Former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is set to return to the Netherlands national team setup after being appointed as assistant coach to Ronald Koeman in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup.
The 49-year-old, who scored 35 goals in 70 appearances for the Oranje during his playing career, will bring added experience to the Dutch coaching staff as the national side prepares for its World Cup campaign.
Van Nistelrooy described his return as a source of pride, saying it was a huge honour to once again represent the Netherlands alongside the current staff and a talented group of players. The former striker, who coached Leicester City in the Premier League last season, highlighted the challenge ahead as an exciting one.
Head coach Ronald Koeman welcomed the appointment, noting that van Nistelrooy’s experience at the highest level, both as a player and as a coach, would be a valuable asset during a major tournament cycle.
The Netherlands came through their qualifying group unbeaten, with their only dropped points coming from two draws against Poland. At the World Cup, the Dutch have been drawn in a group featuring Japan and Tunisia, with the final spot to be decided between Poland, Ukraine, Sweden and Albania.
At the previous World Cup in 2022, the Netherlands were eliminated in the quarter-finals after a dramatic and ill-tempered penalty shoot-out defeat against eventual champions Argentina.
Van Nistelrooy’s return is seen as part of a broader effort to strengthen the national team’s preparation as the Oranje aim to challenge deep into the tournament in 2026.
