Revealed: Why the scaling back of Sir Alex Ferguson’s role at Manchester United may have cost Ruud van Nistelrooy the full-time managerial job

To Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos, appointing Ruud van Nistelrooy as interim manager was an obvious choice.

An iconic name from the club’s glorious past. Revered by supporters, with the backing of former team-mates who have used their public profiles to support his appointment. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer all over again. If anyone knows what it means to win for United then it’s Van Nistelrooy.

But Ratcliffe’s decision to scale back Sir Alex Ferguson’s role at Old Trafford — and the Dutchman’s history of arguments back home — may have hurt his chances of landing the job on a full-time basis.

Ferguson has a close relationship with Van Nistelrooy’s agent Roger Linse, who has spent lots of time in Manchester in recent weeks ahead of the Dutchman’s appointment as interim boss.

It is easy to see Ferguson vouching for Van Nistelrooy — who scored 150 goals in five seasons under his reign — but after Ineos ended the Scot’s £2million-a-year ambassadorial job at the club, his day-to-day involvement has been reduced and influence on decision-making is minimal. Now the club are in talks with Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim.

If Van Nistelrooy impressed, there was a chance he could’ve been awarded the permanent job 

But Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s decision to scale back Sir Alex Ferguson’s role at Old Trafford and the Dutchman’s history of arguments back home may have hurt his chances of landing the job

Back in the Netherlands, the temporary appointment of Van Nistelrooy was greeted with scepticism. Before joining United he had been out of work for over a year having left his job at PSV under a cloud. His reign was overshadowed by talk of private clashes with his players, who felt Van Nistelrooy was stubborn and unwilling to adapt his methods.

Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf carried a story detailing that key players had even approached PSV’s board to express their reservations about Van Nistelrooy’s methods. The former Netherlands striker felt so let down by the affair that he resigned before the 2022-23 season had finished.

Back in the Netherlands, the temporary appointment of Van Nistelrooy was greeted with scepticism after the 48-year-old left PSV under a cloud following a mixed spell in charge

Intriguingly, at PSV Van Nistelrooy was assisted by respected Dutch coach Fred Rutten, who is one of Ten Hag’s closest confidants. Ten Hag is understood to have consulted Rutten about the prospect of working with Van Nistelrooy.

All the evidence points to Van Nistelrooy’s arrival in the summer being the work of Ineos rather than Ten Hag. But all of that is inconsequential now. Ruud, like Ole six years ago, is at the wheel. But for how long?