'I would have walked' - Ruud van Nistelrooy told he should have left Man Utd with Erik ten Hag

Former striker claims decision to remain at Old Trafford after is not one he would have made if put in the same position.

Van Nistelrooy only joined United's coaching staff over the summer as part of a revamp, serving under Ten Hag for the first three months of the season. , though, with the club confirming his appointment when announcing the sacking of Ten Hag after .

has emerged as United's top target to take over as the next permanent manager at Old Trafford, with talks progressing quickly and . And, while he recognises Van Nistelrooy has "nothing to lose" by taking over, Yorke says he would have done things differently.

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"If Ruud goes in there and steadies the ship, starts to get United playing good football, then who knows what could happen," Yorke told . "I'm sure it’s a possibility (that Ruud van Nistelrooy is appointed permanently) if the results go well and everybody is saying, ‘Give it to Ruud.’ We saw it happen before with Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer], so it could certainly happen again.

"I would have walked if I was Ruud, because I see how people will look at it. When he was appointed to Erik Ten Hag’s coaching staff, I think this was the scenario that a lot of people saw coming.

"Ruud has nothing to lose by taking the job. He’s put himself in the conversation for the role permanently by taking it on an interim basis, because lets be honest, if he wasn’t at the club, he wouldn’t be in the conversation."

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Speaking to in September, former United striker Van Nistelrooy said it was "100% the right decision" to return to Old Trafford more than a decade after last playing for the club. "I felt a strong feeling that I want to help build United – little by little – back to where we feel and know where the club should be.

"I was on the managerial track. I managed PSV – an unbelievable experience – and I was in talks with clubs to manage, and I love it. I had my staff all ready, and then I had a phone call. I was like, ‘Jeez’. I never thought of it as a possibility.

"Erik called me. I said I had to think about it, but I immediately felt, ‘Wow’. I started to love the idea. Especially the big picture where it’s a new start with the new ownership and leadership. A phase where you start to rebuild and be a part of it.”

Van Nistelrooy's compatriot Ronald de Boer has already given an indication of the interim boss' style. "I like Ruud as a person and I like how he conducts himself. But what I really like about Van Nistelrooy is that he is not naive," the former Netherlands star told in 2022.

"He knows that if his team is not as strong as their opponent then they have to make sure they make it difficult for them. If you can't win, don't lose.

"Ruud is searching for the best team to play with the philosophy that he has. He will always want his side to play attractive football and try to dominate the game. But if that is not possible he is realistic."

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