Ex-Man Utd boss Ruud van Nistelrooy set for emotional reunion after Leicester call
Ruud van Nistelrooy has been linked with a number of roles since being told he was not being retained by Ruben Amorim at Manchester United and he could be closing in on his next role
by Daniel Orme · The MirrorRuud van Nistelrooy could be set for a shock return just weeks after his Manchester United exit at another of his former clubs.
The Dutchman took interim charge at Old Trafford after Erik ten Hag’s sacking - winning three out of his four games in charge. Van Nistelrooy was not retained at Old Trafford following the arrival of new boss Ruben Amorim - a decision that left him devastated.
But the former PSV head coach does not look set to be out of work for very long. Premier League side Leicester have been linked with a move for him following the decision to sack Steve Cooper.
The Welshman was sacked on Sunday in the aftermath of the weekend’s defeat to Chelsea, and Van Nistelrooy is one of a number of candidates reportedly under consideration by the Foxes alongside Graham Potter and David Moyes.
But the Dutchman also has interest from elsewhere, specifically former club Hamburg. According to Sky in Germany, the 2. Bundesliga side are interested in appointing him as a replacement for Steffen Baumgart.
Van Nistelrooy, 48, enjoyed a successful spell with the German side during his playing career. He joined the side from Real Madrid in 2010, scoring 17 goals in 44 appearances in all competitions.
Speaking ahead of his exit from Old Trafford, Van Nistelrooy expressed his desire to stay with United amid his previous managerial ambitions. He said: "Before I came to United I was looking to manage, no doubt about that.
“When United came in with this opportunity, for me, it was a fantastic opportunity. I wanted to be here and I put that [management ambitions] aside. For me, that was a deliberate decision to come here and help out. I just want to stay and do the same thing and, for me, that's my focus for the moment."
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Meanwhile, Andre Ooijer, a former teammate and member of Van Nistelrooy's PSV Eindhoven coaching staff, revealed his ex-colleague’s stance on his departure. Speaking to The Mirror, he said: "Ruud wanted to stay as assistant.
“He would have said something if he wasn't interested in working with Amorim. Ruud has had the chance to be manager or head coach at other clubs, but he deliberately did not take those jobs because he wanted to work at the club he loves most.”
Van Nistelrooy’s previous managerial experience came with Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. He led the side to the Dutch Cup and the Johan Cruyff Shield during his year with the club.
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