A miserable campaign at Leicester City is likely to end in relegation for the Foxes, leaving Ruud van Nistelrooy in big trouble.
Van Nistelrooy replaced Steve Cooper in the dugout in November. Although it was seen as an exciting appointment, particularly with the attacking football he promised, it’s been the complete opposite.
Leicester have set an unwanted Premier League record for failing to score in seven consecutive league matches and losing each one.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 17 |  WolvesWolves | 29 | 7 | 5 | 17 | 40 | 58 | -18 | 26 |
| 18 |  IpswichIpswich | 29 | 3 | 8 | 18 | 28 | 62 | -34 | 17 |
| 19 |  LeicesterLeicester | 29 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 25 | 65 | -40 | 17 |
| 20 |  SouthamptonSouthampton | 29 | 2 | 3 | 24 | 21 | 70 | -49 | 9 |
City have also lost 13 of their last 14 matches in the league, putting them nine points adrift of 17th place while virtually handing them a zero chance of survival.
More alarmingly, Van Nistelrooy appears to have lost the dressing room at Leicester, making the comments from one Aston Villa legend look foolish.
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Gabby Agbonlahor praised Ruud van Nistelrooy’s man management in 2024
The 48-year-old joined Leicester after a successful interim spell at Manchester United. He won three of his four games and only dropped points in a draw against Chelsea.
So, despite not boasting much experience as a Premier League manager, Gabby Agbonlahor tipped him to become the next United manager in September 2024 after Erik ten Hag’s position was put under threat.
The former Aston Villa striker felt he was the perfect man for the job at Old Trafford as he could see the players feeding off him on the sidelines, praising his relationship with them.
“I would give it to Ruud van Nistelrooy. The reason why is that when you watch Manchester United and even after the games and during games, you just see Manchester United players feeding off Van Nistelrooy more than they are off Ten Hag,” Agbonlahor told talkSPORT.
“I remember seeing a clip after the game and Ten Hag walks straight in and you got Van Nistelrooy high-fiving the players, hugging the players. I just think that he was a manager as well two years ago at PSV.”
Unfortunately, Agboonlahor’s previous comments on the Dutchman have made him look silly as his relationship with some of his Leicester squad is fractured.
Van Nistelrooy has lost the Leicester dressing room
Agbonlahor hailed the relationship Van Nistelrooy has with the players at United but that hasn’t been visible during his time at the King Power Stadium.
Perhaps it’s because the Foxes have been on a losing streak but there are signs that the players are no longer playing for him.
For instance, in the defeat against West Ham, Vardy was seen walking on the pitch – which is unlike him – and Jannik Vestergaard refused to shake Van Nistelrooy’s hand.
Those two examples, along with their abysmal results, suggest the relationship he has with the players is fractured, and that is unlikely to change.