Rudy Garcia: Missed coaching in three talks, regret not joining forces with Ronaldo

Turning Net, May 15th Belgian national team coach Rudy Garcia recently revealed that he was infinitely close to becoming Manchester United coach in 2021. This almost came true. The "Red Devils Love" ended regretfully because the board of directors chose Ronnick, which also made him miss the golden opportunity to cooperate with Ronaldo.

When talking about the important nodes of his coaching career, Garcia admitted: "I have always been eager to challenge the Premier League or La Liga, especially Manchester United. In the fall of 2021, our negotiations have entered a deep stage. I became the final candidate with Ronnick, and even had three official meetings." At that time, Manchester United was in a turbulent period after Solskjaer was dismissed, and the management urgently needed a coach who could stabilize the locker room and activate the lineup. Garcia's tactical philosophy (emphasizing ball control and wing attack) is in line with Manchester United's traditional style and was once regarded as a popular candidate.

However, the Manchester United board of directors finally chose Ronnick as the interim head coach, and Garcia was eliminated regretfully: "It is of course disappointing to fail to coach Manchester United, especially missing the opportunity to cooperate with Ronaldo. When he returned to Manchester United, he was in a critical period of his career, and the team needed more systematic tactical support. I believe that with my experience, he can design a more suitable offensive system for him to help him continue his peak state." Although his tone was confident, Garcia also admitted: "Maybe I should be more humble, but the fate in the football world is so subtle."

It is worth mentioning that Garcia later achieved "late cooperation" with Ronaldo in Riyadh - when Ronaldo joined the Saudi team in January 2023, Garcia was the head coach. But this joint work lasted only three months and ended with a breakup. Garcia was dismissed due to the pressure of record and failed to fulfill her vision of "jointly creating glory". Speaking of this experience, he said: "The challenges of the Saudi league are different from those of Europe, but being able to understand Ronaldo's professional attitude at a close distance can also make up for the regrets of that year."

Garcia, who now heads the Belgian national team, still has aspirations for the Premier League: "Although the dream of coaching Manchester United has not yet been realized, the story of the football circle will always have sequels. If there is still a chance in the future, I will face the challenge with a more mature mindset." This dusty past not only reflects the complexity of Manchester United's decision to change coaches in 2021, but also allows fans to see the parallel time and space imagination of "If Garcia coaches Ronaldo" - perhaps as he said, some fate is destined to leave a footnote of regret in time.