Ruud van Nistelrooy has joined the Netherlands national team coaching staff as an assistant to Ronald Koeman. The former striker signed his contract and starts on February 1, 2026. He will help prepare the team for the World Cup later that year. The Dutch football association confirmed the news today.
Van Nistelrooy brings a lot of experience to the role. He scored over 150 goals for Manchester United and won titles at PSV and Real Madrid. For the Netherlands, he played 70 times and scored 35 goals.
He retired in 2012. Coaching came next. He started with youth teams at PSV. Then he took the senior job there for a season. After that, he joined Manchester United as an assistant under Erik ten Hag. He even managed the team for a short spell when ten Hag left.
Koeman has built a strong staff already. His brother Erwin and Wim Jonk are assistants too. Adding van Nistelrooy gives more attacking know-how. The team needs to sharpen up front after mixed results lately.
They reached the Nations League finals but want to do better at the World Cup. The tournament is in the US, Canada and Mexico. Qualification starts soon.
The move makes sense for van Nistelrooy. He has talked about wanting to work with the national team one day. At 49, he has time to learn from Koeman. The head coach led the side to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals. Now the focus shifts to 2026. Players like Virgil van Dijk, Frenkie de Jong and Cody Gakpo form a solid base. Young talents keep coming through.
Fans seem happy with the appointment. Social media posts welcome him back to the Oranje setup. Many remember his goals in the orange shirt. Some say his finishing tips will help the strikers. Memphis Depay and others could benefit.
Van Nistelrooy left his last club role recently. He had a short time as interim at United and then moved on. This job lets him work part-time around family. The national team gathers for camps and matches, not every day.
Koeman spoke about the addition in a short statement. He said van Nistelrooy knows what it takes to win at the top. His playing career speaks for itself. The staff will work on tactics and player development.
The Netherlands have a friendly coming up soon. Van Nistelrooy might join for that. Full focus turns to World Cup qualifiers after. The group draw happens later this year.
This hire shows the association plans ahead. They want experience around Koeman. Van Nistelrooy fits well. He understands Dutch football from his playing days.
Players will meet the new assistant in February. Training starts then. The road to the World Cup is long. But steps like this build the team.
Van Nistelrooy has stayed out of the spotlight lately. He lives quietly with his family. This role brings him back to the game he loves. Fans look forward to seeing his input on the pitch. The Oranje have talent. With good coaching, they can go far in 2026. Van Nistelrooy’s arrival adds to the hope.
