Manchester United have announced after the departure of Erik ten Hag that assistant manager Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of Manchester United on an interim basis, "whilst a permanent head coach is recruited". So, who is he?
Star forward
Van Nistelrooy, 48, was brought back to Old Trafford over the summer by Man Utd, having been a star forward for the club after joining in 2001.
The Dutchman scored 150 goals in all competitions in five seasons at United, going 11th on the club’s all-time goalscorers' list.
See: Van Nistelrooy's Premier League stats
In 2002/03, his 25 Premier League goals helped Man Utd to claim the title as well winning him the Golden Boot and Player of the Season award.
He left United in the summer of 2006 to join Real Madrid. He also played for Hamburg and Malaga before retiring.
Coaching career
In 2013, Van Nistelrooy returned to PSV Eindhoven, where he made a name for himself, to start his coaching career. He worked at the club’s academy, as well as assisting Guus Hiddink and the Netherlands at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, one of two spells with the national team.
In the summer of 2022, Van Nistelrooy was promoted to head coach at PSV. In his only season in charge he guided PSV to success in the Dutch Cup before then resigning, citing a lack of support from players and staff.
Then came his appointment as assistant manager at United this summer, alongside that of another Dutchman, Rene Hake, a former head coach of Eredivisie side Go Ahead Eagles, where Ten Hag had also coached.
Today's United statement added that Van Nistelrooy will be “supported by the current coaching team”. This also includes first-team coach Andreas Georgson and goalkeeping coach Jelle ten Rouwelaar, who were also hired in the summer.
Van Nistelrooy will take charge of United for their EFL Cup tie at home to Leicester City on Wednesday before Chelsea travel to Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday.
