The newly appointed manager of Leicester City, Ruud van Nistelrooy, has revealed that he had a candid discussion with the head coach of Manchester United, Ruben Amorim, before he departed from Old Trafford in November.
The conversation has taken on added significance for Ruud van Nistelrooy, particularly as he reflects on the events that led to his exit from United, a club where he has deep ties both personally and professionally.
Even though he has now landed a new job at Leicester City, Van Nistelrooy did not shy away from sharing his feelings of being “hurt” and “disappointed” after being dismissed from his assistant coaching role at Old Trafford.
Recall that following the sacking of Erik ten Hag as the manager of Manchester United, Van Nistelrooy was appointed as interim manager.
Upon Amorim’s arrival at Manchester United, Van Nistelrooy was not incorporated into the new coaching setup, a decision that left him feeling sidelined.
Reacting to his exit from Manchester United ahead of Leicester City’s clash with West Ham at 9:15 p.m. later tonight, which is his first game in charge of the Foxes, the Dutch tactician said, “The moment I took over the interim job, I made it clear that I was here to assist United and intended to stay on for that purpose. This commitment was genuine, and I felt an attachment to the club.
“Thus, it was truly disappointing for me, and it hurts to have had to leave in this manner.”
Van Nistelrooy also emphasized that the only position he would have accepted as an assistant manager would have been at Manchester United, given his strong connections with the staff and the passionate fanbase. “Ultimately, I managed to come to terms with the situation because I recognised the position of the new manager. As a fellow manager myself, I can appreciate the dynamics of the situation I was in and understand the decision-making process behind it.”
Furthermore, he lauded the interaction he had with Amorim, appreciating the opportunity to speak “man to man, person to person, manager to manager.”