Ruud van Nistelrooy is close to making a swift return to the Premier League as the manager of Leicester City. The Manchester United legend has held extensive talks with Leicester’s hierarchy this week and is expected to be confirmed as the replacement for Steve Cooper, who was dismissed on Sunday afternoon.
Van Nistelrooy is exceptionally available without any compensation, having recently left United following a temporary four-game stint in charge after Erik ten Hag’s dismissal.
Other potential candidates, including former Chelsea manager Graham Potter and former West Ham boss David Moyes, have both been ruled out by sources close to Leicester. While Van Nistelrooy might be seen as a gamble, he brings managerial experience from PSV Eindhoven, where he won the KNVB Cup in the 2022–23 season before stepping down near the end of that campaign.
During his temporary spell at Old Trafford, he led United to two victories over Cooper’s Leicester—first in the Carabao Cup and later in the Premier League. He has held a UEFA Pro License for over two years and previously served as assistant coach for the Netherlands national team under Ronald Koeman during Euro 2020.
Van Nistelrooy won the Premier League title, FA Cup, and League Cup during a stellar five-year stint at United under Sir Alex Ferguson. He also played for other heavyweight clubs, including Real Madrid and PSV, and represented the Netherlands in three major tournaments.
Leicester currently sits 16th in the league table, just one point above the relegation zone. After Saturday’s match against Brentford, they face West Ham, Brighton, Newcastle, and Wolves before Christmas, followed by Liverpool on Boxing Day and Manchester City on December 29.