Man United cult hero lands new job days after missing out on Old Trafford interim role to Michael Carrick

Ruud van Nistelrooy has been appointed as the Dutch national team’s assistant coach ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

The 49-year-old, who scored 150 goals in 219 appearances as a player for Man United, had been in contention to replace Ruben Amorim and take the Old Trafford hot-seat until the end of the season.

But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick quickly emerged as frontrunners and, with the latter having now landed the job, the Dutchman will join up with manager Ronald Koeman on February 1.

‘Returning to the national team in this role is a big honour and a wonderful challenge for me,’ he said. ‘The fact that this is happening in preparation for a World Cup makes it even more special.

‘I look forward to contributing to a successful tournament.’

Van Nistelrooy, who scored 35 goals in 70 apperances for the Oranje, has been out of work since being sacked by Leicester City after failing to save them from relegation in the 2024-25 campaign.

Van Nistelrooy had been in contention to take the Man United job until the end of the season

The striker oversaw a horrendous run after replacing Steve Cooper mid-season, winning just five times and losing the other 19 in a total 27 matches in charge of The Foxes.

However, the former Real Madrid hero still remains highly regarded as a coach, bolstered by his strong performance as United’s interim boss following Erik ten Hag’s sacking in October 2024.

United won three out of four games under the legendary striker – including a 1-1 draw against Chelsea – but he was not kept on as part of Ruben Amorim’s backroom team.

Daily Mail Sport revealed that Van Nistelrooy was well-known to United’s director of football Jason Wilcox in their latest hunt for a manager due to those four games, which is why he never received a face-to-face interview.

But after Solskjaer and Carrick met with Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada in person, Van Nistelrooy began to drift out of contention.

His latest move will see him join up with Koeman again, having previously worked with the former Barcelona manager at PSV, where Van Nistelrooy began his coaching career.

‘With Ruud’s unique style and vision of football, he can truly add value to our coaching staff. He is familiar with football at the highest level and brings valuable experience, both as a player and a coach,’ Koeman said.

Former Man City midfielder Nigel de Jong, who now works as the national side’s technical director, added: ‘With Ruud, we’re expanding our already high-quality staff.

‘By adding him now he can fully participate in the preparation, including the international window in March.’