Ruud van Nistelrooy Takes Charge at Leicester City: Can He Turn the Tide?
Ruud van Nistelrooy, the legendary former Manchester United striker, has officially stepped into the hot seat as Leicester City’s new manager. His mission? To inject positivity into the squad and steer the Foxes away from the looming threat of relegation. It’s a tall order for the Dutchman, but if his storied playing career and budding coaching resume are anything to go by, he’s not one to shy away from a challenge.
Van Nistelrooy was appointed on Friday, replacing Steve Cooper, and inherits a team sitting precariously in 16th place in the Premier League. With just a single point separating Leicester from the relegation zone and three consecutive league defeats weighing them down, the pressure is on. The timing of his appointment didn’t allow him to take charge of Saturday’s match, where Leicester suffered a crushing 4-1 defeat to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. Instead, he watched from the stands, no doubt already formulating a plan to turn things around.
“We Need to Pick Ourselves Up”
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Van Nistelrooy didn’t shy away from the gravity of the situation. “That is what needed to be done,” he said when asked about lifting the players’ spirits. “Sunday was the first time that I was here. Was it yesterday? It feels longer.”
He wasted no time addressing the team, holding a meeting to lay out the challenge ahead. “The situation we’re in, the challenge that we face, and what’s necessary to get out of that situation,” he explained. While he acknowledged that two days isn’t enough time to make sweeping changes, he’s already begun implementing adjustments to the team’s style of play, training sessions, and overall structure. “Little by little, starting to build a foundation of a highly motivated team who can compete in this league,” he added.
A Grueling December Awaits
Van Nistelrooy’s task won’t get any easier as Leicester faces a brutal run of fixtures in December. The Foxes are set to take on Brighton & Hove Albion, Newcastle United, Liverpool, and Manchester City. These are some of the toughest opponents in the league, and Leicester will need to dig deep to secure points.
It’s a stark contrast to the club’s fairy-tale Premier League title win in 2016 under Claudio Ranieri. Since then, Leicester’s journey has been a rollercoaster. They were relegated in 2023 but bounced back immediately under Enzo Maresca, who left to join Chelsea. Interestingly, Maresca played a pivotal role in convincing Van Nistelrooy to take the Leicester job. The two were teammates at Malaga, and their bond proved instrumental in this decision.
“You’re curious about the people who work there, and Enzo, being a great friend and former teammate, he was the first one to call,” Van Nistelrooy revealed. “What better information could I get? When we played against each other in the Premier League—when I was Manchester United interim boss against Chelsea—we spoke for half an hour. I didn’t know yet about Leicester, but we spoke about it, and he was already very positive. That only got better when I spoke to him. I have to say he was absolutely right, according to first impressions.”
From Manchester United to Leicester: A Rising Coaching Profile
Van Nistelrooy’s coaching career began at PSV Eindhoven in 2022, but it was his recent stint as interim manager at Manchester United that truly elevated his profile. In just four games, he led United to three victories and a draw across all competitions. Reflecting on the experience, the 48-year-old admitted he was “astonished” by the attention it garnered.
“What happened after the games and the amount of interest all of a sudden was there for me and the options which came along,” he said. “I was astonished by it. It was four games. I managed a full season at PSV, won a cup and the charity shield. I’d been in coaching with the Under-19s and the national team. I never got this reaction from the football world. I was happy with that. I was then able to talk to different parties and make a decision.”
Breaking the Ice with Jamie Vardy
One of the more lighthearted moments of Van Nistelrooy’s first day at Leicester involved a conversation with star striker Jamie Vardy. Back in 2015, Vardy broke Van Nistelrooy’s record for scoring in consecutive Premier League games, netting in 11 straight matches. Naturally, the topic came up when the two met.
“It’s a problem, of course, that he broke my record,” Van Nistelrooy joked. “That’s what I told him straight away: ‘Listen, we have a big issue that we’ve got to get out of the way before we can start together.’ That was the first thing I actually said to him. I think I just beat him commenting on it.”
With his sense of humor intact and a clear vision for the future, Van Nistelrooy is ready to tackle the challenges ahead. Leicester fans will be hoping that his leadership can spark a turnaround and keep the Foxes in the Premier League.
Originally Written by: Reuters and The Associated Press
