Speaking candidly, Ruud van Nistelrooy admitted he was ‘hurt’ and ‘disappointed’ that he had to leave Manchester United after a brief spell as an interim manager which saw the club win three out of four matches.
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Ruud van Nistelrooy has revealed that his interim manager role at Manchester United led to a barrage of offers which left him stunned as he had been in coaching for a long time. Former United striker, van Nistelrooy, managed the Red Devils for four matches, winning three besides one draw, after the sacking of Erik ten Hag at the end of October.
The 48-year-old van Nistelrooy had to leave the club after the appointment of Ruben Amorim and has since taken over as Leicester City coach, replacing the sacked Steve Cooper at the King Power.
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“What happened after the games and the amount of interest, the options that all of a sudden were there for me and the options that came along, I was a little bit astonished,” van Nistelrooy said on Monday.
“It was four games and I managed a full season at PSV (Eindhoven), was able to win the cup and the charity shield. I have been in coaching, in the (under) 19s and the national team (with the Netherlands) and it never got this reaction from the football world.
“It provoked these reactions and I was only happy with that – and to get in conversations with different parties and be able to make a decision which felt really good for me and I am happy to be here.”
‘It hurt I had to leave’
Looking back at his short tenure with Man United, van Nistelrooy said he was sad to leave the club but “understands” the situation.
“The moment I took over the interim job what I said was I’m here to help United and to stay to help United, and I meant it. So I was disappointed, very much so, and it hurt I had to leave,” van Nistelrooy said.
“In the end I got my head round it because I also understand the new manager. I’m in football long enough and I’ve managed myself. I understand.
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“I spoke to Ruben about it, fair enough to him, the conversation was grateful, man to man, person to person, manager to manager. That helped [me] a lot to move on and straightaway get into talks with new possibilities which of course lifted my spirits.”
He will have a tough task with former Premier League champion Leicester who are currently 16th in the table with 10 points from 13 matches and next face West Ham United on Tuesday.
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