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Erik ten Hag has hailed the appointment of Ruud van Nistelrooy as one of his two new assistants at Manchester United. The iconic former Dutch striker has returned to Old Trafford as a new member of the manager's coaching staff.
Van Nistelrooy has already been at Carrington and got to work with Ten Hag and fellow new backroom staff member Rene Hake. The trio is a new-look United coaching team assembled as part of INEOS' restructuring.
Ten Hag is delighted to have Van Nistelrooy on board and spoke glowingly of the qualities he'll bring. He told the club's media team (via centredevils):
"First of all, his character. It has brought him so far and it’s an example to everyone in the building.He will bring some DNA of (Manchester United) with that character. He is such a strong driver, and that is also what he shows as a coach."
Van Nistelrooy is a Manchester United legend who spent five years at Old Trafford as a player. He is one of the club's greatest-ever strikers, posting 150 goals and 30 assists in 219 games.
The Ruud Devil also has coaching experience, having been an assistant to former Netherlands manager Guus Hiddink. He then took over PSV Eindhoven's youth teams before becoming senior manager in July 2022.
Van Nistelrooy impressed as PSV boss, guiding them to the KNVB Cup and Dutch Super Cup in 2023. He oversaw 34 wins in 50 games before departing Philips Arena in May 2023.
Dwight Yorke raises concerns about Ruud van Nistelrooy joining Ten Hag's Manchester United backroom staff
Dwight Yorke has suggested Ten Hag may be on edge following Van Nistelrooy's return to Manchester United. The Red Devils icon who played with the Dutchman feels the current manager might question whether it's a contingency move. He told Dubai Eye 103.8 Sport:
"When you work underneath that branch of being an understudy, although they're both Dutch, if I was Ten Hag I'd get a feeling that if things weren't going well somewhere along the line that Ruud would step in and take the reigns. I'm not sure... I don't really like that scenario because Ruud wants to be a manager."
Ten Hag's future was the subject of intense speculation heading into the dying embers of last season. He was expected to be sacked after an eighth-placed finish in the league and several dismal performances.
However, Ten Hag guided Manchester United to a 2-1 win against Manchester City in the FA Cup final. This, his development of youth, and last season's injury toll led to INEOS keeping him in charge.
The Red Devils' new owners have made changes to his backroom staff, though. Van Nistelrooy and Hake have replaced Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy. The former had worked with Ten Hag since his days at Ajax.
