Manchester United interim coach Ruud van Nistelrooy has deleted an old post of him in 'black face' at a fancy dress party.
It comes just hours after he was promoted from assistant manager at the club following the dismissal of Erik ten Hag on Monday.
As the news broke that Van Nistelrooy had been named the new United manager on an interim basis, an old post from 2013 was going viral.
The 11-year image showed the Dutchman posing with black make-up dressed as a king.
Ruud van Nistelrooy posed as Middle Eastern king Balthazar in 2013
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It had been reshared thousands of times before the post was deleted on social media around 4pm on Monday.
The former striker was taking part in the Parade of the Three Kings in Marbella, Spain while it was noted that he had dressed as Middle Eastern king Balthazar.
Posing in black face make-up is seen as a lot more offensive in the United Kingdom compared to the Netherlands and Spain, where people are often seen in black face for dress-up events.
Van Nistelrooy had been appearing at a charity function alongside two other people dressed as kings.
He attended a hospital where he handed gifts and sweets to children on the wards, as well as to the staff working there.
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One post was posted with the caption: “In hospital with presents for the young and old.”
The Three Kings’ Day is an annual celebration in Spain which is held every January while Balthazar is portrayed as a black man in historical records.
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Ruud van Nistelrooy deleted the post from 2013 on X
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Van Nistelrooy is a widely loved figure at United, where he played from 2001 to 2006.
After scoring 150 times in 219 appearances, he is seen as one of the club's best strikers of all time and will now lead the Red Devils as they look for a permanent successor to Ten Hag.
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Ruud van Nistelrooy has replaced Erik ten Hag on an interim basis at United
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United are 14th in the Premier League while Van Nistelrooy's first match in charge will come against Leicester in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday at home.
They then host Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
