With just one match to go before the end of the Eredivisie season, second-placed PSV Eindhoven and trainer Ruud van Nistelrooij have parted company with immediate effect.

The news means assistant Fred Rutten will be in charge at Sunday’s crucial match against fourth-placed AZ. A win will assure the Eindhoven team of a place in the Champions League preliminary competition, a loss will open up the way to third-placed Ajax.

Ajax, who meet fifth-placed FC Twente on Sunday, are three points behind PSV but have a better goal difference.

Van Nistelrooij met club officials on Tuesday to discuss his position following reports of friction between him and other officials, and several players. On Wednesday morning the former international said that he felt he had too little support to continue and was quitting with immediate effect, broadcaster NOS reported.

Hoofdtrainer Ruud van Nistelrooij heeft vanmorgen bekend gemaakt te vertrekken bij PSV.

PSV betreurt zijn besluit en is hem dankbaar voor het winnen van de Johan Cruijff Schaal en de TOTO KNVB Beker en hoopt het seizoen af te sluiten met het behalen van de tweede plaats.

— PSV (@PSV) May 24, 2023

Van Nistelrooij, who coached the reserve team last season, took over the top coaching job following the departure of Roger Schmidt.

Despite a string of disappointing results early in the season, including elimination from the Champions League preliminary competition, the club won the KNVB Cup and is now placed to take part in the premier European competition again.

Feyenoord clinched the league title last week.