Ruud van Nistelrooy Confirmed as New Leicester City Manager

Leicester City has appointed Ruud van Nistelrooy as their new manager after Cooper's dismissal. Can the Dutchman save the Foxes from a relegation battle?

November 29, 2024
8:30 pm

Leicester City has officially brought on Ruud van Nistelrooy as their new head coach, marking his return to Premier League management after a short break. The 48-year-old Dutchman takes over from Steve Cooper, who was let go after a rough start to the season left the Foxes sitting 16th in the table, just one point above the relegation zone.

Van Nistelrooy steps into a tough gig, inheriting a squad that’s been struggling to find its groove. His first challenge could come as soon as Saturday, with Leicester facing a tricky away game against Brentford, followed by matches against West Ham, Brighton, Newcastle, and Wolves.

A Rapid Managerial Rise

The former Manchester United striker has had quite the whirlwind managerial journey. After leading PSV Eindhoven to a Dutch Cup win in 2023, Van Nistelrooy resigned, saying he didn’t get enough support. He then joined Manchester United as an assistant coach in July and quickly found himself in the interim head coach role after Erik ten Hag was let go. During his short time in charge, he snagged three wins and one draw, including two victories over Leicester: a 5-2 Carabao Cup win and a 3-0 Premier League triumph.

Even with his success, Van Nistelrooy left Manchester United when it became clear he wouldn’t be part of Ruben Amorim’s coaching staff. Now, he’s at Leicester with a mission to steady the ship and steer clear of a relegation battle.

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A Squad Divided

Van Nistelrooy’s immediate task is to bring together a squad that struggled under Cooper. While some senior players, like Jamie Vardy, supported Cooper, the rest of the squad didn’t really buy into his methods. This lack of unity showed as Leicester managed only two wins in 12 Premier League matches under Cooper, who was appointed just 157 days ago to replace Enzo Maresca, now thriving at Chelsea.

To add to the drama, Leicester’s players recently returned to training after a controversial Christmas party in Copenhagen, where they were filmed dancing in front of a sign that read, “Enzo, I miss you.” This incident highlights the challenges Van Nistelrooy faces in restoring discipline and focus within the team.

A Promising Start?

Van Nistelrooywill not be in charge for the Brentford match on Saturday. Instead, he is expected to be on a watching brief. Leicester’s caretaker boss Ben Dawson, who joined from Newcastle this summer, is ready to step in.

For Leicester fans, having a big name like Van Nistelrooy on board brings a glimmer of hope, but the road ahead is tough. Can the Dutchman turn his playing success into managerial wins and guide the Foxes away from danger?