Former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has been confirmed by the Dutch FA (KNVB) as the new Netherlands assistant coach when Guus Hiddink takes charge for a second spell after the World Cup.
Van Nistelrooy, 37, who scored 35 goals in 70 international appearances for the Oranje, will be joined by current Netherlands assistant coach Danny Blind, whose son Daley plays for the national team.
Hiddink, 67, who led the Netherlands to the quarterfinals of Euro '96 and the semifinals of the 1998 World Cup, announced that he would replace Louis van Gaal back on March 1 and the KNVB has now confirmed that he has signed a two-year deal commencing Aug. 1.
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caption: Van Nistelrooy is the joint-fourth highest goalscorer in the Netherlands' history with 35 goals
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“I am honoured to return as coach of the Dutch national team,” Hiddink told the KNVB website. “Danny Blind and Ruud van Nistelrooy will make a solid team with a lot of football knowledge and experience.”
Hiddink has been working as an advisor at PSV since resigning from his post as manager of Anzhi Makhachkala last July but is ready to return to international duties after spells in charge of Australia, South Korea and Russia.
“With Hiddink we have a home-grown Dutch coach with a wealth of international experience and successes,” said Netherlands sporting director Bert van Oostveen. “Both the clubs and the associations where he has worked, he has proven his ability as a trainer.
“With van Nistelrooy, we add another former international football player to the staff. Ruud fits in with the series of contemporaries Frank de Boer, Phillip Cocu and Patrick Kluivert. It goes without saying that we have a lot of faith in this coaching staff.”
Hiddink will take on the Dutch baton for Euro 2016 qualifying with the possibility of a further two years for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.