Ruud van Nistelrooy has been officially appointed as Leicester City’s new manager, marking his return to the Premier League. The 48-year-old Dutchman takes over the reins just days after Steve Cooper was sacked following a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea.
Van Nistelrooy, a Manchester United legend, recently served as caretaker manager for the Red Devils after Erik ten Hag’s dismissal. During his brief tenure, he notably secured victories over Leicester, including a dominant 3-0 win in the Premier League and a 5-2 triumph in the Carabao Cup.
The former striker will be in the stands to watch Leicester’s game against Brentford tomorrow as he begins his mission to steer the Foxes away from relegation trouble. Leicester currently sits 16th in the Premier League table, just one point above the drop zone.
Steve Cooper’s 157-day stint as Leicester manager ended with just two wins in 12 league matches. Cooper had taken over in the summer after Enzo Maresca led the Foxes to the championship title. However, reports suggest Cooper clashed with key players like Jannik Vestergaard, Harry Winks, and Hamza Choudhury during his time at the King Power Stadium, with Vestergaard even being excluded from training.
The club’s struggles extended off the pitch as well. Just hours after the Chelsea defeat, Leicester players reportedly attended a festive party in Copenhagen, seemingly unaware of Cooper’s imminent dismissal. The celebration included a nod to former manager Enzo Maresca, with a sign reading “Enzo I miss u” spotted at the venue.
