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In the search for a trainer for next season, Club Brugge has spoken to Ruud van Nistelrooij (47). The former top striker has been without a club since his departure from PSV.
Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 3:00 AM
Ruud van Nistelrooij is a household name in European football. As a player he made his name at PSV, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Oranje, where he was a teammate of Antwerp coach Mark van Bommel. He is known as one of the best strikers of the last twenty years. After his retirement, Van Nistelrooij became a coach: first he was an assistant with the Dutch national team, and in 2016 he started with the youth of PSV.
It was also in Eindhoven that Van Nistelrooy took the step to become head coach. After joining Jong PSV, Van Nistelrooij moved up to the A-team in 2022. He won the Dutch Cup and the Super Cup. Yet there was still a lot of criticism of his appointment, including internally. When it emerged that PSV players had complained to the bosses about Van Nistelrooij, he decided to quit because there was insufficient support for further cooperation.
Since then, Van Nistelrooij, who was in the picture at Heerenveen, among others, has not worked anywhere. In the Netherlands it is heard that he wants to relaunch his career, provided that the picture is right. Club could be attractive for van Nistelrooij: it is a well-run top club close to home. Moreover, Van Bommel has proven at Antwerp that Belgium can be the ideal place to put yourself back on the map.
Geraert’s top candidate?
Club has already had discussions with Van Nistelrooij, but he should not count himself rich yet. Blauw-zwart is currently exploring the entire trainer market. It is likely that there were other candidates for coffee. In principle, Club has time: it only needs a definitive successor for Ronny Deila after the European Championship.
Who is certainly also on the Bruges radar is Karel Geraerts (42) – there was already contact. According to some sources, he is at the top of the Club’s shortlist. In principle, Geraerts is still under contract with Schalke 04, but the ex-Union coach has not been without criticism in recent months.
