The FA Cup Gods have provided Ruud van Nistelrooy with an emotional reunion as he will take his Leicester City side to Manchester United.
Leicester beat Queens Park Rangers in the Third Round whilst Man United defeated Arsenal on penalties to get themselves into the hat.
This will be the third time the two teams have met this season but the first where Van Nistelrooy isn’t in charge of United.
Man United have won two out of two games so far – both of them at Old Trafford – and will be deemed as the favourites.
Now under new management in Ruben Amorim, the Red Devils will present a different challenge that the Foxes will have to overcome.
Ruben Amorim reacts to facing Ruud van Nistelrooy in FA Cup
Amorim has praised Van Nistelrooy for his work at Man United in the past, despite choosing to part ways with him after bringing in his coaching staff.
The pair remain on good terms however and after his side’s win against Arsenal on Sunday, the 39-year-old admitted he is looking forward to taking on the Dutchman.
“I’m looking forward to speaking with him,” he told Optus Sport.
“He’s a class guy but we need to win. Maybe we will be divided.
“He loves this club, we will see… but we need to win.”
Ruud van Nistelrooy shared true feelings on Ruben Amorim
While he may be enjoying life at Leicester right now, there was a tinge of disappointment from Van Nistelrooy after being told he’d no longer be needed at Old Trafford.
However, the 48-year-old was full of admiration for Amorim when speaking about his replacement back in November and wished him the best going forward.
“The moment I took over the interim job what I said was I’m here to help United and to stay to help United, and I meant it,” Van Nistelrooy said, as per BBC Sport.
“So, I was disappointed, very much so, and it hurt I had to leave.
“In the end, I got my head ’round it because I also understand the new manager. I’m in football long enough and I’ve managed myself. I understand.
“I spoke to Ruben about it, fair enough to him, the conversation was grateful, man to man, person to person, manager to manager.
“That helped [me] a lot to move on and straightaway get into talks with new possibilities which of course lifted my spirits.”
The two managers will meet for the first time on the weekend of 8 February in the FA Cup Fourth Round.