Leicester City are looking for a new manager after choosing to sack Steve Cooper.
Cooper was dismissed by the Foxes on Sunday after just five months in charge.
The 44-year-old wasn’t popular amongst the Leicester fanbase and won just two of his 12 Premier League games in charge.
Attention now turns to appointing a new manager and while several names have been linked with the Leicester job, only a few stand out.
Graham Potter appears to be one of the favourites and a popular candidate amongst supporters but another in the frame is Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Reports have claimed that Van Nistelrooy has been approached by Leicester and the 48-year-old could be set for a quick return to management.
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Ruud van Nistelrooy’s history as a manager
In comparison to the other names linked with the job at Leicester, Van Nistelrooy is still in the early days of his managerial career.
The Premier League icon began working as a youth team coach for Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven in 2013 before becoming the manager of the Under-19s squad in 2018.
He eventually became head coach of the first team in June 2022, spending one season at the club where he won a domestic double of the Johan Cruyff Shield and the KNVB Cup but left with one game remaining of the 2022/23 campaign after highlighting a lack of support.
Van Nistelrooy then returned to coaching at the start of this season after agreeing to join Erik ten Hag’s backroom staff at Manchester United.
Following his dismissal, Van Nistelrooy took charge on an interim basis before Ruben Amorim was confirmed as Ten Hag’s replacement.
In his four games in charge the Dutchman oversaw three wins and one draw – two of those wins coming against Leicester.
| Ruud van Nistelrooy stats | PSV U19s | PSV | Man United (Caretaker) |
| Games in charge | 51 | 50 | 4 |
| Games won | 26 | 34 | 3 |
| Games drawn | 13 | 8 | 1 |
| Games lost | 12 | 8 | 0 |
| Points per game | 1.78 | 2.20 | 2.50 |
What can Leicester fans expect from Ruud van Nistelrooy?
Whilst it’s still early days in his managerial career there is still plenty to be excited about with Van Nistelrooy.
Winning two trophies in your first season as a manager is no mean feat and to also stop the rut at Man United – albeit briefly – is something to be admired by in this day and age.
And although he only spent little time in the dugout at Old Trafford, United fans still got a good insight into life with the 48-year-old as a manager.
One of those who watched on closely was Man United expert Dan Coombs of United in Focus, who has provided insight into what Foxes fans can expect from a Van Nistelrooy side.
“With Ruud van Nistelrooy, Leicester would get a highly motivated manager, who is riding a high after his interim spell at United,” says Coombs.
“What we learned there is that Van Nistelrooy is a practical and passionate manager. One of Ten Hag’s flaws was his high-risk transition-heavy midfield. Van Nistelrooy tightened it up by playing two defensive midfielders to provide a solid base, allowing more freedom to his attacking players. Amad for instance, was one Ten Hag was reluctant to commit to. Van Nistelrooy started him every game.”
Cooper never lacked emotion on the sideline but it was never the sort that got the fans on his side, however, after a huge disconnect under Ten Hag, it was the caretaker manager who restored some belief back into the club again.
Coombs added: “Van Nistelrooy’s activity on the touchline during games connected with the fans and got the crowd onside right away, and he was also very popular with the players, who were genuinely sad at his departure. Letting him leave was the right decision, because he has earned the right to be a manager at this point and fading into the background would have helped nobody.
“Overall the jury is still out on just how good he is. You know better than I whether two home games against Leicester is an easy task for any manager, with the other win a home win over PAOK and home draw with Chelsea.
“His stint at PSV was disappointing but not without it’s positive moments, a win over Arsenal included; that was a tough first gig for any manager. He definitely deserves a shot, and if he does get the Leicester job, I will be rooting for him.”