Ruud van Nistelrooy has become interim Manchester United manager in the wake of Erik ten Hag’s sacking.
In their statement on Monday that confirmed Ten Hag’s departure, United announced that the Red Devils legend ‘will take charge of the team as interim head coach, supported by the current coaching team, whilst a permanent head coach is recruited.’
The likes of Xavi, Thomas Frank, Ruben Amorim and Gareth Southgate are among the favourites to get the job, but Van Nistelrooy will also be a strong contender, especially if he can get United back to winning ways in the next few games.
His first match in charge will be on Wednesday night when United take on Leicester City in the Carabao Cup at Old Trafford, with a huge clash against Chelsea in the Premier League to follow on Sunday.
We know that Van Nistelrooy was one of the best strikers of his generation, but what about his managerial career?
Which clubs has Ruud van Nistelrooy managed?
Following a hugely successful career that included spells at PSV, United and Real Madrid, scoring 349 goals in 592 games, Van Nistelrooy hung up his boots in 2012.
The former Dutch international began his coaching career a year later working with the PSV youth teams and would balance that role with spells as Netherlands assistant manager to Guus Hiddink and Ronald Koeman.
In 2022, he took his first job as manager at PSV and enjoyed a good debut season, winning the Johan Cruyff Shield and KNVB Cup.
His side finished second in the Eredivisie, seven points off Arne Gadgets’s Feyenoord, having scored a league high 89 goals.
However, with one game still to go in the season, Van Nistelrooy resigned from his position, citing a lack of support from PSV’s board.
A year later, he returned to Old Trafford as Ten Hag’s new assistant and now has the chance to manage the club he won the Premier League title with 21 years ago.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s managerial record so far
As PSV manager, Van Nistelrooy took charge of 51 games across all competitions from May 2022 to May 2023.
He won 33 of those games, drawing 10 and losing eight, leaving him with a win percentage of 64.71%.
In these matches, his side scored a whopping 126 goals but did concede 60 times.
How Man Utd will line-up under Ruud van Nistelrooy
At PSV, Van Nistelrooy preferred a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation with full-backs encouraged to invert and allow the wingers to push out and stretch the opposition.
The 48-year-old will also look to implement aggressive pressing which is key to regaining possession, but his style is said to be far less chaotic than Ten Hag’s.
The former striker previously spoke about his tactical influences, citing legendary United manager Sir Alex Ferguson: ‘At Manchester United, Sir Alex was always pushing us forward.
‘Look forward, play forward, get crosses in, shoot on target. As a player, I loved the way that made me feel. I wanted to play like that, and I want to transmit that same feeling to my teams, to my players.’
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