The Dutch football association (KNVB) released a statement today naming former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy one of the Netherlands national team assistant coaches.
Van Nistelrooy played at numerous European clubs, but the striker’s longest stint was with Manchester United where he made 150 appearances while tallying 95 goals.
He will work under new Dutch coach Guus Hiddink and alongside Danny Blind. In a predetermined plan, Blind will succeed Hiddink as Dutch coach in 2018.
Hiddink, who last coached the Russian Premier League club Anzhi Makhachkala, is the most successful club coach ever within Holland.
The 67-year-old Dutch boss won six Eredivisie titles, four KNVB Cups, the 1988 European Cup and a Dutch Supercup while managing PSV Eindhoven in two separate stints. He was also national team coach from 1995-98 and led his side to a semi-final finish during the 1998 World Cup.
Hiddink has also managed Real Madrid and Chelsea (where he won the 2009 FA Cup), and directed South Korea and Australia during the 2002 and 2006 World Cups respectively.
Joining Hiddink, Blind and van Nistelrooy on the staff will be Patrick Lodewijks; who will replace Frans Hoek (who joined Louis van Gaal at Manchester United).
Former Dutch internationals Pierre van Hooijdonk, Aron Winter, Sonny Silooy and Michael Reiziger have been appointed to the national junior teams.
Patrick Kluivert, who most recently worked under Louis van Gaal, has departed the national team.
