Ruud van Nistelrooy is on the brink of becoming Leicester City’s new manager, with his appointment expected to be finalized before their match against Brentford on Saturday. The Dutchman, who is currently in the Netherlands, has been evaluating offers from several European clubs but is now Leicester’s preferred candidate. The club had also considered Niko Kovac and Carlos Corberan, but ultimately, Leicester’s owner, Aiyawatt “Top” Srivaddhanaprabha, decided on Van Nistelrooy as the man to lead the team, with support from director of football Jon Rudkin.
Van Nistelrooy has recent managerial experience as an assistant at Manchester United, after leaving his role as head coach of PSV Eindhoven in 2023. He briefly stepped in as interim manager at United before departing when Ruben Amorim was appointed as permanent boss.
Leicester’s decision to part ways with Steve Cooper came amid growing concerns over the club’s Premier League survival. With Leicester sitting in 16th place, just 10 points from 12 games, the board felt the need for a managerial change to boost their fortunes. Cooper’s efforts to implement his tactical style were reportedly met with resistance from both players and fans, leading to a lack of cohesion and progress. The club’s underwhelming summer transfer window, coupled with the departure of key player Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to Chelsea, further exacerbated the situation. Leicester acted swiftly this time, in contrast to their delayed response when they parted ways with Brendan Rodgers last season, hoping to avoid a repeat of the relegation battle.
Leicester’s upcoming Premier League fixtures include:
Brentford (A) – Saturday, 3pm
West Ham (H) – December 3, 8:15pm
Brighton (H) – December 8, 2pm
Newcastle (A) – December 14, 3pm
Wolves (H) – December 22, 2pm
