Ruud: What I learnt from Fergie

Legendary Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy returned to Old Trafford this summer to become Erik ten Hag’s assistant manager.

Having spent five years at the club as a player, Van Nistelrooy was lucky enough to learn from the greatest of all-time, Sir Alex Ferguson, which supported in his managerial career with PSV.

Speaking to The Coaches’ Voice, Van Nistelrooy talked about the man-management he learnt from the Scotsman.

As a player, the most important thing I took from working with Sir Bobby Robson and Sir Alex Ferguson was their relationships with the individual. It’s not a football player; it’s a person. When you reach that connection, you get the best out of people – and from there on you can help them build their careers. I never let that thought go out of my mind.

Sometimes you have to be tough on them and sometimes you have to get your arm around them. That mixture is important, but the most important thing is to always be honest and straight. When you have knowledge about the game and what is necessary at the highest level, you must share it.

As a coach, you just try to help players reach their goals. And it is something that makes you feel really proud when you see young players develop. Gakpo went on to Liverpool and Noni to Chelsea, but there are a couple more from that time who are now in the PSV first team. The feeling I get when I see this is comparable with winning a league, really.

------------
The RoM Manchester United 2024-25 season preview is now available. It includes articles from the country's best football writers about our expectations for the season ahead and our brightest talents, as well as proposed transfer business and which youth players to keep an eye out for. All profit goes to The Christie so please support this fantastic cause.

The post Ruud: What I learnt from Fergie first appeared on Republik Of Mancunia: A Manchester United Blog.