- Erik ten Hag was fired as manager of Manchester United on Monday morning
- Former Red Devils striker Van Nistelrooy, 48, was appointed as interim boss
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For Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos, appointing Ruud van Nistelrooy as interim manager was an obvious choice.
An iconic name from the club’s glorious past. Honored by supporters, with the support of former teammates who have used their public profiles to support his appointment. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer all over again. If anyone knows what it means to win for United, it’s Van Nistelrooy.
But Ratcliffe’s decision to scale back Sir Alex Ferguson’s role at Old Trafford – and the Dutchman’s history of feuding at home – may have damaged his chances of getting a full-time job.
Ferguson has a close relationship with Van Nistelrooy’s agent Roger Linse, who has spent a lot of time in Manchester in recent weeks ahead of the Dutchman’s appointment as interim boss.
It’s easy to see Ferguson vouching for Van Nistelrooy – who scored 150 goals in five seasons under his reign – but after Ineos ended Scotland’s £2m-a-year ambassadorship to the club, his day-to-day involvement has reduced. and the influence on decision-making is minimal. Now the club is in talks with Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim.
Ruud van Nistelrooy was appointed as interim boss of Man United following the sacking of Erik ten Hag
If Van Nistelrooy impressed, there is a good chance he would have gotten the permanent job
But Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s decision to scale back Sir Alex Ferguson’s role at Old Trafford, and the Dutchman’s history of feuding at home, may have damaged his job prospects.
Back in the Netherlands, Van Nistelrooy’s temporary appointment was received with skepticism. Before joining United, he was out of work for over a year after leaving his job at PSV under a cloud. His reign was overshadowed by rumors of private conflict with his players, who felt Van Nistelrooy was stubborn and unwilling to change his methods.
The Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf published a story describing that key players had even approached the PSV board to express their reservations about Van Nistelrooy’s working methods. The former Dutch striker felt so let down by the affair that he resigned before the 2022-2023 season ended.
Back in the Netherlands, Van Nistelrooy’s temporary appointment was met with skepticism after the 48-year-old left PSV under a cloud after a mixed spell in charge
Intriguingly, Van Nistelrooy was assisted at PSV by respected Dutch coach Fred Rutten, one of Ten Hag’s closest confidantes. Ten Hag is said to have consulted Rutten about the prospect of working with Van Nistelrooy.
All evidence points to Van Nistelrooy’s arrival in the summer being the work of Ineos and not Ten Hag. But all that is unimportant now. Ruud, like Ole six years ago, is at the wheel. But for how long?
