Ruud van Nistelrooy is reportedly set to become Leicester City’s new manager, following Steve Cooper’s dismissal, as revealed by The Telegraph.
The Dutchman, who recently left Manchester United after a brief spell as interim boss, is in advanced talks with the Leicester hierarchy and could be confirmed before their Premier League clash with Brentford on Saturday.
Van Nistelrooy stepped into a caretaker role at Old Trafford after Erik ten Hag’s departure, guiding United to three wins and a draw in four matches. Two of those victories came against Leicester, including a Premier League fixture and a Carabao Cup encounter.
Despite expressing interest in remaining at United as part of Ruben Amorim’s incoming staff, the former striker departed after Amorim opted to assemble his own backroom team.
The 48-year-old’s availability without compensation has made him an attractive option for Leicester.
While the club reportedly explored other candidates, including Graham Potter and David Moyes, Van Nistelrooy has emerged as their preferred choice.
His prior managerial experience includes a stint at PSV Eindhoven, where he won the KNVB Cup in the 2022-23 season before departing near the campaign’s conclusion.
Leicester currently sit 16th in the Premier League, just one point above the relegation zone, after a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea under former Foxes boss Enzo Maresca.
Their upcoming fixtures include challenging matches against West Ham United, Brighton, Newcastle, and Wolves, with Liverpool and Manchester City awaiting them during the festive period.
Van Nistelrooy’s potential appointment is seen as a calculated risk, given his relatively limited managerial resume.
However, his experience as a player and coach, including serving as an assistant to Ronald Koeman with the Netherlands at Euro 2020, adds weight to his credentials.
The former striker enjoyed a decorated playing career, winning multiple trophies with Manchester United, Real Madrid, and PSV Eindhoven, and representing the Netherlands at three major tournaments.
Leicester’s decision to part ways with Cooper came after just 12 league matches in charge, with owner Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha opting for a change amid the team’s struggles.
Van Nistelrooy now appears poised to take on the challenge of steering Leicester away from the relegation zone and stabilising their season in what would mark his first Premier League managerial role.
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