Former Man Utd coach says he would return to the club if Ruud van Nistelrooy was in charge

A former Manchester United coach would be open to making a surprise return to the club if Ruud van Nistelrooy was to become manager.

Erik ten Hag is battling to save his job after a difficult start to the 2024/25 campaign that has featured a winless run of four games.

It looks like Sunday's Premier League clash against Aston Villa will prove pivotal for Ten Hag following Thursday night's 3-3 draw against FC Porto in the Europa League.

In fact, United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to be in attendance for this weekend's clash at Villa Park, with the club's hierarchy set to meet on Tuesday.

Speaking to the BBC this week, Ratcliffe refused to give Ten Hag assurances over his future.

"I like Erik. I think he's a very good coach but at the end of the day it's not my call," he said. "It's the management team that's running Manchester United that have to decide how we best run the team in many different respects."

Ahead of this weekend's fixture, former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen opened up on the current situation at Old Trafford during a guest appearance on Sam Allardyce’s No Tippy Tappy Football podcast.

Meulensteen, who worked under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford from 2007 to 2013, touched on a number of subjects, including Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Having been appointed as Ten Hag's assistant in the summer, Van Nistelrooy has been linked with the manager's job.

And during the podcast, Meulensteen said he would be open to joining the club if the former United striker was handed the top job.

"Ruud and I know each other really well because I worked with him and always stayed in touch,” Meulensteen said. “I rate him highly, I think he jumped the ship at PSV a little bit too soon, he was doing really well.

“I always feel if I jump into a job, I want to make sure that I'd be able to make a difference, not to make up the numbers.

"I also have to make sure not to kick myself because if I go back into Manchester United, I would walk back into something I probably wouldn't recognise."

Image credit: Getty

He added: “In those six years that I was the first team coach at Manchester United. I loved every minute of it, I didn't feel any negative pressure any day when I was driving up to Carrington, and that was totally down to the man management of Sir Alex Ferguson and how much he trusted us with what we were doing.

"If Ruud would come calling, you would help him of course you would, you would talk to him and say, ‘Okay what can I do for you?’”