A Manchester United legend is now poised to secure a Championship job ahead of Sunderland’s targeted manager.

A general view is showing the inside of Turf Moor, home to Burnley, during the Premier League match between Burnley and Nottingham Forest at Turf Moor in Burnley, England, on Sunday, May 19, 2024. (Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Will Still appeared to be Sunderland’s leading candidate after expressing interest back in December, but the 31-year-old ultimately opted to return to France with Lens.

Following this, Sunderland abandoned their pursuit of Pascal Jansen and turned their attention to Liam Rosenior shortly after Kyril Louis-Dreyfus suggested an imminent appointment.

Rosenior, the former Hull City coach, engaged in talks on Wearside and was slated for further discussions as Sunderland appeared close to finalizing their managerial selection.

However, in a familiar turn for Sunderland, Rosenior promptly withdrew from consideration when approached by Burnley.

Reports indicated that Burnley had Rosenior, Frank Lampard, and Scott Parker on their shortlist, with all three slated for interviews at Turf Moor.

Ruud van Nistelrooy to be named Burnley boss

The 39-year-old’s decision to pursue Burnley over Sunderland seemed logical at the time. However, with Burnley now moving towards appointing a former Manchester United legend, it appears he could face unemployment after rejecting the Sunderland job.

Earlier reports indicated he was no longer under consideration for Burnley, but recent developments suggest he will lose out to the Manchester United icon for the role.

EINDHOVEN - Ruud van Nistelrooij during the Dutch premier league match between PSV Eindhoven and SC Heerenveen at Phillips stadium on May 21, 2023 ...

According to De Telegraaf, the recently relegated club is nearing an agreement to appoint Ruud Van Nistelrooy as their new head coach.

Van Nistelrooy hasn’t been in England since departing Old Trafford in 2006. His most recent coaching stint was with PSV during the 2022-23 season, where he achieved success by winning the Johan Cruyff Shield and the KNVB Cup before stepping down from his position. Now, he is poised to make a return to management after more than a year.

Could Liam Rosenior still join Sunderland?

Van Nistelrooy’s imminent appointment at Burnley leaves Rosenior without a job, just a week after he turned down the opportunity to move to the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland’s managerial search appears to be stagnant, and there’s a chance they could find themselves back at square one if Van Nistelrooy’s appointment at Turf Moor is finalized before they secure their own head coach.

It’s unclear whether Rosenior would consider returning to Sunderland under these circumstances, but owner Louis-Dreyfus might find it difficult to reject him if he did.

At 35 years old, Rosenior still appears to be the most promising option for Sunderland, and if he becomes available again, they may need to set aside any reservations and reconsider him for the role.

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