Ruud van Nistelrooy's life off-pitch - devoted wife, long-running feud and deleted photo

In a full-circle moment, has now been appointed as interim manager at - taking over from And the Dutch legend of course needs no introduction.

The former United player, who hung up his boots in 2012, returned to his old club as assistant manager over the summer, sparking whispers about whether he was preparing to take on the top job. Ruud, 48, will act as caretaker until a permanent manager is appointed, at a time when fans are longing for a bit of good fortune.

Former striker Ruud now faces a formidable task, and it's unlikely fiercely loyal United fans will go easy on him as he adjusts to the role. However, it's not as if he hasn't dealt with a fair bit of drama in his time already.

Here, the takes a look at Ruud's life away from goal-scoring, from heated feuds to a decades-long marriage that is still going strong.

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Long-running feud

In 2003, Ruud entered into a heated feud with Arsenal player Martin Keown, during the now-legendary Battle of Old Trafford. And in recent months, the old flames have been fanned once more. After a late penalty miss, Martin leapt on Ruud, in an act that sparked a chaotic mass 21-man brawl involving players from both sides. This incident marked a significant turning point in relations between Man United and , while The Association charged two United players, and Arsenal Football Club, with improper conduct.

Martin received a three-game ban, plus a hefty £20,000 fine, and it would seem that this two-decade-old rivalry hasn't quite burned out just yet. In an apparent swipe made on talkSPORT's White and Jordan show last month, Martin expressed doubt over Ruud's ability to take over from Erik ten Hag, and questioned why he'd made a return to the Theatre of Dreams.

Martin queried: "I'm looking at Van Nistelrooy. Is he giving everything to this manager? This manager looks very lonely on the sideline. Is Van Nistelrooy waiting to take over? Because it looks as if there's going to be change taking place there.

He continued: "Is everyone adding to the group? I'm not seeing that from Van Nistelrooy. Ten Hag is just sitting there, nothing going on, no conversation. Pep goes back and speaks to the gurus next to him. Is everybody looking in the mirror at themselves giving their best?"

Ibrahim Sangare's fury

PSV Eindhoven player Ibrahim Sangare was reportedly left so furious after learning Ruud was leaving the club, that he stormed out of the training ground and locked himself in his car. Shortly afterwards, the Ivorian midfielder jumped ship to .

Recounting the dramatic scenes at the time, ESPN journalist Milan von Dongen said: "They had to get him out of there to get him back. He was furious about Van Nistelrooy's departure. So there will also be talk within the group of players."

During his brief tenure with PDV, Ruud led the team to the Dutch Cup as well as a second-place finish in the Eredivisie, however, he stepped down from the role in May 2023 with immediate effect, before the final game of the season, citing a 'lack of support'.

PSV released the following statement at the time: "Van Nistelrooy told the first-team squad and coaching staff that he would be stepping down with immediate effect, due to a lack of support within the club. PSV regrets his decision and is grateful to him for winning the Johan Cruijff Shield and the Dutch Cup, and hopes to finish the season in second place."

Deleted 'Blackface'

After being appointed as United's interim manager, finally deleted an offensive social media photo which showed him wearing 'Blackface'. The photo, which dates back to 2013, shows the Dutchman dressed up as King Balthazar at the Parade of the Three Kings in Marbella, Spain, complete with black make-up.

Sharing the snaps at the time, Ruud, who wore the costume as part of a charity function, wrote: “In hospital with presents for the young and old.” reports that the post had been deleted by 4 pm on Monday, October 28, a matter of mere hours before Ruud's new post was announced.

In Ruud's home country of the Netherlands, the topic of blackface has sparked regular debate, particularly around the festive season when images of the divisive 'Zwarte Pete' - or Black Pete - crop up. A companion to St Nicholas, this figure is often depicted in blackface, with a curly wig, red lipstick, and colourful, renaissance-style clothing.

Wearing black face paint is often viewed from a slightly different perspective in the Netherlands than in the UK, where such makeup would be widely regarded as offensive. During the Euro 2024 tournament, a number of Dutch fans came under fire for dressing up as former Dutch international Ruud Gullit, even going as far as to paint their faces.

Former midfielder Gullit was reportedly not offended by the display, with Humberto Tan, a member of the committee set up to combat racism in football, explaining that these costumes had been intended as a compliment. In an interview with De Telegraaf, Humberto said: “Ruud said when he saw it: ‘I actually feel quite honoured’, because it’s a reminder of one of the biggest prizes he won as a footballer. Blackface is an unattractive phenomenon, but in this specific case, where it’s meant as a tribute, I think that’s how you should see it.”

Strong marriage

Ruud is married to his long-time sweetheart Leontien Slaats, who he's been romantically connected with since 2002. In 2004, the happy couple tied the knot in a private ceremony at the Heesch town hall, in Ruud's hometown of Oss, followed by a Catholic service.

They went on to welcome two children, Moa Annette, 18, and Liam, 16. Although they tend to keep their private life out of the spotlight, Ruud and Leontien appear to share a passion for charitable work and are both involved with SOS Children's Villages, an organisation dedicated to protecting children's rights all across the globe.

Admiration of Fergie

In a piece penned for back in August, Ruud spoke with admiration of former United boss , while offering a little insight into his personal approach to forming relationships with players.

Ruud wrote: "As a player, the most important thing I took from working with Sir Bobby Robson and Sir Alex Ferguson was their relationships with the individual. It's not a football player; it's a person. When you reach that connection, you get the best out of people – and from there on you can help them build their careers. I never let that thought go out of my mind."

He added: "As a coach, you just try to help players reach their goals. And it is something that makes you feel really proud when you see young players develop. Gakpo went on to and Noni to , but there are a couple more from that time who are now in the PSV first team. The feeling I get when I see this is comparable with winning a league, really."

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