Ruud van Nistelrooy is set to lock horns with Frank Lampard as the pair of Premier League legends battle it out to become Coventry City’s new manager.
Sky Blues supporters were dealt an unfortunate shock when Mark Robins, the third longest-serving manager in English football, was shown the door after an underwhelming start to the season.
According to reports, Van Nistelrooy has thrown his name in the hat for the Coventry job – applying for the role just four days after leaving Manchester United.
The Dutchman returned to Manchester as Erik ten Hag‘s assistant earlier this year and following the latter’s dismissal, there was no place for Van Nistelrooy among Ruben Amorim’s backroom staff.
The 48-year-old can follow in the footsteps of Tom Cleverley, Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick as a former United player to manage in the Championship.
According to the best football betting sites, Van Nistelrooy is the 4/7 odds-on favourite for the job – but he has interim England manager Lee Carsley to compete with as well as Lampard.
Carsley played for Coventry across two spells from 2000-2002 and 2010-2011 and managed the club as a caretaker in 2012 and 2013, so the connection is certainly there.
As for Lampard, he boasts valuable Premier League experience with Chelsea and Everton – as well as a great spell with Derby County in England’s second tier, reaching the play-off final in 2019.
Next Coventry City Manager Odds
- Ruud van Nistelrooy 4/7
- Lee Carsley 5/2
- Frank Lampard 3/1
- Matt Bloomfield 18/1
- Nicky Butt 25/1
- Rhys Carr 25/1
- Robbie Keane 25/1
🚨 EXCL: Understand Ruud van Nistelrooy has applied for the Coventry City job.
Coventry have a shortlist of managers they’re considering to appoint, pending final managerial decision. pic.twitter.com/WBcWZIYahF
— Sam C (@SamC_reports) November 15, 2024
Is Ruud van Nistelrooy the man to take Coventry City forward?
It’s hard to know where Van Nistelrooy’s limitations lie as a manager. He does have a good stint as PSV boss on his resume, where he won the Johan Cruyff Shield and KNVB Cup in his first season in charge.
He left the club on sour terms at the end of that campaign, citing a lack of support from the board – and only returned to the coaching fold in July as Ten Hag’s assistant at Old Trafford.
Van Nistelrooy led United to three wins and a draw during his four-game spell as interim manager and there appears to be a decent bit of upside in this proposed appointment by Coventry.
