Ruud van Nistelrooy spent five years at Manchester United during his playing career and had little hesitation when the opportunity to return to Old Trafford came up this summer.
Ruud van Nistelrooy admits the option to return to Manchester United alongside Erik ten Hag came as a complete surprise.
The Dutchman spent five years at Old Trafford during his great playing career under the famous Sir Alex Ferguson before transitioning to coaching in recent years.
Van Nistelrooy, 48, managed PSV Eindhoven for more than a year before stepping down. He was anticipated to return to manager in the summer and was the overwhelming choice to succeed Vincent Kompany at Burnley.
However, he acknowledges that a phone call from Ten Hag altered everything, and he abandoned his original intentions to work at his former club as part of a new-look coaching staff.
“This is 100 percent the right decision,” he told TNT. “I felt a strong feeling that I want to help build United little by little back to where we feel and know where the club should be.”
He went on to say, “I was on the management track. I managed PSV, and it was an incredible experience. I was in negotiations with clubs about managing, and I liked it. I got my personnel ready, and then I received a phone call. I never considered this as an option. Erik phoned me and discussed it. I started to like the notion.”
Van Nistelrooy has been working closely with Manchester United academy product Marcus Rashford since his arrival, hoping to get the forward fire again after a tough 2023/24 season.
His arrival coincided with Rene Hake’s, as United looked to change up their coaching staff over the summer. Ten Hag’s former assistants, Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren, have subsequently departed their positions, with the latter joining the Jamaica national team. With the new season still in its early stages, Ten Hag has been nothing but impressed with United’s new signings.
Ten Hag recently praised Van Nistelrooy and Hake, saying, “They have done brilliantly.” They are doing really well, and they have assimilated quite well. They are distinct. Ruud was a striker, whereas Rene was mostly a defensive midfielder.
“But more importantly, their character is unique and really nice. Together with Darren [Fletcher] and Andreas [Georgson, another summer newcomer], I believe we make a really excellent crew.”
