Manchester United are reportedly weighing up a surprise interim appointment, with former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy emerging as a candidate to take charge until the season's end. This comes just months after the Dutch coach was subjected to a brutal assessment from one of his former players, who claimed he was "blocked" from playing and questioned his coaching credentials.
Van Nistelrooy's Rocky Road Since Old Trafford
The 49-year-old Dutchman is said to be on a shortlist of potential caretaker managers following the sacking of Ruben Amorim. Van Nistelrooy is no stranger to the Old Trafford hot seat, having enjoyed a brief but successful four-game spell as caretaker boss in October 2024 after Erik ten Hag's dismissal. He won three and drew one of those matches, including victories over Leicester City in two competitions.
However, his reputation took a significant hit during a disastrous seven-month tenure at Leicester City. Appointed in November 2024, Van Nistelrooy managed just five wins in 27 Premier League games, culminating in the Foxes' relegation. The club endured a historic goal drought, becoming the first top-flight side to go nine consecutive home matches without scoring.
A Former Player's Scathing Critique
One player who experienced Van Nistelrooy's methods firsthand is French striker Odsonne Edouard. The Crystal Palace forward, now on loan at Lens, spent the latter part of last season at Leicester and was frozen out by the manager.
In a candid interview with L'Equipe back in October, Edouard delivered a damning verdict. "Being a great striker doesn't necessarily mean being a great coach," he stated, directly referencing Van Nistelrooy's legendary playing career. Edouard revealed he found himself "blocked for seven months without playing" after making six appearances under previous boss Steve Cooper.
The 27-year-old, who has rediscovered his form with seven goals in 14 Ligue 1 games this season, added that he "didn't get along well" with Van Nistelrooy and was forced to undertake extra fitness sessions on his own to maintain sharpness.
The United Shortlist and What Comes Next
Van Nistelrooy is understood to be in contention alongside former United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who led the club for nearly three years until 2021. The search for an interim boss was triggered by the dismissal of Ruben Amorim, whose relationship with the United board broke down.
It is a curious twist of fate that Amorim was the man who decided not to retain Van Nistelrooy on his backroom staff upon arriving at United in 2024. Van Nistelrooy then moved to Leicester just two weeks later.
The potential return to Manchester poses a significant question for the United hierarchy: whether Van Nistelrooy's promising four-game stint as caretaker outweighs the catastrophic failure at Leicester and the public criticism from a professional player. The decision will define the club's direction for the crucial final months of the campaign.
