Ruud van Nistelrooy Set to Return to Netherlands Coaching Staff Ahead of World Cup

The Netherlands national football association revealed on Friday that ex-Manchester United forward and Dutch star Ruud van Nistelrooy is coming back to the coaching team as preparations for the World Cup intensify.

Now 49, the player who netted 35 times in 70 appearances for his country, will assist head coach Ronald Koeman while the Oranje gear up for their tournament campaign.

The ex-striker, who managed Leicester City in the Premier League during the previous season, commented, "It is an immense privilege and an exciting opportunity to resume this position with the Netherlands, working alongside this coaching group and a skilled squad of players."

Koeman expressed enthusiasm about benefiting from van Nistelrooy's "extensive experience in major tournaments, gained both on the pitch and in coaching roles."

The Netherlands progressed flawlessly through their qualification phase without a loss, with the sole setbacks being stalemates against Poland at home and on the road.

In the World Cup group stage, they will face Japan, Tunisia, and the qualifier emerging from the group featuring Poland, Ukraine, Sweden, and Albania.

During the 2022 tournament, the Dutch were eliminated in the quarter-finals via a penalty shootout against Lionel Messi's Argentina, following a heated clash in Qatar.