Why interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy’s position at Man United is raising eyebrows after private clashes with Dutch players, writes SAMI MOKBEL

The elephant in the room at Manchester United: Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Goals – lots of them – for the club. Revered by supporters. An undeniable connection to the club’s glorious past, a period United – in its current guise – are so desperately trying to replicate.

A relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson. Van Nistelrooy’s long-term agent Roger Linse has a long standing relationship with the club.

According to sources in the Netherlands, Linse has spent more time in Manchester recently.

For many reasons, Van Nistelrooy’s return to Old Trafford has certainly got tongues wagging back in the Netherlands.

The former club legend had been working with his compatriot since the start of the campaign

A familiar face to the Old Trafford faithful, Van Nistelrooy has serious coaching ambitions

The big man is back. You wonder, though, what Erik ten Hag makes of it all.

In discussions with United chiefs at the end of the season that resulted in Ten Hag keeping his job under intense speculation that he would be leaving for INEOS to make their own appointment, it was decided the Dutch coach would replenish his support team. That changed on Monday morning though when Ten Hag was sacked, with Van Nistelrooy replacing him on an interim basis.

Rene Hake, a long-term friend of Ten Hag, was among the new coaching arrivals this summer.

Intriguingly, Hake, like Ten Hag and a host of players to have arrived at Old Trafford since the Dutchman’s appointment from Ajax in 2022, is a client of Dutch management agency SEG.

SEG’s involvement in United’s transfer dealings prior to INEOS’ arrival has been heavily documented in recent months.

The other coach to arrive was Van Nistelrooy, a move greeted with some skepticism back in the Netherlands.

Van Nistelrooy had been out of work for over 12 months having left his job as PSV Eindhoven’s boss under a cloud.

Before joining up with Ten Hag at United, Van Nistelrooy managed Dutch club PSV Eindhoven

The 48-year-old’s time at the Philips Stadion was a tumultuous one later overshadowed by talk of clashes between coach and team

The 48-year-old’s reign at Philips Stadion was overshadowed by talk of private clashes with his players, many of whom held grave concerns over Van Nistelrooy’s coaching abilities.

Some players felt he was stubborn and unwilling to adapt his approach. Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf carried a story detailing that a number of key players had even approached PSV’s board to express their reservations about Van Nistelrooy’s methods.

Van Nistelrooy is a popular figure in PSV’s history having scored 62 goals in 67 games before clinching his move to United in 2001.

But that only gets you so far with the modern player. It certainly did for Van Nistelrooy during his 15-month spell in charge of PSV: the former Netherlands striker felt so let down by the whole affair that he took the decision to walk away before the 2022-23 season had finished.

At the time, there was a sense in the Netherlands that Van Nistelrooy would walk into a new job. His profile speaks for itself and he’d just led PSV to the Dutch Cup in 2023, where they defeated Ajax in the final.

Heerenveen considered Van Nistelrooy for their head coach’s position, but decided against the appointment as concerns of his coaching approach did the rounds.

So when United called in the summer, the attraction for Van Nistelrooy – even though it wasn’t a head coach’s position he craved – to return to work was clear.

Van Nistelrooy won the Dutch Cup in 2023 after beating Ajax but even domestic success failed to keep him in Eindhoven

Ten Hag likely consulted respected coach Fred Rutten before greenlighting his appointment

Yet, even then there was a level surprise back in his homeland that Ten Hag had approved Van Nistelrooy’s appointment.

At PSV, Van Nistelrooy was assisted by respected Dutch coach Fred Rutten, who is coincidently one of Ten Hag’s closest confidants.

Indeed, Rutten turned the opportunity to join United as Ten Hag’s assistant two years ago.

There is every chance Ten Hag would have consulted Rutten about the prospect of working with Van Nistelrooy at some point over the summer.

Given how Van Nistelrooy’s spell in charge of PSV panned out, you’d imagine that may have been an enlightening conversation for Ten Hag.

Of course, the attraction to Van Nistelrooy for INEOS was obvious. An iconic name from the club’s prestigious past; in terms of PR it ticks several boxes.

He has instant credit in the bank with supporters, too.

But you can’t help but feel the shadow of Van Nistelrooy was one Ten Hag could probably have done without.

It comes as no surprise that Sir Jim Ratcliffe was keen to bring Van Nistelrooy to Manchester

Ten Hag and Van Nistelrooy had an amicable relationship but results didn’t improve this term

Was Van Nistelrooy’s return a Ten Hag or INEOS production? Ten Hag failed to turn United’s season around and now will find out – although United have stressed that Van Nisterlrooy is head coach on an interim basis.

Whether Van Nistelrooy is considered for the top job at United full-time, will be intriguing though.

Many in the Netherlands believe Van Nistelrooy would struggle to turn down such an opportunity.

He loves the club and has lofty ambitions of his own. It doesn’t get loftier than Manchester United.