Van Nistelrooy, who joined United’s coaching team last summer with fellow assistant Rene Hake, took on the head coach role temporarily when Erik ten Hag was dismissed in October due to a poor start to the season.
The Dutchman managed four matches across all competitions, remaining unbeaten with three wins and a draw. ..Continue Reading
Reports suggest that United players wanted the 48-year-old to stay at the club as their ‘connector’ after he made a strong impression on the leadership group, who valued his communication skills.
However, new head coach Ruben Amorim opted not to include Van Nistelrooy in his backroom staff, a decision that left the former United striker “hurt” and “disappointed” after discussions with the Portuguese coach.
“The moment I took over the interim job, what I said was I’m here to help United and to stay to help United, and I meant it. So I was disappointed, very much so, and it hurt I had to leave,” said Van Nistelrooy in December.
“I spoke to Ruben about it, fair enough to him. I was grateful for the conversation: man to man, person to person, manager to manager. That helped me a lot to move on and straightaway get into talks about new possibilities which of course lifted my spirits.”
Three months later and Van Nistelrooy will be on the Old Trafford touchline again on Friday but this time as Leicester City boss.
Ahead of the FA Cup fourth round game, Ruben Amorim was asked about his decision to let Van Nistelrooy go, despite his experience.
“It was not a difficult situation, because it was so clear for me, I just had to explain,” Amorim said. “He is a man of football and he understands this situation. I have my team and my staff. I prefer to work with a team that brought me here.
“I could keep Ruud because it was a good thing for me or a popular thing to do. But I will not put Ruud in front of my guys, no matter what.
“‘Then I had to put a person like Ruud in the end of the hierarchy on my staff, and I think that was not fair on Ruud.
“To show respect to Ruud, I was really clear with him. I explained I have my team and I will continue the same way, and I will not put a guy like Ruud, a legend of this club, in the end of the hierarchy in the staff.
“So was the clear decision, really simple to explain, and he took it like a class guy as he is.”
Both Van Nistelrooy and Ten Hag have a better record than him at Man United this campaign; something Amorim responded to in the press conference.
“They were better than me in training this team. It’s really hard because I’m a really proud guy, but I take this normally,” he said.
“It’s not awkward. He (Van Nistelrooy) knew the team and he worked with the team. I made some decisions that are really hard, to sometimes create problems, friction in the team.”
Amorim added: “I’m trying to help the players see the game the way I see, to improve the performance, and also the results.”
