Ruud van Nistelrooy is returning to Manchester United as part of Erik ten Hag’s coaching team after snubbing the chance to manage Burnley following their return to the Championship
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s imminent return to Manchester United should be seen as a small victory for Erik ten Hag in his continuing battle for survival at Old Trafford.
Having decided to stick with Ten Hag, Sir Jim Ratcliffe must offer the Dutchman a new deal with his current one due to expire next summer. And the cherry on the top of that new contract will be Van Nistelrooy’s return to United as part of his coaching team.
Burnley spoke to Van Nistelrooy and the feeling was that he would be unveiled by them as Vincent Kompany’s successor. But then United came calling and he is excited about returning to Old Trafford.
The former United striker does not have huge coaching experience and he lasted just one season at his old club PSV Eindhoven before he fell out with the board in 2023 after winning the Dutch Cup.
He also coached PSV’s youth sides and was assistant manager for Holland. But his arrival is a positive for Ten Hag and he is getting his own people around him at United.
It’s not like Liverpool’s slow-motion sacking of Brendan Rodgers in 2015. Rodgers’ trusted lieutenant, Colin Pascoe, who had been with him at Swansea, went that summer to be replaced by Sean O’Driscoll, while Gary MacAllister also joined the coaching staff.
It came as little surprise when Rodgers was sacked come the first international break in October to be replaced by Jurgen Klopp. The feeling was that Rodgers would have gone in the summer of 2015 after Liverpool’s dreadful end to the season if Klopp had not said he wanted a break after leaving Borussia Dortmund.
So Van Nistelrooy’s return should be seen as a success for ten Hag in his power struggle at United.
However the bigger picture is the likeable Dutchman has seen much of his power ebb away and Ratcliffe has brought in new people at virtually every level.
Gone are the days when United would spend £82million on the likes of Antony because Ten Hag liked him at Ajax. Ten Hag’s direction of United’s transfer policy has gone and instead signings must be approved by a committee and his is just one voice in that.
United have saddled themselves with a messy compromise and after deciding not to sack ten Hag, they must now back him with a new contract.
They are only kicking the can down the road and the crunch will come in November or December when it is clear United are still behind Manchester City and Arsenal and not in the title race.
Carabao Cups and FA Cups are fine, but United define themselves by winning the Premier League or Champions League and they are a million miles away from lifting either.
What will Ratcliffe do then? Will he sack Ten Hag mid-season, like United did with Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, or limp on with him at the helm until May?
Time will tell, but more grey clouds will gather over Old Trafford.
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Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
