Ruud van Nistelrooy, the former Manchester United striker and newly appointed interim manager, led his team to a thrilling 5-2 victory over Leicester City at Old Trafford. It was a moment of pure celebration for the Dutchman, as he returned to the scene of many of his greatest achievements, this time not as a goal-scoring machine but as the leader from the sidelines.
At the final whistle, van Nistelrooy extended a respectful handshake to his Leicester counterpart, Steve Cooper, before heading purposefully toward the center circle. After warmly greeting his players and the match officials, he shared a particularly heartfelt hug with two-goal hero Casemiro, whose powerful performance in midfield contributed significantly to United’s victory.
Then came the walk to the Stretford End, where van Nistelrooy celebrated so many of his 150 goals for the club during his five-year tenure. Now, as the manager, he raised his fists in jubilation in front of the iconic stand, savoring every moment of his managerial debut.
In a pre-match interview with Sky Sports, van Nistelrooy set out his intentions to play an attacking style of football that would thrill the fans. “We want to get a lot of the ball, attack and try to give the fans a good night,” he said.
And that’s precisely what he delivered. With this victory, van Nistelrooy has not only made a statement about his leadership qualities but also captured the hearts of the United faithful, who hope this win is a sign of brighter days ahead under their former legend.
