As a player, Ruud van Nistelrooy proved to be one of the greatest finishers in Premier League history. Now he gets a chance to manage in the world’s biggest league after succeeding Steve Cooper at Leicester City.
Van Nistelrooy returned to Manchester United in the summer as Erik ten Hag’s assistant, but became interim manager for a four-game period following a change in management.
Ruben Amorim’s arrival came with the announcement that Van Nistelrooy would no longer be part of the coaching staff. United are taking a new route under their new head coach and Van Nistelrooy helped stop the rot with three wins and one draw.
After leaving United, it was reported that Van Nistelrooy was keen to make a quick return to work. He had turned down several offers to become a manager in the summer.
Only 18 days after leaving Old Trafford, the Dutchman was announced as Steve Cooper’s replacement at Leicester City. There will now be extra demand for Premier League tickets at the King Power Stadium.
Van Nistelrooy surprised at level of interest
Although Van Nistelrooy is new to the managerial world, he’s not a compete rookie having won a trophy as head coach at PSV Eindhoven. He also held the role as an assistant coach with the Netherlands national team.
That doesn’t change the fact Van Nistelrooy is surprised by the level of interest he attracted after leaving United as a coach.
“To be fair, what happened after those games [in charge of United], the amount of interest that was, all of a sudden, there for me and the options that came along…I was astonished a little bit by it,” Van Nistelrooy explained in his first press conference as Leicester boss.
“It’s only four games and I’ve managed a full season at PSV, able to win the [KNVB] Cup and the [Johan Cruyff] Shield and the year before with Jong PSV. I’ve been in coaching as well with the national team and it never got this reaction from the football world.
“Apparently, [being at United] provoked this reaction and I was only happy with that, to get into conversations with different parties and make a decision that felt really good for me. And, now I’m [at Leicester].”
Van Nistelrooy inherits a side in 16th place after just being promoted back to the Premier League this season. His job will be to save them from the drop.
