Ruud van Nistelrooy was an extraordinary goalscorer as a player for Manchester United but his impact as a coach could now prove to be just as important. Find out what makes him so good, with insight from Javier Rabanal, his former assistant at PSV Eindhoven…
He is already looking forward to his wave towards the Stretford End on Friday evening. Ruud van Nistelrooy is back at Old Trafford.
That used to spell danger for opposition defences during his five seasons as a player for Manchester United in the early part of this century. Now supporters are wondering what it could mean for the club as he returns as part of Erik ten Hag’s new-look coaching staff.
Despite his 150 goals, there was a time when Van Nistelrooy would have been among the unlikeliest of former favourites to be entrusted with such a role. His departure in 2006 was acrimonious, the relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson having disintegrated.
For much of his career as a player, there was a reputation for single-mindedness that did not necessarily chime with a career in coaching. Gary Neville has even admitted to questioning whether, for all the goals, his style was conducive to what United required at that time.
Rio Ferdinand tells a tale of returning to the Manchester United dressing room after a win to see Van Nistelrooy’s pained expression upon discovering that Thierry Henry, his long-time rival for the Golden Boot, had also found the back of the net that afternoon.
But while still laser-focused on his goals, Van Nistelrooy is now a different animal. Javier Rabanal, the Spaniard who was his assistant at PSV when he guided the club to two trophies, regards him as not only a great player but a hugely impressive coach as well.
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“We had a fantastic relationship,” Rabanal tells Sky Sports. “He is a really humble person, easy to work with, and I learned a lot from him. In fact, he was someone who completely changed my perspective about what professional football is in some ways.
When it comes to tactical knowledge about the game, most of the top coaches in football are at a similar level of understanding. The difference with Ruud was his passion and his ability to communicate his feelings about football to the group.
“He is someone who can connect with people. It does not matter if it is a young player taking their first steps or a player in his final years. I remember the passion with which he spoke before big matches such as the cup final we won against Ajax. He is different.”
He can bring a lot to help Manchester United back to the top, top, top level, where they want to be, fighting for titles.” None more so than the legendary striker who has reinvented himself as a thoughtful coach eager to make the difference for his team.
