Ruud van Nistelrooy has stepped down from his position as assistant coach at Manchester United following the hiring of Rúben Amorim as the new head coach. The Dutchman, who briefly served as interim manager after Erik ten Hag was dismissed, achieved three victories and one draw during his tenure but will no longer be involved in the club's new direction.
Van Nistelrooy, a former United striker, returned to the club last summer to assist Ten Hag, marking his return to Old Trafford after an 18-year absence. Although he expressed a willingness to remain under Amorim for the duration of his 18-month contract, he is now leaving the club. Manchester United also confirmed that his coaching colleagues, René Hake, goalkeeper coach Jelle ten Rouwelaar, and performance analyst Pieter Morel, are departing to make way for Amorim’s preferred staff.
In a statement, United acknowledged van Nistelrooy's contributions, declaring, “Ruud is, and always will be, a Manchester United legend. We are grateful for his contributions and dedication during his time with the club, and he will always be welcome at Old Trafford.”
Despite his successful unbeaten run in charge, van Nistelrooy’s departure opens the door for a potential return to management, with Burnley reportedly considering him if their performance under Scott Parker falters. Van Nistelrooy had previously been a strong candidate for the Burnley managerial position last summer but ultimately chose to return to United.
Currently, Burnley sits fourth in the Championship, just four points off the top, but Parker has faced criticism as the team has scored only nine goals in their last 13 league matches.
Van Nistelrooy’s brief stint as interim boss saw him secure three wins and a draw. He previously managed PSV, leading them to the KNVB Cup. Former teammate Paul Scholes commented on van Nistelrooy's managerial potential, suggesting that moving from a successful managerial role back to being an assistant could be frustrating for him.
Amorim, who arrived in England recently, is expected to bring his trusted coaching staff from Sporting Lisbon, including Emanuel Ferro, Adélio Cândido, goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital, and sports scientist Paulo Barreira. Though he is waiting for his visa to start working, Amorim has already visited the club’s training facilities and met with key executives.
His primary challenge will be to instill his tactics into the team. Defender Matthijs de Ligt noted that Amorim plans to implement a 3-4-3 formation, a significant shift from the 4-2-3-1 system previously used by Ten Hag and van Nistelrooy. De Ligt emphasized the importance of team cohesion and understanding in making such tactical adjustments successful.
Zainab Y.
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