Departing Man United interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has been mooted as a possible replacement for Julen Lopetegui at West Ham.
There is no lack of irony that Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy is being linked with West Ham.
Van Nistelrooy had not long returned to Old Trafford as part of Erik ten Hag’s staff before his fellow Dutchman was sacked following a 2-1 defeat at West Ham.
Now three weeks later, Van Nistelrooy is being linked with the Hammers hotseat as his Red Devils departure is confirmed.
Going into the game against Everton at the weekend, Julen Lopetegui’s job was said to be on the line.
It was billed a “must win” or certainly “must not lose” for the Spaniard.
The Athletic’s West Ham reporter Roshane Thomas and The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg even claimed ahead of the clash that Lopetegui needed a “convincing win” to save his skin.
West Ham’s players didn’t get the memo. Or if they did, they didn’t seem overly fussed either way.
Because the Hammers put in another insipid performance which had fans literally yawning and leaving early as they drew 0-0 with the Toffees.
It was a game labelled the worst the Premier League has seen this season.
Meanwhile at Old Trafford on Sunday Manchester United made light work of Leicester in an easy 3-0 victory.
Pressure has since ramped up on West Ham’s owners to sack Lopetegui.
talkSPORT duo react on Ruud van Nistelrooy to West Ham
After 13 games there is little sign of any life in east London.
A host of managers have been linked as replacements for Lopetegui in the last week.
It was also mooted by Darren Bent that Van Nistelooy may have put himself in contention for the Hammers job after winning three and drawing one of his four games in charge of Manchester United.
The Red Devils scored 11 goals in those four games and he breathed new life into their campaign.
Speculation has been rife about whether new Man United boss Ruben Amorim – who had talks with West Ham about replacing David Moyes earlier this year – would keep Van Nistelrooy on his staff.
Now a talkSPORT duo have reacted on Van Nistelrooy to West Ham after an official Man United announcement.
In a statement on the Red Devils’ website, it has been confirmed the former PSV boss has now left Old Trafford after Amorim elected not to keep him on.
“Ruud is, and always will be, a Manchester United legend,” the club states.
“We are grateful for his contribution and the way in which he has approached his role throughout his time with the club. He will always be very welcome at Old Trafford.”
Could he go back there as West Ham boss, though?
That was the proposition being discussed by Bent and Andy Goldstein on talkSPORT in the wake of the announcement.
‘Lopetegui has to go but Potter better fit than Ruud’ says Bent
Former England striker Bent insists Lopetegui must be sacked by West Ham.
Goldstein thinks the Hammers might be tempted by Van Nistelrooy.
But the more Bent thinks about it, he’s not convinced, believing another out of work boss would be better suited to the Hammers instead.
“I suppose the question is, Ruud van Nistelrooy is a free agent, would you have him at your club?” Goldstein said on talkSPORT.
“I mean, there are sides like, for argument’s sake, West Ham, that are craving a new manager.”
Bent took Goldstein’s point and revealed he disagrees with some of his West Ham supporting friends who think Lopetegui deserves more time.
And he says Potter would be a better shout.
“Some West Ham fans that I know are saying stick with him and just keep going and see where it gets us, but I think, no, he has got to go,” Bent said.
“I think I would rather Potter than Van Nistelrooy.”
Why Van Nistelrooy could be right up West Ham’s street
For West Ham fans who aren’t sure, let’s take a look at his record as a manager.
In a year as PSV boss, Van Nistelrooy had 51 games in charge.
He ended with a fantastic win ratio of just under 65 per cent after 33 victories, 10 draws and eight defeats.
Three wins and a draw as Man United boss have only boosted those statistics.
More astonishing, though, is how attacking his teams have been.
Van Nistelrooy’s PSV side scored a whopping – wait for it – 126 goals in his year in charge. That’s 2.5 goal per game.
They ended up with a total goal difference of plus 66.
His revitalised Man United team scoring 11 in four proves that was no fluke.
So perhaps Van Nistelrooy’s name should be in the conversation given West Ham are very much looking for a manager to get them playing a more exciting and attacking brand of football.
And fast.
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