Ruud van Nistelrooy becomes shock contender to replace ex-England manager in job

Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy is one of the leading contenders to take a surprise managerial role back in English football, it has been reported.

Van Nistelrooy was appointed to United's coaching staff under Erik ten Hag at the beginning of last season, before taking caretaker charge after the Dutchman was sacked.

The former striker chose to leave Old Trafford following the appointment of Ruben Amorim, and subsequently spent an unsuccessful spell at Leicester City.

Van Nistelrooy was sacked at the end of last season after the Foxes were relegated, and has since joined up with the Netherlands coaching staff under Ronald Koeman as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup.

Van Nistelrooy was in charge of relegated Leicester City last season (Image: Getty)

But the 49-year-old is being considered for a surprise return to English football.

Van Nistelrooy linked with return to England

He been priced by talkSPORT as one of the leading contenders to take the vacant Bristol City job.

The Robins sacked Gerhard Struber in March and placed ex-England boss Roy Hodgson in interim charge for the rest of the season.

Hodgson, 78, has now departed his short-term role following the end of the regular Championship season and City, who finished in 12th place, are looking for Struber's permanent successor.

Ex-Rangers boss Russell Martin is currently the favourite to take the role, while Portsmouth manager John Mousinho and Steven Gerrard have also been linked.

Van Nistelrooy is priced behind those three candidates at 16/1, suggesting he has an outside - but certainly not impossible - chance of taking the reins at Ashton Gate next season.

City are one of only five teams who competed in this season's Championship - along with Millwall, Wrexham, Preston North End and Oxford United - to have not played in the top flight of English football since the formation of the Premier League in 1992, though Millwall are in the play-offs this season under Alex Neil.

The Robins last played in the old First Division in the 1979/80 season, when they were relegated with one game remaining.

Should Van Nistelrooy replace Hodgson at the helm, he would also take over from Coventry's Frank Lampard as the only ex-Premier League winner to be managing in the Championship.

The former Manchester United striker won the English top flight title once as a player, during the 2002/03 season.