Leicester City is preparing to appoint former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy as their new head coach. The 48-year-old Dutchman will take over from Steve Cooper, who was dismissed just 157 days into his tenure following a 2-1 loss to Chelsea in the Premier League.
A Quick Change of Leadership
Van Nistelrooy’s appointment comes after he left his role as interim head coach at Manchester United, where he had been in charge following Erik ten Hag’s departure. During his brief stint, van Nistelrooy oversaw three wins and one draw. However, his tenure ended after he was informed he would not be retained in the backroom staff under new manager Ruben Amorim. Notably, van Nistelrooy’s United side secured two wins against Leicester, including a dominant 5-2 Carabao Cup victory and a 3-0 Premier League win earlier this month.
Van Nistelrooy’s Previous Experience
While this will be van Nistelrooy’s first full-time managerial role in the Premier League, he previously managed PSV Eindhoven during the 2022-23 season. There, he secured the Dutch Cup, which marked a successful stint before his move to Manchester United. Despite his limited managerial experience, Leicester City are hopeful that van Nistelrooy can turn around their fortunes, with the club currently languishing in 16th place in the Premier League after 12 matches, just one point above the relegation zone.
Immediate Challenges at Leicester
Leicester’s next match is away at Brentford on Saturday, though it is uncertain whether van Nistelrooy will be in the dugout for that game due to the timing of his appointment. For now, caretaker manager Ben Dawson, a member of Cooper’s backroom staff, is expected to oversee the team. One of van Nistelrooy’s key challenges will be winning over a squad that struggled to fully back Cooper’s methods, despite some senior players, including Jamie Vardy, showing their support for the former Nottingham Forest manager.
Looking Ahead
Van Nistelrooy’s ability to unite the squad and inspire a better team performance will be crucial as Leicester look to avoid relegation and improve their position in the league. The former striker, known for his clinical finishing on the pitch, now faces the challenge of leading Leicester back to form and securing their Premier League status.
