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.
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“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 beautiful world.
“The football also suited me enormously. I continue to think it's the most beautiful league in the world. The fields are like green pool tables. All the stadiums are big and always full - and England absolutely breathes soccer.”
