La Liga champions Real Madrid have reportedly set their sights on 46-year-old Dutch manager Ruud van Nistelrooy as their future manager.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Ruud van Nistelrooy has popped up on Real Madrid’s radar as a possible future appointment as their manager. The reigning La Liga champions are monitoring his progress at PSV Eindhoven, with the Dutch manager one of several options in their crosshairs.
Ruud van Nistelrooy was a legendary footballer who enjoyed fruitful stints with PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, and Real Madrid, among other clubs. The 46-year-old was a pivotal figure for each of those three clubs and won numerous trophies while being one of the best strikers of his generation.
Since retiring as a professional footballer a decade ago following a short stint with Malaga, van Nistelrooy has entered the world of management. The Dutch tactician has had two spells as an assistant head coach for the Netherlands while also serving as the manager for PSV Eindhoven’s under-19 and reserve teams.
The 46-year-old is getting his first taste of first-team level management at the onset of the 2022/23 season. And he has started his stint superbly, with PSV Eindhoven strongly beginning the new campaign. Under van Nistelrooy’s tutelage, the Dutch giants are yet to taste defeat in six games, with the latest result a 2-2 draw in the UEFA Champions League qualification play-off tie with Rangers.
While it is still early days for van Nistelrooy as a first-team manager, he has already captured the attention of one of his former clubs during his professional career. The Dutch tactician has alerted Real Madrid, who will closely monitor his progress in the coming years by keeping tabs on his work at PSV Eindhoven.
The reigning La Liga champions have reportedly compiled a shortlist of candidates to identify Carlo Ancelotti’s successor, with several managers emerging on their radar. According to Defensa Central, several former Real Madrid players, including Alvaro Arbeloa, Raul Gonzalez, Xabi Alonso, and Guti, also feature on their wishlist.
The latest candidate for Real Madrid is van Nistelrooy, with the interest in the 46-year-old coming in the wake of recent comments by Ancelotti. The Real Madrid manager has claimed that he will retire from football management when his current stint with Los Blancos ends.
It will be interesting to see how van Nistelrooy progresses as a manager during his stint with PSV Eindhoven. Real Madrid will be monitoring his work closely, and the 46-year-old Dutch manager might well be a candidate to become a future manager for the Merengues.
