Ruud van Nistelrooy will bring “some DNA of Manchester United” to Old Trafford, according to manager Erik ten Hag.
Van Nistelrooy completed his return to United as one of Ten Hag’s assistants – alongside fellow Dutchman Rene Hake – yesterday as the club look to shake up their coaching team ahead of the new season.
Ten Hag recently signed a two-year contract extension after surviving an internal review conducted by new minority owners Ineos and is delighted to have brought Van Nistelrooy and Hake in.
“I think we did well. We achieved what we wanted to achieve, but we can’t sit still,” Ten Hag told the club’s official website.
“We want to go forward and we are so pleased to get Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake in, to bring some new dynamic, to bring some new initiative and innovation.”
Welcome on board, Rene and Ruud! 🤝#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 11, 2024
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Old Trafford return for Van Nistelrooy
Former Netherlands international Van Nistelrooy had a glittering playing career which included a five-year spell at United in which he made 219 appearances, scoring 150 goals.
“First of all, his character has brought him so far and it’s an example for everyone here in the building,” Ten Hag added.
“Of course, he will also bring some DNA of Manchester United in, but that character is such a strong driver and that is also what he shows as a coach.
“He has such a highly interesting profile, he’s so ambitious, he has the skills and he already has a lot of experience.
“He’s assisted the Dutch squad, in PSV he did the Under-19s as a manager, he did the Under-21s, Jong PSV, who were playing at the second level and then he was manager of the first team.
“So much experience, but very young, very ambitious, very driven. With his skills and his intelligence, he will help all the players and the team.”
And what of Hake?
Hake quit his role as Go Ahead Eagles boss to move to United.
“So, in a lot of areas he has experiences,” Ten Hag said. “He started at a very young age as a coach and he was coaching from, I would say, under-six all up until the highest.
“So the last years, he was only working with seniors, as assistant coach but also in the last years as a head coach, as a manager.
“In the second level, in the highest level, his experiences at Utrecht, at Go Ahead Eagles, where he did a magnificent job to lead that team into Europe and the Conference League. That was the biggest surprise from last year.
“With all his experience, for him it counts the same as for Ruud. They will help us, they will bring innovations, they will bring new energy and dynamic.”
