Ruud van Nistelrooy: Leicester City set to appoint former Manchester United interim head coach
Ruud van Nistelrooy is likely to agree to take the managerial position at Leicester City and is expected to lead the team in their upcoming match against Brentford this Saturday.
Rumor has it that Van Nistelrooy is presently at his residence in the Netherlands, but an official announcement about his appointment might be made soon. While there are still some details and contractual matters to finalize and he hasn’t put pen to paper yet, both parties are hopeful that the agreement will be finalized shortly.
Van Nistelrooy has been looking into chances to step into a top role, and Sky Sports News reports that he received several proposals from various clubs across Europe.
Leicester explored the options of Niko Kovac, who previously managed Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg, as well as Carlos Corberan, the current manager of West Bromwich Albion. However, they have ultimately chosen Ruud van Nistelrooy as their top pick for the position.
Club owner Aiyawatt Shrivadhannaprabha, often referred to as "Top," has made the call regarding the new appointment. He has taken it upon himself to ensure the process goes smoothly, with football director Jon Rudkin working on a list of potential candidates.
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In the summer, Van Nistelrooy took on the role of assistant manager at Manchester United after leaving his position as the head coach of PSV Eindhoven before the conclusion of the 2022-23 season. He had been unemployed since then.
He took over as the temporary head coach after Erik ten Hag was dismissed in October. During his time in charge, he secured two victories against Leicester—winning 5-2 in the Carabao Cup and 3-0 in the Premier League—remaining undefeated in his four matches at the helm. However, the club later announced his exit after Ruben Amorim was appointed.
Van Nistelrooy: A Link Between Fans And Club
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Danyal Khan from Sky Sports:
"This appointment feels incredibly significant. If you examine Leicester's recent past, you'll notice they've seen a number of managerial changes. The last time they played in the Premier League, they let go of Brendan Rodgers in April and only allowed Dean Smith eight matches to secure their place in the league, which ultimately didn't work out."
Enzo Maresca guided the team back to the Premier League last season, but he subsequently moved on to Chelsea. Steve Cooper, however, lasted just 12 matches in the Premier League. As a result, this hire appears to be very crucial, with the chairman taking the lead. Leicester has been exploring several candidates, but due to the potential costs of compensation, they have opted for a free agent in Ruud van Nistelrooy.
"During his brief four-game stint as interim manager at Man United, we witnessed his capabilities not only in terms of the results but also in the remarkable number of goals scored. He clearly demonstrated an instant enhancement in the team's performance."
Leicester requires a renewed bond between the players and their supporters, and Van Nistelrooy excels at communication. The fans are looking for someone they can rally around and cheer for. This is a thrilling choice for the role.
Why Did Leicester Fire Cooper?
Insights from Danyal Khan and Lyall Thomas of Sky Sports News:
Even though they are currently in 16th place with 10 points from 12 matches, the club feels that making this decision at this time offers them the best opportunity to remain in the Premier League.
The club's management believes they should be performing better than they currently are. They've struggled to secure wins against Ipswich and Everton, and there's growing worry about the quality of their performances.
It's obvious that Cooper has been working to adopt his preferred style and make what he thinks are essential changes for improvement. However, there seemed to be pushback and a lack of alignment with the players.
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This is reported to have raised worries about safety within the Premier League, and it's clear that there hasn't been much of a bond between Cooper and the fans since he took over in the summer.
Following their promotion, Leicester invested less in the summer transfer market compared to the other two teams that moved up. Additionally, they lost an important player, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who transferred to Chelsea.
Their largest expenditure was approximately £20 million for Oliver Skipp. Additionally, they signed Bobby Decordova-Reid without any transfer fee and acquired two players on loan from other teams in the Premier League.
The club has moved quickly this time, unlike in the 2022/23 season when they let go of Brendan Rodgers in April and brought in Dean Smith, only to end up being relegated.
