Premier League side Leicester City have confirmed the appointment of Ruud van Nistelrooy as the new head coach replacing Steve Cooper at the King Power Stadium.
The Dutchman who briefly took interim charge of Manchester United after Erik Ten Hag’s sacking until 10th November has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the 2023/24 EFL Champions but will begin official work with the Foxes after this weekend.
Ben Dawson is expected to stay as caretaker manager at Brentford on Saturday with Van Nistelrooy in the stands at the Gtech Community Stadium. The Dutchman’s first game in charge will be on Tuesday against West Ham at home.
Speaking to LCFC.com, he said: “I have to say, when the interest came, the first one I called was Enzo. He was so positive about it. He absolutely loved his time. When you hear these things, it’s a club you want to be a part of.
Van Nistelrooy revealed he phoned former Leicester boss Enzo Maresca before taking the job. “Obviously, with interest coming, I phoned him and I asked him more detailed questions about the club, the structures, the people that work there, the squad, the stadium, the fans, the town, the surroundings… it was a fantastic conversation. It’s always a pleasure to talk to him.”
He added: “The way Leicester City played under [Enzo] Maresca, winning the Championship and going into the Premier League, I see also that line continuing in those structures and the idea of playing.
Leicester had considered the former Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg boss Niko Kovac and the current West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan as possible candidates but decided on Van Nistelrooy as they look to climb away from the relegation zone.
Leicester City owner Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha – known as ‘Top’ – who took personal responsibility for van Nistelrooy’s appointment, with director of football Jon Rudkin preparing a list of candidates.
“It is my pleasure to welcome Ruud to Leicester City. He joins a club with a rich history, passionate supporters, and a talented squad, and we are all excited to see the impact he can have as we embark on this new chapter together,” Srivaddhanaprabha told LCFC.com
“Ruud’s experience, knowledge, and winning mentality will undoubtedly bring great value to us, and we look forward to supporting him in achieving success for our fans and our club.”
Van Nistelrooy was appointed as assistant manager at Manchester United in the summer having been out of work since quitting as PSV Eindhoven boss before the end of the 2022/23 season.
Do you have a story or an opinion to share? Email us on: [email protected] Or join the Daily Express WhatsApp channel for all the latest news and trends or join the Telegram Channel for the latest updates.
