Lloyd-Williams - Robin Van Persie: the Biography

I t is fair to say that Robin van Persie has encountered controversy at every turn so far in his life. From learning his trade on the Rotterdam streets through to the years spent stroking the ball around a velvety north London lawn, van Persie has certainly had his ups and downs on and off the pitch. From fallings out with managers and car crashes to spectacular goals and starting a family, it is fair to say that Robin van Persies first 28 years have been something of a roller-coaster ride.

Arsenal manager Arsne Wenger hailed him as a special talent and former midfielder Giovanni van Bronckhorst said he was the best striker of a football at the club. He told reporters he was always looking for the ultimate, always looking for the maximum in the game. To be a top player, van Persie told Footy-boots.com, you needed to use the ball as your best friend and be in love with it. It had been clear from a young age that van Persie possessed a somewhat unique talent but with that special talent came over-confidence, a fiery tongue and a hot head that made him an unpredictable character on the pitch.

After he took a couple of seasons to properly bed into the side, eventually fans were chanting Robin van Persies name in The Emirates stadium whilst stalls outside did a roaring trade in t-shirts featuring his face. Its fair to say the Gunners fans adored their Number 10 and that the love was reciprocated he said he could not even imagine himself in the colours of another Premier League club. He can pick out a pass, is able to use his right foot as well as his left and has scored a number of sensational goals for Arsenal.

The striker joined Arsenal for the modest sum of 2.75 million in May 2004 after hitting problems at Feyenoord. Van Persie had some difficulties settling in but went on to lift the FA Cup in his first season at the club. It was only right that he inherited the hallowed Number 10 shirt that was worn by someone he is regularly compared to fellow Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp.

All superheroes have their troubles and weaknesses the way that they manage to overcome them is part of what makes them so super and van Persie is no different. Superman cant deal with Kryptonite and Spiderman is too compassionate; van Persie has a bit of a temper on him, can be stubborn, and spent two weeks in prison with rape allegations which he was later cleared of hanging over his head.

Most modern footballers have their dark sides the millions of pounds that 21st century players are able to demand gives them the freedom to do pretty much whatever they like. There are a few lines their money should not allow them to cross but some feel the need to push those boundaries, resulting in brushes with the law and broken hearts.

From Chelsea and England captain John Terry cheating on his wife with ex-teammate Wayne Bridges girlfriend to Tottenham striker Jermain Defoes multiple court appearances over driving offences, many big name players have hit the headlines for the wrong reasons.

Van Persie was cleared of rape but admitted to being in a hotel room with Sandra Krijgsman putting his marriage in severe jeopardy. It must have been off-putting, to say the least, to hear Arsenal fans chants of Robin van Persie! bringing a response of Robin the Rapist! from Tottenham supporters.

His wife Bouchras belief saved her man from a circle of decline that could have destroyed him. It may have seemed a million miles away when he was sitting in that Dutch prison back in 2005 but van Persie went on to become a settled family man. He told the Irish Examiner, My family life is fantastic. The main things are my two kids and my wife and it makes you stable. It gives you a basis to perform because it is not good to go out all the time.

He bounced back laudably from the rape-case horror to link up encouragingly with Thierry Henry, before going it alone after the Frenchman had followed Bergkamp out of the door at the Emirates.

Somewhere in between all of that van Persie spent three of his summer holidays playing at major tournaments with the Netherlands national team, who themselves were never far from controversy. Throw in the multitude of injury problems that van Persie has had to contend with over the years and you have a real story of grit, determination and a will to succeed.