PSV, one of the big threesome of Dutch football, have parted ways with their head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy. The guy who used to score goals for Real Madrid, PSV and Manchester United has got off to a promising managerial career at PSV’s youth academy and then the first team. However, the club from Eindhoven announced on Wednesday the coach is gone without citing any reason. There is another game left until the end of the season, a game that could make or break the campaign – but Ruud won’t be there to lead the red-and-whites.Van Nistelrooy’s career at PSV got off to a shaky start off the pitch – and it’s how it’s been all the way through. When Roger Schmidt decided to leave PSV after two years and join Benfica towards the end of the last season, Director of Football Marcel Brands and technical director John de Jong convinced then-academy coach Van Nistelrooy to step up and take over the first team. Even though the 46-year-old former Dutch international was reluctant, he ultimately said yes.Ruud van Nistelrooy’s PSV managerial career by numbers:◉ 51 games◉ 33 wins◉ 8 defeats◎ 126 goals◎ 60 conceded◉ 2 trophiesRuud has decided to leave after one season. 🧐 pic.twitter.com/59V5NSbTQL— Squawka (@Squawka) May 24, 2023 It started well enough as the team looked capable of competing for the top spots in the Eredivisie. Ruud was instrumental in bringing Luuk de Jong and young Xavi Simons to the club.However, setbacks started to hamper Van Nistelrooy’s progress soon. The first big blow as missing out on UEFA Champions League group stage qualification. The loss to Rangers meant the club wouldn’t feature in the strongest European competition and would miss out on around $20 million of additional prize money.The problems didn’t stop there. John de Jong was sacked in mid-September after a dispute with the club’s supervisory board. At the time, Van Nistelrooy publicly criticised the board for removing the director while they were preparing for the mid-season transfer window. When January came, the club betrayed their coach by selling two important players, Cody Gakpo and Noni Madueke. PSV were top of the table at that point, but now must take at least a point at AZ Alkmaar to remain second in the table ahead of Ajax and get a chance to play in the UCL qualifications again.##NAJAVA_MECA_7281393##On Tuesday night, Ruud and the board had a meeting, after which they said they are preparing for the pivotal game in Alkmaar on the last day of the season, but the next morning – something was broken. There was no confidence among the characters of this story.Ruud van Nistelrooy was spent by the board, who clearly didn’t back him enough in the bid to win what would have been a sensational title in the Netherlands. Now, Feyenoord have lifted the title, and PSV have no head coach.
