Ruud van Nistelrooy is returning to international coaching. The Dutch Football Association KNVB announced that the 49-year-old former world-class striker will work as an assistant coach for national team coach Ronald Koeman starting February 1st. Van Nistelrooy is set to support the 'Elftal' in preparing for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. This will be his third time on the national team's coaching staff, having previously held this role between 2014 and 2016, and during Euro 2021.
However, there are worries at Newcastle United. The Swiss defender Fabian Schär successfully underwent surgery on his left foot in London on Thursday. According to coach Eddie Howe, the 86-time national player is expected to be out for about three months. Schär himself sounded optimistic, stating that the prognosis is better than initially feared. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain if he will play again this season for the sixth-placed team in the Premier League.
In the Bundesliga, Marin Ljubicic is a topic of discussion at 1. FC Union Berlin. The Croatian forward, who barely played in the first half of the season, recently saved the team from the Köpenick district a point each with late 'Joker' goals against Mainz and Augsburg. This performance boost could now have major consequences: A loan, including to FC Schalke 04, was originally planned for the winter break. Given the recent successes, however, manager Horst Heldt stressed that the club will now re-evaluate internally whether the striker will be transferred or remain in the squad as a valuable alternative.
