Leicester City announced the appointment of Ruud van Nistelrooy as the club’s new manager on Friday, just weeks after his departure from Manchester United.
The Dutchman left United earlier this month after a brief stint as interim manager, following his role as assistant to Erik ten Hag. Van Nistelrooy replaces Steve Cooper, who was dismissed by Leicester on Sunday after just 12 Premier League games, with the Foxes sitting 16th in the table, just one point above the relegation zone.
In a club statement, Van Nistelrooy expressed his enthusiasm for the new role: “I’m proud, I’m excited. Everyone I speak to about Leicester City is positive and enthusiastic. The club’s recent history is impressive, and I can’t wait to get started, meet everyone, and give everything I can for the team.”
Leicester made headlines in 2015/16 by winning the Premier League and followed up with their first FA Cup victory in 2021. However, they were relegated two years ago before bouncing back immediately under Enzo Maresca, now Chelsea’s manager.
Van Nistelrooy has prior managerial experience from his time at PSV Eindhoven during the 2022/23 season. His managerial debut included a brief but successful stint as Manchester United’s caretaker manager, where he secured three wins from four matches, including victories over Leicester in both the Premier League and League Cup.
The 48-year-old will officially begin his role on Sunday, but for Leicester’s Saturday match against Brentford, Ben Dawson will continue to lead the team as caretaker, with Van Nistelrooy attending the game.
As a player, Van Nistelrooy was a prolific goalscorer, making his mark at PSV, Manchester United, and Real Madrid. Leicester’s chairman, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, expressed confidence in Van Nistelrooy’s abilities: “Ruud’s experience, knowledge, and winning mentality will bring great value to us. We look forward to supporting him in achieving success for our fans and the club.”
