Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy will perhaps be relieved that he left Manchester United much earlier after his replacement became the latest man to follow Erik ten Hag out of the club.
United confirmed that legendary striker Ruud van Nistelrooy will not be staying at the club on Monday after his four-game stint as interim manager with new coach Ruben Amorim preferring to bring in his own backroom staff.
There had been hope that Van Nistelrooy would be given a stay of execution at United after steadying the ship well by winning three and drawing one of his four games but that was not to be as the club confirmed that he will leave alongside other Dutch coaches who were working under former manager Ten Hag.
What did Man United say about Van Nistelrooy?
“Manchester United can confirm that Ruud van Nistelrooy has left the club. Ruud rejoined in the summer and has taken charge of the team for the past four matches as interim head coach,” United said via a statement.
“Ruud is, and always will be, a Manchester United legend. We are grateful for his contribution and the way in which he has approached his role throughout his time with the club. He will always be very welcome at Old Trafford.
“Rene Hake, Jelle ten Rouwelaar and Pieter Morel have also departed and we wish them all well for the future. We will confirm the full men’s first team coaching composition in due course.”
Benni will be relieved that he left much earlier
Van Nistelrooy joined United in the summer, signing a two-year contract, to work as Ten Hag’s assistant, with the former Ajax coach shaking up his backroom staff in a bid to improve his team’s fortunes.
McCarthy was among those who were dropped, having spent the last two years as the club’s attacking coach, and Van Nistelrooy was viewed as the man who took his job given he is also a former striker.
Now, the Dutchman has lasted just four months in the job after the dynamics in the dugout changed and he will join McCarthy in the cold as they search for new opportunities.
