach. The manager Bert van Marwijk clashed with van Persie, and subsequently relegated him to the reserve team.

, earning caps in the process for Netherlands U21 and Netherlands national football team. He was called up to Feyenoord's injury plagued first-team squad soon after he signed a three-and-a-half year deal with the club in January 2002. His performances with Feyenoord, including his playing an integral part in the 3–2 UEFA Cup final victory over Borussia Dortmund at the De Kuip on May 8, 2002, earned him the prestigious Best Young Talent award given by the KNVB for the 2001–02 season.

As a result of a back injury suffered during the summer of 2002, there was uncertainty as to whether Van Persie could start the new season. Van Persie, however, showed no such worries come the beginning of the season, scoring 8 goals in 28 league games as well as playing twice in the UEFA Champions League. Despite his talent, Robin Van Persie had a difficult relationship with the Feyenoord manager Bert van Marwijk, a strict disciplinarian, who sent him home on the eve of the UEFA Super Cup against Real Madrid in Monaco.

With Van Persie's Feyenoord contract due to expire in 2005, a disagreement with Bert van Marwijk combined with the fact that the club had not offered him a new contract meant that he spent most of the following season as a fading light at the club.

Senior career
English club Arsenal, undeterred by a rebuff during the January 2004 transfer window, made a move for the striker at the end of the 2003–04 season. Van Persie also emerged as a target for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, Bundesliga outfit Werder Bremen, and Spanish side Sevilla. However Arsenal fended off other club interest and signed van Persie, despite already having signed Spanish striker José Antonio Reyes from Sevilla. Van Persie completed his move for a fee believed to be in the range of £3 million to the Premiership on May 17, 2004. Praised by Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger for the strength of his talent and touted as a long-term replacement of Dennis Bergkamp, the young Dutchman made his debut for the team in the 3–1 FA Community Shield victory over Manchester United on August 8, 2004. Early on, he played as a left winger, but subsequently featured as a striker.

He spent most of his time on the bench during earlier parts of the season and looked to have earned himself a permanent place there with his sending off against Southampton which cost Arsenal two points, and caused Wenger to display uncharacteristic anger in public with a player. To his credit, Van Persie redoubled his efforts in training during his suspension and was reintroduced in to the team when injuries to Thierry Henry forced Wenger's hand. His return to the first team has been marked with numerous goals, the pinnacle of his achievements (at that time) coming in the FA Cup semi-final against Blackburn Rovers where he scored two goals to secure victory for Arsenal. He also scored the vital breakthrough goal against West Bromwich Albion to help Arsenal secure second place in the Premiership after the Albion defence had proved difficult to break down. As a result of his good play he won the The Barclay's Premiership Player of the Month.

Robin van Persie received his first full international cap against Romania on 4 June 2005.

Van Persie scored in the first game of the 2005–06 season and he continued to show good form, winning the prestigious Player of the Month award in November after scoring six goals in just four starts. He signed a contract extension keeping him at the North London club until 2011.

Despite not being an automatic first choice to start for Arsenal, Van Persie was selected as one of the Netherlands' forwards for the 2006 FIFA World Cup by national coach Marco Van Basten. His first World Cup goal came in the group match against Côte d'Ivoire, a free kick in the 23rd minute.

In the early part of the 2006–07 season, against Charlton Athletic, he scored what turned out to be BBC's Goal of the Month, an airborne volley from the edge of the 18-yard box. Arsène Wenger described it as "technically perfect". Another notable contribution was made during a 2–1 loss to Fulham FC. As Arsenal's inconsistent form continued with Fulham taking a shock lead, Robin gave the Gunners a glimmer of hope with a blistering free kick from the better part of 30 yards.

These and his international During the Euro 2008 qualifiers, van Persie made an impact during games against Luxembourg and Belarus. Two goals in either halves and an assist helped the Netherlands claim a 3–0 win. He continued his form in the next two games, scoring against Bulgaria in a 1–1 draw and also in the 2–1 victory against Albania a few days later.

performances for his country earned him the title Rotterdam Sportsman of the year 2006. Shortly after being named Rotterdam sportsman of the year, five goals in four games against Blackburn Rovers, Watford F.C. and Charlton illustrated his importance to Arsenal. Van Persie's season was soon ended by injury however. In a match against Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on 21 January 2007, Van Persie came on as a substitute and scored the equaliser in the 84th minute. In doing so, Van Persie fractured his fifth metartarsal in his right foot while celebrating, an injury that kept him out till the end of the season, where he managed to remain as the top scorer for the season with Arsenal.

Following the departure of Arsenal star striker Thierry Henry prior to the 2007–08 season, Van Persie was expected to assume the role as the main striker of the club. He showed good form in the pre-season Emirates Cup, scoring the winning goal in Arsenal's 2–1 victory over Internazionale, a goal described by one journalist as "of sublime execution". He also continued his excellent form in the 2007–08 season and has been scoring many wonderful goals including a 77 mph free kick against Sunderland.

Style of play
He can play as a striker (as he normally does for Arsenal) or on either wing, as he primarily does for the Netherlands. He is also a free kick specialist.

Outside football
Robin van Persie is married to Bouchra, a Dutch-Moroccan. They have one child together, a boy named Shaqueel, born on November 16, 2006. They live in Enfield, North London.

On June 13, 2005, while in Rotterdam with the Dutch national team for the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, van Persie was arrested on suspicion of rape by Dutch police. A 25-year-old woman claimed she was attacked by van Persie on Saturday June 11 in a nightclub. He was held for fourteen nights in prison while the police investigated the allegations made against him, but was then released without charge, though he was still under suspicion. In February 2006, the case against van Persie was completely dismissed by the Dutch Public Prosecution Service after they completed their investigations.

Career statistics
(Club statistics correct as of October 7, 2007)

(International statistics correct as of November 15, 2007)

Honours
Arsenal
 * Winner
 * FA Cup 2005
 * FA Community Shield 2004
 * Runner-up
 * UEFA Champions League 2006