Robin van Persie explains why he rejected Manchester United coaching role under Erik ten Hag

Robin van Persie says he turned down the chance to return to Manchester United this summer because his family is happily settled in the Netherlands.

The 38-year-old was wanted by Erik ten Hag to become part of his backroom staff, with the new manager eager to bring in someone who has experience of how things work at Old Trafford.

Van Persie was tempted by the offer but says he decided to stay in his role as a coach for the first-team and youth set-up at Feyenoord, where his 15-year-old son Shaqueel plays.

READ MORE: Erik ten Hag has already done what Ralf Rangnick couldn't with Manchester United's backroom staff

“My son and daughter are important right now,” van Persie told Life After Football. “In London, when I played at Arsenal, we moved five times. We also lived in Manchester and Istanbul. All in all, we were away for almost fourteen years. But then we thought 'what's good for the kids now?' and felt a little stability would be nice.”

Ten Hag turned to his Ajax assistant Mitchell van der Gaag and former United number two Steve McClaren to assist him at Old Trafford, and Van Persie believes he made the right choice by moving to the club.

He added: “The respect of the fans is enormous. When I came back a few years later with Fenerbahce, after winning the league with United and Sir Alex, I still got a gigantic appreciation from the people.

“Dick Advocaat, our coach at Fenerbahce, recognised that. He experienced it at Rangers in Scotland. He said to me 'For the rest of your life you will be appreciated here [at United]' and he was absolutely right.

“England is a great country to live in. The people are warm and friendly. It's a 40-minute flight from Rotterdam, but you end up in a totally different world. A very