The Leicester City coaching staff changed once again in November 2024 after the Foxes hired Ruud van Nistelrooy as their manager. So, who features in the Dutchman’s backroom team?
Manager: Ruud van Nistelrooy
King Power Stadium chiefs appointed Van Nistelrooy as the latest first-team manager of Leicester in November 2024 to replace Steve Cooper.
He took charge on an initial two-and-a-half year deal midway through the club’s return to the Premier League and has been tasked with keeping the Foxes up.
Assistant manager: Brian Barry-Murphy
Brian Barry-Murphy is Van Nistelrooy’s most recent appointment to his coaching staff.
The former Republic of Ireland international is regarded as one of the best young coaches in the game and has been endorsed by Pep Guardiola.
After impressing as manager of Rochdale, Barry-Murphy linked up with Manchester City’s Under-23s squad, where he was extremely successful and helped to nurture plenty of promising talents, including Cole Palmer and Shea Charles.
He left Man City in November 2024 and was appointed by the new Leicester boss in December 2024.
First-team coach coach: Jelle ten Rouwelaar
Jelle ten Rouwelaar was the first change Van Nistelrooy made to his coaching staff following his arrival.
He’s spent a large period of his time working as a goalkeeper coach for the likes of Anderlecht, Ajax and most recently Manchester United.
Van Nistelrooy brought Ten Rouwelaar to Old Trafford with him when appointed as caretaker manager of Man United and he was first spotted in the Leicester dugout during Van Nistelrooy’s second game in charge against Brighton & Hove Albion.
First-team coach coach: Andy King
Leicester legend Andy King returned to the club in the summer after retiring from football last season to work with the Under-18s team.
However, Van Nistelrooy brought King into his first-team coaching staff after saying he has “Leicester DNA”.
During his playing days, King played 379 times for the Foxes, scoring 62 goals in all competitions. He is a huge fan favourite after coming through the Leicester academy.
First-team set-piece coach: Andrew Hughes
Andrew Hughes joined the coaching staff from Norwich City in July 2024. The set-piece expert is highly rated in the game after helping the Canaries to improve their efficiency at all dead-ball situations.
Leicester fended off interest from Brentford to appoint Hughes, who had spent three years at Norwich. His energy and enthusiasm at their training ground were also key reasons why the Canaries rued his exit. Hughes even acted as David Wagner’s assistant coach for 18 months.
Joining the Foxes added an eighth club to Hughes’ CV as a coach after starting out with the U23s at Bolton Wanderers in 2014 after retiring as a player. He also worked with Rotherham United, Crystal Palace, Huddersfield Town, Sheffield United U21s and Sheffield Wednesday.
Hughes moved into a coaching position with Bolton straight after retiring following a 20-year career as a midfielder. The Oldham Athletic product also played with Notts County, Reading, Norwich, Leeds, Scunthorpe United and Charlton Athletic but never earned an England cap.
Goalkeeping coach: Danny Alcock
Former Leicester boss Cooper built up Leicester’s coaching staff in July 2024 by reuniting with Danny Alcock, who acted as his goalkeeping coach at Nottingham Forest. The pair oversaw 107 games together for the Reds as Alcock returned to domestic coaching, alongside working in England’s U20s.
Alcock has worked under several coaches for England’s Young Lions since taking up his role in August 2021. It marked the Newcastle native’s return to coaching three years after leaving Stoke City. He spent eight years as a goalkeeper coach in the Potters’ academy from 2010.
His role with Stoke’s academy also marked a homecoming having graduated from the youth set-up himself. Alcock started his youth career with Stoke in 2000 before spells at Kidsgrove Athletic, Barnsley, Accrington Stanley, Stafford Rangers, Tamworth and Nuneaton Borough.
Head of fitness and conditioning: Matt Reeves
Leicester City hired Matt Reeves for their first-team coaching staff in December 2011 and he now serves as their head of fitness and conditioning. It marked his return to the Foxes, too, as he worked at the King Power Stadium from July 2008 to June 2010 as a sports scientist.
Hull City briefly lured Reeves away for 18 months, but he returned to the Foxes and earned a promotion in July 2019. Leicester even allowed Reeves to work with the England national set-up as a U19 and U20 physical performance coach between August 2014 and July 2017.
Reeves even first joined the Leicester City coaching staff in July 2008 whilst still a student at Loughborough University. He graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport and Exercise Science. Leicester gave Reeves his first position as a sports scientist in football.