MANCHESTER: Ruud van Nilsteroy now gets a second chance to help Manchester United win the Premier League again.
When he left the Old Trafford club with 150 goals in 219 appearances, Van Nilsteroy helped United win the 2002-03 Premier League, 2003-04 FA Cup and 2005-06 League Cup.
After 18 years, Van Nilsterooy returned to Old Trafford to help hone United’s existing attacking prowess as he once did for Alex Ferguson’s side.
The former PSV Eindhoven manager rejected offers to fill the same position at several clubs including Burnley.
He instead chose to return to United and redeem his reputation after parting ways in unpleasant ways.
“My wife suggested that I send Ferguson a message to see if he would like to talk, and he said: ‘Okay, call me on this date and time.’
“I then contacted him and apologized for what had happened,” said Van Nilsteroy.
In the League Cup final at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, Man United beat Wigan 4-0, but it led to a move for the Dutch striker.
Ferguson opted to pair Wayne Rooney and Louis Saha up front, and after the final substitute was introduced, Van Nilsterooy realized he would not be in action, and vented his anger at the United manager.
Ferguson was shocked by Van Nilsteroy’s actions and the striker was sold to Real Madrid at the end of the season for 10.2 million pounds.