Van Nistelrooy in line for manager job days after brutal Man Utd axing

Milan Keskin

Updated: 13 Nov 2024 14:55 CST
4 min read

Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy won't have to be without a club for long.

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According to The Sun, the former assistant manager of Erik ten Hag at Man Utd is in the picture at Burnley as a successor to Scott Parker. The current manager of the Clarets is under a lot of pressure and can no longer afford to make a mistake in the Championship.

Although there is currently no official contact between Burnley and Van Nistelrooy, interest seems to be flaring up again. It is not the first time that Burnley have set their sights on Van Nistelrooy.

Last summer, he was already approached for the head coaching position, but at the time, he preferred to take up a role at his old stomping ground. There, he first served as an assistant coach under Ten Hag and later as interim manager.

However, the arrival of Ruben Amorim led to an early departure, with the Portuguese bringing his owns staff with along from Sporting CP. Now, a chance at Burnley is said to be in sight again for Van Nistelrooy.

Burnley eye Van Nistelrooy

Burnley had a promising start to the season under Parker, beating teams such as Luton Town and Cardiff City. However, this success was ultimately short-lived: in the last 13 league games, the team only managed to score nine times.

Although Burnley are currently in fourth place, criticism of Parker is increasing. Fans and analysts point to a lack of consistency and scoring ability, and there are calls for a change of course. This could give Van Nistelrooy a new chance to further shape his career as a head coach in the Championship.

Former Eredivisie star Kenneth Perez believes that Van Nistelrooy's performance as interim manager at Man Utd will not keep him out of work for long. "Clubs are now thinking: 'Hey, Van Nistelrooy... He has experience at PSV and has proven himself as an interim manager at a top English club,'" Perez said during ESPN's Voetbalpraat program.

Van Nistelrooy's experience in the Netherlands and England makes him an interesting option for several clubs looking for a new manager. His past as a striker at top clubs and his recent experience on the bench could give him an edge over other candidates.

Van Nistelrooy's coaching career got off to a flying start in the summer of 2022 when he became head coach of PSV and coached 50 games before surprisingly leaving his role. After a short break without a club, he found a place as assistant under Ten Hag at Man Utd last summer.

Now the way seems open again for a step as head coach, and Burnley could be an ideal place for Van Nistelrooy to realise his ambitions in English football. Burnley hope to fight their way back to the Premier League, and with a coach like Van Nistelrooy, that dream could come closer again.