Heerenveen, currently ninth in the league standings, had taken a 2-1 lead in their KNVB Beker clash before Robin van Persie made a controversial tactical decision.
He replaced starting goalkeeper Mickey van der Hart with Andries Noppert to handle the opposition’s aerial threats.
However, the decision backfired as Heerenveen suffered a 3-2 extra-time defeat to the third-tier side.
Noppert made two costly errors, conceding a penalty and allowing Levi van Duijn’s header to seal the team’s exit.
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Despite the criticism, Van Persie stood by his choice and defended the move after the match.
“Our goal came at a crucial moment. That’s why we expected Quick Boys to play more directly.
They also brought in a very tall boy, so based on that I thought it was necessary to bring in Andries Noppert,” Van Persie told reporters.
“The substitution was tactical. Especially because Andries has the height and he is normally very good with crosses.”
The switch drew scepticism from fans, particularly due to Noppert’s lack of recent game time.
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The goalkeeper had not played since November 23 and came on after a brief warm-up, raising concerns about his sharpness.
Heerenveen now sit mid-table with seven wins from 18 Eredivisie matches and face a tough test against Ajax on Sunday.
Van Persie’s experiment may have failed in the cup, but he will aim to prove his managerial acumen in the league.
van Persie’s managerial career is still in its early stages, having started with Feyenoord’s U19s from September 2023 to June 2024.
He took the reins at SC Heerenveen in May 2024, hoping to establish himself in senior management after a decorated playing career.
He’ll be hoping to improve his managerial reputation, much like Kieran McKenna and Michael Carrick.
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