It has been talk of the town that Manchester United might bring in former iconic striker, Ruud van Nistelrooy if they decide to replace Erik ten Hag. Van Nistelrooy is currently working as the Dutch Gaffer, Erik ten Hag's assistant at Old Trafford.
According to TalkSPORT's Alex Crook, there are reports that United would contemplate appointing Van Nistelrooy as interim manager if they decide to dismiss Ten Hag. The Dutch coach is facing mounting pressure due to his team's underwhelming performance at the beginning of the season.
Ten Hag received a new one-year contract extension from INEOS in the summer but failed to lead a turnaround at Old Trafford. His team has lost three and won two of their first six league games, currently occupying the 12th position in the table.
Manchester United suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday (September 29) after being reduced to 10 men following Bruno Fernandes' sending-off. This marked the second occasion they were defeated by this scoreline, having experienced the same outcome against Liverpool.
Nistelrooy is currently Hag's Deputy
Van Nistelrooy joined Ten Hag's coaching staff during the summer. He is in a two-year deal at Old Trafford. The club will take advantage of the upcoming international break to assess his future with the team.
At the beginning of the season, Van Nistelrooy was frequently seen on the touchline alongside Ten Hag, providing a visible presence for the team. However, his involvement has become less noticeable in recent matches, and during the loss to Spurs, he was observed spending much of the game on the bench.
The Manchester United fanbase strongly believes that Van Nistelrooy's return was a strategic move. Ten Hag's contract extension aligned perfectly with the arrival of their former striker to lead his revamped backroom team.
Van Nistelrooy's remarkable stint as first-team coach at PSV, where he achieved 34 wins in 50 games, speaks volumes. His leadership led the Eredivisie side to clinch the KNVB Cup before his departure in May 2023.