Ruud van Nistelrooy 'is the leading candidate to be the next PSV boss'

Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy is reportedly being lined up as PSV's next manager.

The 45-year-old is currently in charge of Jong PSV, the club's reserve side, having coached the Under-18s for three years up until last summer.

Van Nistelrooy has also worked as an assistant coach with the Netherlands national team, but has never held a senior managerial role.

Nonetheless, he is the first choice candidate to replace outgoing PSV first team boss Roger Schmidt according to Dutch outlet ED.

Schmidt has confirmed that he will leave his post at the end of the season after failing to agree a new contract in Eindhoven. The club are currently second in the Eredivisie table, just two points behind leaders Ajax.

Van Nistelrooy reportedly has the backing of Marcel Brands, the ex-Everton director of football who will become PSV's new chief executive in the summer.

It was only earlier this month that the former striker appeared to rule himself out of the race to be Schmidt's successor.

'I can be clear about that now. I will not go through to the first-team of PSV,' van Nistelrooy told ESPN. 

'I don't think I'm ready for that yet. I think we should continue to follow the trajectory that we have agreed upon. The ambition and the drive are there, but it is too early now.'

The ED report adds that if he does take the job then he will be assisted by a more experienced coach, with Fred Rutten being lined up for that role.

The 59-year-old was PSV boss between 2009 and 2012, having been the club's assistant manager earlier in the decade, and was most recently at the helm of Belgian side Anderlecht who he left in April 2019.