Ruud van Nistelrooy, the Manchester United legend, is set to join the Netherlands national team's coaching staff as an assistant coach under Ronald Koeman. The announcement, made on Friday, January 16, 2026, confirms Van Nistelrooy's return to the Oranje, with his duties commencing on February 1. He will be assisting Koeman in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Van Nistelrooy brings a wealth of experience to the role, both as a player and a coach. As a player, he was a prolific striker, scoring 150 goals in 219 games for Manchester United. He also had successful spells at PSV Eindhoven and Real Madrid. His international record is equally impressive, with 35 goals in 70 appearances for the Netherlands.
After retiring as a player, Van Nistelrooy transitioned into coaching, starting with PSV's youth teams. He then served as an assistant to Guus Hiddink with the Netherlands national team from 2014 to 2015. More recently, he gained experience as a head coach, leading PSV to a nearly 65% win rate between 2022 and 2023. He also had a brief stint as interim coach for Manchester United in 2024. Before joining the Netherlands national team, Van Nistelrooy was manager of Leicester City.
Van Nistelrooy expressed his enthusiasm for his new role. "It is a huge honour to return to the Dutch team," he said. "The fact that this is happening on the stage of a World Cup makes it even more special". He added, "With my experience in various roles, including that of assistant, I know that this position is also a good fit for me. I look forward to fulfilling this role in a meaningful way and contributing to a successful tournament".
The Netherlands have been drawn into Group F for the 2026 World Cup. Their opponents will be Japan, Tunisia, and either Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, or Albania. The team will begin their World Cup campaign against Japan on June 14 in Arlington, Texas. In preparation for the World Cup, the Netherlands are scheduled to play warm-up friendlies against Norway and Ecuador in March.
The appointment of Van Nistelrooy is seen as a significant boost for the Netherlands as they aim to win their first World Cup title. Despite being a strong European team and having reached three World Cup finals, they have yet to lift the trophy. With a blend of experienced and young players, and the addition of Van Nistelrooy to the coaching staff, the Netherlands hope to surprise many at the tournament in North America.
