Former Netherlands, Manchester United and Real Madrid striker, Ruud van Nistelrooy has landed his first job as senior team coach with PSV Eindhoven.
The 24-time Eredivisie champions appointed the Dutch attacking legend to the job after current head coach Roger Schmidt announced he will be leaving at the end of the season.
The German took over the club in 2020 and led them to a second-place finish in his first season, and is currently only two points away from the top of the table and winning their 25th Eredivisie title.
However, his tenure is coming to an end and the club have gone ahead to appoint 45-year-old van Nistelrooy to take over from Schmidt from next season up until 2025.
van Nistelrooy had his breakthrough season at PSV where he played from 1998 to 2001 before moving to Manchester United and Real Madrid to become one of the world’s best strikers in his generation.
The striker, who was famous for his ability to terrorise defences in tight spaces in the box, retired in 2012 and has since then, been in and around coaching. He has been the assistant manager of the Netherlands national team on two separate occasions, and has taken charge of PSV’s various youth teams at different times.
Speaking with the club’s official website after his announcement as manager, van Nistelrooy said: “It has always been my dream to be head coach at PSV.
“I’ve worked intensively with Toon Gerbrands, PSV’s current general manager, the past few seasons. I was convinced I could pursue a professional coaching career and originally thought I needed one more year to gain experience.
“But sometimes things do go their way and you find out that life is not completely manageable. This is the right moment to take the next step.
“PSV are ready to embark on a new path this summer and I am ready to play my part.
“Talks with the board of directors have reinforced the idea that we’re ambitious and look to create something special in the long term. I am excited for the task in hand at PSV.”
PSV’s technical manager John de Jong gave the club’s statement on van Nistelrooy’s appointment. The statement from de Jong on the club’s website reads: “We are very pleased that Ruud has said yes. He enjoys the full confidence of the current PSV management and Marcel Brands.
“Ruud has learned a lot inside and outside PSV in recent years, made an impression as leader of several teams and is ready to lead the first team of PSV. We believe that the path we are taking with Ruud and the club this summer will yield a lot for PSV.”
Van Nistelrooy will be joined by experienced head coach Fred Rutten, who will act as his assistant.
