Following the departure of Erik ten Hag, Manchester United have announced that assistant coach Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of Manchester United on an interim basis “while a permanent head coach is hired”. So who is he?

Star forward

Van Nistelrooy, 48, was brought back to Old Trafford by Man Utd in the summer after being a star striker for the club since joining in 2001.

The Dutchman scored 150 goals across all competitions in five seasons at United, placing him 11th on the club’s all-time goalscoring list.

See: Van Nistelrooy’s Premier League stats

In the 2002/03 season, his 25 goals in the Premier League helped Man Utd win the title and earned him the Golden Boot and Player of the Season awards.

Coaching career

In 2013, Van Nistelrooy returned to PSV Eindhoven, where he made a name for himself, to begin his coaching career. He worked in the club’s academy and assisted Guus Hiddink and the Netherlands at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, one of two appearances with the national team.

In the summer of 2022, Van Nistelrooy was promoted to head coach of PSV. In his only season as coach, he led PSV to Dutch Cup success before resigning due to a lack of support from players and staff.

Then came his appointment as assistant coach at United this summer, alongside another Dutchman, Rene Hake, a former head coach of Eredivisie club Go Ahead Eagles, where Ten Hag had also coached.

United’s statement today goes on to say that Van Nistelrooy will be “supported by the current coaching team”. This also includes professional coach Andreas Georgson and goalkeeping coach Jelle ten Rouwelaar, who were also hired in the summer.

Van Nistelrooy will oversee United’s EFL Cup home game against Leicester City on Wednesday before Chelsea travel to Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday.