Ruud van Nistelrooy appointed Leicester City's new manager three weeks after leaving Manchester United

Ruud van Nistelrooy has been named Leicester City's new manager, less than three weeks after leaving Manchester United. The former striker, who briefly served as interim manager at United earlier this season, has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Foxes, taking over from Steve Cooper. Cooper was dismissed on Sunday following a 2-1 home loss to Chelsea, which left Leicester with just one point from four league games.

Van Nistelrooy revealed he consulted former Leicester manager Enzo Maresca before accepting the role. Speaking to LCFC.com, he said, "When the interest came, the first person I called was Enzo. He was so positive about the club and spoke highly of his time there. That conversation confirmed it was a place I wanted to be." He added that Maresca’s success with Leicester, winning the Championship and transitioning into the Premier League, aligns with his own football philosophy. "The structures and style of play at Leicester resonate with me. Playing out from the back, attacking when possible, and creating chances are fundamental. At the same time, we’ll adapt to different situations, whether it requires defensive solidity or counter-attacking football. The goal is always to win."

Van Nistelrooy emphasized the importance of improving on the training ground and translating that progress into results. "There’s a solid framework here, and my focus is on building on it, improving as a team, and securing points to move up the table." Leicester had also considered Niko Kovač, former Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg manager, and Carlos Corberán, current West Bromwich Albion boss, before selecting Van Nistelrooy to lead the team out of the relegation zone.