RUUD VAN NISTELROOY could be set for a return to management, according to reports.
The Manchester United icon has been out of work since leaving PSV Eindhoven.
He resigned as the club’s first team manager in May 2023, citing a lack of support.
But according to Dutch outlet HLN, he could become the next Club Brugge manager.
The Belgian side parted ways with former Celtic boss Ronny Deila last week.
And Van Nistelrooy, who scored 150 goals in five years with United before spending four years playing for Real Madrid, has emerged as a strong contender to replace him.
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However, the Dutchman is not understood to be Brugge’s top target.
The club would allegedly prefer to appoint Schalke boss Karel Geraerts because he previously spent eight years at the Jan Breydel Stadium as a player.
Brugge inquired about Geraerts after dismissing Deila, but the former defender was unwilling to immediately agree terms.
Alongside Van Nistelrooy, ex-Leeds boss Jesse Marsch has also been considered.
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Van Nistelrooy’s managerial career
PSV Under-17s
In 2013, one year after he retired from professional football, Van Nistelrooy joined PSV as a coaching intern working with the Under-17s.
Netherlands assistant manager
He was appointed as Guus Hiddink’s assistant following the 2014 World Cup and spent two years in the position.
PSV Under-19s
The Dutchman returned to PSV in 2018 to become Under-19s manager. The following year he became a member of Ronald Koeman’s backroom staff ahead of Euro 2020.
PSV first team
He was appointed as PSV’s first team manager in March 2022 and spent just over a year in the position before resigning.
Marsch has been unemployed since leaving Leeds in February 2023.
He came close to completing an immediate Premier League return with Southampton, but talks broke down over his proposed contract length.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk