Ruud van Nistelrooy CONFIRMED as Leicester manager as Man Utd legend makes instant return to Premier League
RUUD VAN NISTELROOY has been confirmed as Leicester’s new manager.
The Dutchman, 48, has made a quick return to management after working as Manchester United‘s caretaker boss following Erik ten Hag‘s dismissal.
Van Nistelrooy succeeds Steve Cooper as Foxes manager, after the former Nottingham Forest boss received the axe following a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea.
The Dutchman is set to be in the stands for their game against Brentford tomorrow, meaning his first match in charge will be against West Ham on Tuesday.
On his Leicester arrival, Van Nistelrooy said: “I’m proud, I’m excited. Everybody that I speak to about Leicester City Football Club is enthusiastic.
“They have great stories about the quality of the people working at the club, the supporters and, of course, the recent history of the club is impressive.
“I’m excited to start and to get to know everyone and give everything I can for the football club.”
Van Nistelrooy also revealed he spoke to ex-Foxes-turned-Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca about taking the job, who was his team-mate at Malaga.
He revealed: “When the interest came, the first one I called was Enzo. He was so positive about it. He absolutely loved his time.
“When you hear these things, it’s a club you want to be a part of.
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Van Nistelrooy's controversial appointment
By Neil Custis, Football writer
RUUD VAN NISTELROOY walking into the Leicester job must have managers further down the leagues tearing their hair out.
This week at the Northwest Football Awards, for example, Dave Challinor of Stockport was named manager of the year ahead of Pep Guardiola.
Now that may be because organisers felt he would probably turn up to get his gong, unlike Guardiola.
Still, two promotions in 2½ years to lift the area’s poor relation from the National League to League One — where they sit fourth — is incredible.
Yet that and a managerial background at Colwyn Bay, AFC Fylde and Hartlepool would sadly never put him on a Premier League club’s radar.
Van Nistelrooy was on that radar at the Foxes in the summer after one season managing at PSV Eindhoven before they went for Steve Cooper.
Now after a further four games as interim Manchester United boss and he is in at the King Power and Cooper is out.
Big names excite fans and Van Nistelrooy has one, literally.
“Obviously, with the interest coming, I phoned him and I asked him more detailed questions about the Club, the structures, the people that work there, the squad, the stadium, the fans, the town, the surroundings… it was a fantastic conversation.
“It’s always a pleasure to talk to him.”
Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha added: “It is my pleasure to welcome Ruud to Leicester City.
“He joins a Club with a rich history, passionate supporters, and a talented squad, and we are all excited to see the impact he can have as we embark on this new chapter together.
“Ruud’s experience, knowledge, and winning mentality will undoubtedly bring great value to us, and we look forward to supporting him in achieving success for our fans and our club.”
I have to say, when the interest came, the first one I called was Enzo. He was so positive about it. He absolutely loved his time.
Van Nistelrooy on speaking to Maresca before taking the job
During his spell as Man Utd caretaker, Van Nistelrooy twice beat Cooper’s Leciester.
They met in the Carabao Cup on October 30, with the Red Devils running out 5-2 winners.
And he beat Leicester again 3-0 just 11 days later in the Premier League.
Cooper won just two of his 12 Prem encounters at the Leicester helm, having succeeded Enzo Maresca in the summer, who guided the club to the Championship title last term.
The players seemingly miss their old boss as they were spotted partying next to a sign that read “Enzo I miss u” during their Christmas party.
Just hours after the loss to Chelsea, the squad jetted off to their festive Copenhagen bash signed off by Cooper, unaware he was about to be axed.
According to The Telegraph, Cooper fell out with Jannik Vestergaard, Harry Winks and Hamza Choudhury during his ill-fated 157-day stint in charge at the King Power, with the former even being banished from training at one stage
The Foxes are 16th in the Prem table, a point above the relegation zone.
Prior to joining Ten Hag’s Old Trafford coaching staff, the former Man Utd and Real Madrid striker managed PSV Eindhoven.
He won 33 of his 51 games in charge, winning the KNVB Cup in 2023.
Van Nistelrooy stepped down a week before the end of that season, citing a lack of support from above.
Following Cooper’s sacking, Leicester were linked with Graham Potter and David Moyes.
But club chiefs quickly settled upon Van Nistelrooy as their main target and have now got their man.
Van Nistelrooy on joining Leicester
“I’m proud, I’m excited. Everybody that I speak to about Leicester City Football Club is enthusiastic.
“They have great stories about the quality of the people working at the club, the supporters and, of course, the recent history of the club is impressive.
“I’m excited to start and to get to know everyone and give everything I can for the football club.
“Everybody that I speak to about Leicester City Football Club is enthusiastic, has great stories about the quality of the people working at the Club, the supporters, also of course, the recent history of the Club is impressive.
“I’m dead excited to start and to get to know everyone and give everything I can for the Football Club.
“It’s also something I hear a lot about. I can’t wait to find that out, to be part of the Club, in a manager role, which is a big responsibility. I take it very seriously.
“Also, getting to know everybody, the community and the supporters, I can only imagine what it means to them. I want to feel it.
“I want to get started and get to know everybody and take time to invest in the relationship with all the other departments and community of the Football Club. That can make us a really strong movement to go forward and get results.
“Of course, when you’re in football a long time, you know so many people and that’s why I said about the stories about the Club and its people and its supporters. That’s always positive.
“It’s a stable club, you can see within the leadership structures that it’s all good and organised and with an idea.
“Also, the squad, of course, is exciting with young emerging talents, also experienced players… a good mixture. I can’t wait to get on the pitch and start with them.
“There are two players in every position of good quality. There’s young, emerging talents, with very experienced players and, obviously, the captain, Jamie Vardy, has the most experience and the character. He’s the face of the Football Club. As a former striker, I can’t wait to work together with him as well.
“A lot of principles and structures that I see, on the ball and off the ball, are structures that I use a lot myself as the PSV manager and at United.
“Not all of them, of course, but many of them. The way Leicester City played under [Enzo] Maresca, winning the Championship and going into the Premier League, I see also that line continuing in those structures and the idea of playing.
“I have to say, when the interest came, the first one I called was Enzo. He was so positive about it. He absolutely loved his time. When you hear these things, it’s a club you want to be a part of.
“Obviously, with the interest coming, I phoned him and I asked him more detailed questions about the Club, the structures, the people that work there, the squad, the stadium, the fans, the town, the surroundings… it was a fantastic conversation. It’s always a pleasure to talk to him.”