Leicester City is poised to announce Ruud van Nistelrooy as their new manager, following the dismissal of Steve Cooper.
The Dutchman, a former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker, is set to take over the reins at the Premier League club after Cooper's tenure ended abruptly due to unsatisfactory performances and internal player friction. Cooper, who was appointed on June 20, 2024, managed the team for only five months before being relieved of his duties.
Van Nistelrooy's appointment comes just two weeks after he left his interim head coach position at Manchester United, where he achieved three wins and one draw. His managerial experience includes a brief stint at PSV Eindhoven, where he won the Dutch Cup in 2023.
Leicester City, currently 16th in the Premier League and just one point above the relegation zone, acted swiftly to secure Van Nistelrooy, who has agreed to a two-and-a-half-year contract with the club.
The decision to appoint Van Nistelrooy follows a series of discussions and considerations, with the club initially showing interest in other candidates like Graham Potter and Carlos Corberán.
However, Van Nistelrooy emerged as the preferred choice due to his availability and the club's reluctance to pay compensation for a manager. His first match in charge could be against Brentford, followed by fixtures against West Ham, Brighton, Newcastle, and Wolves.
Leicester City's players have returned to training under the guidance of first-team coach Ben Dawson, who joined from Newcastle in the summer. The team recently faced criticism after being filmed partying in Copenhagen, which coincided with Cooper's sacking. As Van Nistelrooy prepares to take charge, he faces the immediate challenge of ensuring Leicester's Premier League survival and addressing any lingering issues within the squad.
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