Ruud van Nistelrooy, the legendary Dutch striker turned coach, has officially taken charge of Leicester City, stepping in after Steve Cooper’s dismissal.
The Foxes, currently sitting 16th in the Premier League, are desperate for a turnaround under their new manager, who begins his tenure with a clash against West Ham.
Speaking at his first pre-match press conference, Van Nistelrooy expressed pride in taking up the role: “To be managing this club and representing Leicester City in the Premier League, I’m very excited and proud.”
Van Nistelrooy’s rapid ascent in managerial circles follows his impressive four-game interim stint at Manchester United, where he achieved three wins and a draw.
Reflecting on the unexpected surge of interest after his brief United tenure, Van Nistelrooy admitted: “I was astonished by the options that came along after just four games. Having managed PSV for a full season and winning titles, I never got this reaction before.”
He credited his past coaching experience at PSV Eindhoven and the Dutch national setup for building his profile but acknowledged that his brief time at United garnered unparalleled attention.
Before accepting the Leicester role, Van Nistelrooy sought advice from former teammate and Leicester alumni Enzo Maresca.
The two shared a candid conversation: “Enzo was the first one I called. We even spoke during my time at United when we played Chelsea. He was very positive about Leicester, and his insights were spot on.”
Van Nistelrooy joked about his first meeting with Leicester’s iconic striker Jamie Vardy, who famously broke his record for consecutive Premier League goals in 2015: “I told him, ‘We have a big issue here—we need to address that record before we can even start.’ But it was all in good humor.”
After observing Leicester’s 4-1 loss to Brentford, Van Nistelrooy faces a steep challenge to revive the Foxes’ form. However, the 47-year-old brings with him not only tactical acumen but also a reputation for galvanizing teams.
With an exciting mix of experience and ambition, Van Nistelrooy’s Leicester era begins with cautious optimism as they face West Ham in what promises to be a pivotal fixture.