Ruud Van Nistelrooy, The Perfect Manager For West Ham

West Ham sit 14th after 11 games under the new management of Julen Lopetegui, but poor form continues to put pressure on the Spanish manager. West Ham moved on from long time boss David Moyes at the end of last season and appointed Europa League veteran and former Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui to boost their hopes of reaching a European spot once again. But 11 games into the season, it's not looking good  for hill. With poor, lacklustre performances, and unattractive play from the Hammers, pressure is building quickly on Lopetegui’s shoulders, and questions are beginning to be asked. Many believe had Lopetegui’s side not perform better in the next few games, and continue to lose winnable games, the Spaniard could face the boot, and West Ham will look to another man to lead the Hammers into battle. Many names have been put forward by fans, and pundits as to who they think will be the best appointment for the Hammers had Lopetegui leave, such as Graham Potter, and a potential return for David Moyes. But I believe one option in particular stands out, and has massively gone under the radar. After the sacking of Erik Ten Hag, former United striker, Ruud Van Nistelrooy took over for 4 games as interim before the arrival of Ruben Amorim, and put up an impressing showing in his 4 games in charge of Man United, making him a prime candidate for the West Ham job if it becomes vacant. But not only does his brief stint at United stand out, but his cup winning season at PSV during 2022/23, defending their KNVB Dutch cup, beating Ajax on penalties. Van Nistelrooy won 34, drew 8 and lost 8 during his year at PSV, and won the Dutch cup before leaving with 1 game left in the season, but not only does his success outline why he would be the perfect candidate for the Hammers job, but his playing style. Currently under Lopetegui, West Ham play a rather slow build up, defensive style of play, making their attacking threat bleak despite all of the weapons they possess upfront, but there's no better manager to coach a dual attacking force than Ruud Van Nistelrooy. What makes Ruud the perfect candidate overall for the job, is his versatility and ability to read the field when coaching, like we saw at United, alternating between a 4-3-3 and a 4-2-3-1, which is perfect for the Hammers personnel. With weapons like Bowen, Summerville, and Fullkrug, Van Nistelrooy would have no problem at all switching up the tactics, with deep personnel in each position, making it simple for him to manoeuvre the team in different styles of play. Unlike Potter and Moyes, Nistelrooy has something to prove, and a hunger to show