Manchester United are looking to hire Ruud van Nistelrooy as an assistant for manager Erik ten Hag.
Former PSV Eindhoven boss Ruud van Nistelrooy is in talks to return to Manchester United, 18 years after leaving the club as a player.
Van Nistelrooy could join Erik ten Hag as a new lead among his coaching staff. There is competition from Burnley, who want to hire him as manager.
Former teammate Rio Ferdinand admitted his excitement about Van Nistelrooy, expressing his hope he can have a big impact behind the scenes.
Ferdinand said he hopes in particular that Van Nistelrooy will have a positive impact on goalscorer Rasmus Hojlund.
Van Nistelrooy tips had immediate impact
One of the sensations in the Eredivisie last season was FC Twente attacking midfielder Sem Steijn, 22.
Steijn scored 19 goals in 39 matches, including netting a hat-trick late in the season against Volendam.
Quoted by NU.nl after his three-goal performance, Steijn revealed he had held secret practice with Ruud van Nistelrooy.
He explained how Van Nistelrooy’s tips had an immediate impact on his performance.
Steijn said: “I went on the field with him twice to work on my kicking.
“If you can learn something from anyone, it is from Ruud. It was very educational and I am very happy with that.
“We didn’t even shoot that many balls, but we looked more at what I do with which ball. What angle do you create for the goalkeeper and in what angle do you stand behind the ball?”
Van Nistelrooy’s advice, in just a short period, paid off for Stein, who ended his excellent 2023/24 season on a high.
Across a whole season, or more, Manchester United’s forwards could really benefit from Van Nistelrooy’s time and know-how.
Ruud van Nistelrooy was a lethal striker
Ruud van Nistelrooy is one of Manchester United’s top 11 goalscorers of all time, with 150 goals in 219 games.
That is five more goals than Cristiano Ronaldo managed across his two spells at Old Trafford.
This week Ferdinand hailed Van Nistelrooy as the most lethal finisher he had ever seen, in training and in matches.
“Nasty. Disgusting. Outrageous [referring to Van Nistelrooy’s finishing],” he said on Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE.
“It was illegal. One of the most hardest hitters of a ball I’ve seen. And pinpoint precision.”