Ruud van Nistelrooy set to return to Manchester United as Erik ten ...
Sean KearnsPublished Jun 24, 2024, 1:47pm|Updated Jun 24, 2024, 4:05pm
Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy is set for a sensational return to the club, according to reports in the Netherlands.
The former PSV Eindhoven boss is in talks with the Red Devils to return to Old Trafford as Erik ten Hag’s assistant.
Fabrizio Romano claimed on Sunday that the Dutchman had been identified by the club as a way of shaking up Ten Hag’s backroom staff.
As part of INEOS’ agreement to stick with Ten Hag, the club wanted to make changes to his backroom staff as they look to implement their own style of play.
Van Nistelrooy has impressed during his two years in management with PSV, helping the club to the KNVB Cup in 2023 with a 65% win percentage. He left the Dutch club at the end of last season, with one game remaining.
The 47-year-old spent four years at the Theatre of Dreams, scoring 150 goals in 217 matches.
Van Nistelrooy had held talks with Burnley over replacing Vincent Kompany but Dutch publication Algemeen Dagblad say he’s now in advanced talks to return to United as an assistant coach.
The Dutchman’s return will certainly be popular among supporters, but it could raise question marks over other members of the backroom staff.
Benni McCarthy, who was appointed during Ten Hag’s first summer at the club, is out of contract next month.
But INEOS, in agreeing to retain Ten Hag, want to see changes in order to implement their own ethos on the side.
Ten Hag is in discussions with the club over a new contract, with his current deal set to expire in 2025.
