Ruud van Nistelrooy reveals the most valuable coaching trait Sir Alex Ferguson taught him... as the legendary Dutchman prepares for his first season back at Manchester United
- Ruud Van Nistelrooy will serve as one of Erik ten Hag's assistants at Man United
- Dutchman reflected on how his experiences as a player shaped coaching style
- Van Nistelrooy spent five seasons under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford
Ruud van Nistelrooy has identified the one coaching quality he learned from Sir Alex Ferguson that he hopes to emulate at Old Trafford.
Van Nistelrooy enjoyed five successful years with United during his playing career, instantly establishing himself as one of the Premier League's most fearsome forwards upon his arrival.
The Dutchman won all domestic trophies available to him in Manchester, netting 150 goals in all competitions before leaving for Real Madrid in 2006 amidst growing tensions with Sir Alex.
After hanging up his boots, Van Nistelrooy would apologise to his former manager and has since embarked on his own coaching career.
Last month United confirmed the 48-year-old would return to Old Trafford to serve as one of his compatriot Erik ten Hag's assistants as part of the club's new-look backroom staff.
Ruud van Nistelrooy has detailed how his experiences as a player have shaped his coaching style
The Dutchman recently returned to Old Trafford in a coaching role nearly two decades after first departing the club
Van Nistelrooy netted 150 goals in all competitions during his five years at United
Reflecting on how the experiences of his playing career have shaped his perspective as a coach, the former PSV boss named a particular quality possessed by both Ferguson and Sir Bobby Robson, who he played under early in his career.
'The most important thing I took from working with Sir Bobby Robson and Sir Alex Ferguson was their relationships with the individual.' Van Nistelrooy told The Guardian.
'It’s not a football player; it’s a person. When you reach that connection, you get the best out of people – and from there on you can help them build their careers. I never let that thought go out of my mind.
'Sometimes you have to be tough on them and sometimes you have to get your arm around them. That mixture is important, but the most important thing is to always be honest and straight.
'When you have knowledge about the game and what is necessary at the highest level, you must share it.
Despite maintaining an often fractious relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson, Van Nistelrooy hailed the Scotsman's man management skills
'As a coach, you just try to help players reach their goals. And it is something that makes you feel really proud when you see young players develop.'
Much like United, rivals Liverpool have also undergone a period of transition this summer after Jurgen Klopp stepped down after nine glittering years in the Anfield dugout.
Arne Slot has been entrusted with the unenviable task of continuing Klopp's heroics on Merseyside this season but Van Nistelrooy insisted his fellow Dutchman can replicate his Eredivisie successes in the Premier League.
'In the Eredivisie, I loved going up against Slot.' Van Nistelrooy continued. '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.
Van Nistelrooy also backed new Liverpool boss Arne Slot to continue his success in the Premier League
'But you also need to get your buildup sorted, because it’s high and intense pressure in your own half. Slot makes you prepare every game properly, but I loved that challenge.
'He has proven himself and his idea in Holland, and I am sure he can be very successful abroad as well.'
