I saw Ruud van Nistelrooy do three things that make him perfect for Man United job amid Ten Hag axe

Ruud van Nistelrooy was often seen in the technical area on the shoulder of Erik ten Hag. Now the United hero will be front and centre.

Old Trafford power brokers took the decision to axe Ten Hag on Monday morning, following the 2-1 defeat to West Ham United. Van Nistelrooy is now in interim charge, starting with the Carabao Cup clash against Leicester City on Wednesday night, while the club seek a successor.

Van Nistelrooy will naturally come up in conversations over who might be the next United manager, even if he is perhaps reticent to put his name in the frame. And while his managerial resume doesn't leap off the page and would lead some to make comparisons with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, delving a little deeper reveals the Dutchman has the depth to deliver. He is very hands-on in his coaching role at United, while players and staff noted during the pre-season tour that he is obsessed with defensive shape.

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He spent just a sole season in charge of PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, finishing second in 2023. But his side took four points off eventual champions Feyenoord and did the double over fierce rivals Ajax. Indeed, that Feyenoord side were led by current Liverpool chief Arne Slot.

"I loved going up against Slot," said Van Nistelrooy. "His teams have a very recognisable style and he is very clear in his ideas. He built the Feyenoord squad on those ideas, and he got in the players who could deliver on them. It’s building up from the goalkeeper from the back, combination play and finding the free man everywhere, so you need to make sure your press is right. But you also need to get your build-up sorted, because it’s high and intense