Ruud van Nistelrooy is set to be confirmed as the new Leicester City manager in the coming days, taking over from Steve Cooper, who was sacked on Sunday following a poor start to the season.
The Foxes have moved swiftly to secure the services of the former Manchester United striker, beating out a list of other potential candidates.
Van Nistelrooy’s appointment is expected to be announced imminently, but he will not be in charge for Leicester’s clash against Brentford on Saturday.
Instead, he is likely to take his place in the dugout early next week when the Foxes face a crucial fixture against West Ham United.
As he prepares to begin his reign at Leicester, Van Nistelrooy may look to reshape the team, potentially offering Facundo Buonanotte, the Brighton and Hove Albion loanee, a new role.
Buonanotte has been one of the few Leicester players to impress during the challenging 2024/25 season, but the Dutchman faces a steep task to steer the team away from the threat of relegation.
Chris Sutton’s warning to Van Nistelrooy
The challenges Van Nistelrooy faces extend beyond the pitch. Leicester’s recent struggles have been compounded by controversy off it, including players being spotted partying in Copenhagen less than 24 hours after a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea.
The event, part of the club’s annual Christmas celebrations, sparked further criticism when players were photographed holding a sign reading “Enzo I miss u,” a nod to former manager Enzo Maresca.
Chris Sutton, speaking on the BBC Sport Football Daily podcast, warned Van Nistelrooy about the culture within the Leicester dressing room, suggesting that the players have become “entitled.”
“I think the Leicester players are an entitled group of players who possibly played a large part in Cooper getting the sack,” Sutton said. “It is a really difficult job for [Van Nistelrooy] to go into.
“As Manchester United interim boss, he beat them twice and I don’t know whether that had any bearing on him getting the job. But, at the start of the season, it would have always been about Leicester just staying in the Premier League. Maybe their expectations are higher.”
Former manager weighs in
While criticism has been levelled at the players, Leicester’s ownership has also faced scrutiny for their decision to part ways with Cooper after just 12 league games.
Former Leicester City manager Martin O’Neill has accused the club of fostering a sense of “entitlement.”
“Since 2016 things at Leicester have changed,” O’Neill said.
“They won the Premier League, FA Cup. Then go down and [Enzo] Maresca brings them up. Then they weren’t happy with Steve.
“I shouldn’t say this, I loved my time there, but there is a sense of entitlement there.”
Van Nistelrooy will need to quickly assert his authority if he is to succeed at a club facing criticism both on and off the pitch.
