Manchester United have announced that Ruud van Nistelrooy will be leaving the club, despite his successful tenure as interim manager after the sacking of Erik ten Hag. Ruben Amorim will bring his own backroom staff from Sporting, spelling the end of Van Nistelrooy’s short-lived return to Old Trafford.
Carlos Fernandes, Adelio Candido, Paulo Barreira, Emanuel Ferro and Jorge Vital were all seen boarding a private jet with Amorim that left Portugal on Monday morning.
The 39-year-old’s posse has left no room for most of United’s current coaching staff, with Rene Hake, Pieter Morel and Jelle ten Rouwelaar also departing.
A statement on United’s website read: “Manchester United can confirm that Ruud van Nistelrooy has left the club. Ruud rejoined in the summer and has taken charge of the team for the past four matches as interim head coach.
“Ruud is, and always will be, a Manchester United legend. We are grateful for his contribution and the way in which he has approached his role throughout his time with the club. He will always be very welcome at Old Trafford.
“Rene Hake, Jelle ten Rouwelaar and Pieter Morel have also departed and we wish them all well for the future. We will confirm the full men’s first team coaching composition in due course.”
Ten Hag appointed Van Nistelrooy as an assistant in the summer as part of a coaching shake-up overseen by United’s new football hierarchy.
Hake and Ten Rouwelaar also arrived, with assistants Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren, Benni McCarthy, and goalkeeper coach Richard Hartis among those to depart.
Van Nistelrooy’s return was a welcome surprise to supporters, considering he successfully launched his managerial career at PSV Eindhoven a year earlier.
The 48-year-old lifted the 2023 KNVB Cup before walking away from the club, citing a lack of support. This summer, he was targeted for his next managerial position elsewhere.
But he agreed to become an assistant at United, signing a two-year contract to cement a return to the club for whom he scored 150 goals as a player.
Van Nistelrooy received an unexpected promotion last month when United sacked Ten Hag after two and a half years.
Last season’s woeful trend of results in the Premier League and Europe continued into this term, prompting INEOS to pull the trigger and go all-out for Amorim.
Van Nistelrooy did his eminent reputation among United fans no harm by steadying the ship and restoring belief for the season ahead during his interim stint.
The Red Devils beat Leicester City twice, triumphed over PAOK and earned a commendable draw against Chelsea under Van Nistelrooy’s watch, scoring 11 goals and keeping two clean sheets.
His 75 per cent win record is the highest of any manager in the club’s history, pipping Michael Carrick, who also went unbeaten as he won two of his three games after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s exit.
It remains to be seen whether Van Nistelrooy will immediately search for a new managerial role, having been ready to step back into the dugout in the summer before United came calling.
The Dutch icon shared an emotional farewell with Old Trafford after Sunday’s 3-0 victory against Leicester, and his short-lived return will be remembered fondly.
