Former Manchester United player and coach Ruud van Nistelrooy has made another switch in his career, amid links with the caretaker manager role at the club earlier this month
Ruud van Nistelrooy looks on during a Premier League match
Ruud van Nistelrooy has a new job after being linked with the caretaker manager role at Manchester United(Image: (Photo by Joe Prior/Getty Images))
View 2 Images
Former Manchester United star Ruud van Nistelrooy has taken another step back into coaching, with confirmation that the 49-year-old has been appointed as assistant coach for the Dutch national team.
The ex-striker joins Ronald Koeman in position with the 'Oranje', as preparation steps up for the 2026 World Cup that is underway in just a few months' time in Canada, the USA, and Mexico.
It's the third time Van Nistelrooy has taken on the role with the Netherlands, having previously served as an assistant coach from 2014 to 2016 and 2020 to 2021.
That job change comes shortly after he was linked with the caretaker role at Manchester United, with reports claiming that he was in the mix to be handed an opportunity back in the dugout at Old Trafford.
The Dutch coach was introduced into Erik ten Hag's coaching setup back at United in 2024, before the manager's dismissal meant the role of caretaker was down to Van Nistelrooy.
He took charge of four games with the club, winning three and drawing one of those encounters, which includes two wins over Leicester in the Premier League and the Carabao Cup.
Van Nistelrooy would go on to manage the Foxes less than one month after, with Ruben Amorim's appointment at the club confirmed, taking his own path into management in the top division.
An eventual exit came in the summer of 2025, however, after failing to keep Leicester from getting relegated back into the second tier.
There was an opportunity for Van Nistelrooy to pick up where he left off with Man United, with Amorim's sacking earlier this month opening a pathway for him to potentially take the caretaker manager role on once again.
Ruud van Nistelrooy during his time at Leicester City.
Ruud van Nisterlrooy has been out of work since leaving Leicester City in the summer(Image: Steven Paston/PA Wire.)
View 2 Images
However, the eventual decision from the sporting department came down to Michael Carrick or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with the former picking up the role for the rest of the season.
It won't be an easy task for the midfielder-turned-head-coach, who starts off his stint in charge of the team with a Manchester derby clash against close rivals Man City.
"Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honour," Carrick said. "I know what it takes to succeed here; my focus is now on helping the players to reach the standards that we expect at this incredible club, which we know that this group is more than capable of producing.
"I have worked with a number of the players already and have obviously continued to watch the team closely in recent years, I have total belief in their talents, dedication and ability to be successful here.
"There is still a lot to fight for this season, we are ready to pull everyone together and give the fans the performances that their loyal support deserves."
With Carrick's move into the position now confirmed, Van Nistelrooy's own focus will be on what he can do to help guide his nation to the Jules Rimet trophy in the summer.
The Netherlands have been drawn against Japan, Tunisia and one of either Ukraine, Sweden, Poland or Albania in the group stage of the competition.