Ruud van Nistelrooy is set to become the new Leicester City manager. The Dutchman is ready for a swift return to the Premier League after his departure from Manchester United. Van Nistelrooy, a former United star, is expected to take over from Steve Cooper, who was dismissed last Sunday. His last match was a home loss against his predecessor, Enzo Maresca, who is now managing high-flying Chelsea.
Leicester had previously shown interest in Graham Potter and Carlos Corberán before appointing Cooper in the summer. However, this week they engaged in fruitful discussions with Van Nistelrooy. The club was hesitant to pay compensation for a manager, making him a viable choice. Van Nistelrooy previously managed PSV Eindhoven, the club where he made his mark as a player, winning the Dutch Cup in 2023 before resigning due to a lack of support within the club.
Leicester currently sits 16th in the table, just one point above the relegation zone. Van Nistelrooy's first game could be against Brentford on Saturday, followed by matches against West Ham, Brighton, Newcastle, and Wolves. The team returned to training on Tuesday, led by first-team coach Ben Dawson, who joined from Newcastle in the summer. This followed a Christmas party in Copenhagen, where players were seen dancing at a nightclub with a sign that read: “Enzo I miss you.”
Van Nistelrooy joined United as an assistant coach in July but was appointed interim head coach after Erik ten Hag's sacking. He oversaw four games, winning three and drawing one. His final game in charge was a 3-0 league victory over Leicester, whose Premier League fate is now in his hands.
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