Ruud van Nistelrooy faces a daunting task as Leicester City’s new manager, with the Premier League strugglers sitting just a point above the relegation zone.
The Dutchman was announced on Friday, weeks after leaving his interim role at Manchester United, but watched from the stands as his new team suffered a humbling 4-1 defeat at Brentford on Saturday.
The loss highlighted the scale of the challenge ahead for Van Nistelrooy, who must now prepare his squad to face West Ham at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday night.
His ambition to introduce an attack-minded philosophy may excite fans weary of Steve Cooper’s pragmatic style, but football pundit Danny Murphy has warned that such an approach might not be viable in Leicester’s current predicament.
Speaking on Match of the Day, Murphy said:
“He’s got a hell of a job. I think the first thing is about trying to build some confidence and getting the lads enjoying their football again.
“And then he’s got to make a decision on what style, because obviously the fans have been a little bit disgruntled with Steve Cooper’s pragmatism. But they can’t play too open because we saw what happened today [against Brentford].
“They’ve got some half-decent fixtures coming up. Four home games in the next six is not a bad start for him. I’m excited to see what he can do.”
Van Nistelrooy’s brief managerial record includes a season with PSV Eindhoven, where his attacking style saw the team score 126 goals in 51 games but concede 60.
While effective in the Eredivisie, such an open approach might leave Leicester vulnerable in the Premier League.
The Foxes’ upcoming fixtures provide a mix of opportunities and challenges, with matches against West Ham, Wolves, Brighton, Liverpool, and Manchester City before the new year.
It’s a schedule that offers little room for error, but Van Nistelrooy remains optimistic about building on the foundation laid by his predecessor.
Speaking after his appointment, he said:
“The way Leicester played under [Enzo] Maresca, winning the Championship and coming into the Premier League, I see that line continuing in those structures.
“I can plug into that because I relate to those structures and ways of play. Playing forward and creating chances, of course, is the main goal and translating it into points.
“I have to say, a lot of principles and structures that I see on and off the ball are structures that I used myself a lot as PSV manager and at United, not all, of course, but many of them.”
Van Nistelrooy’s challenge is clear: implement his vision while stabilising a team desperately fighting for survival. Whether he can strike that balance will define Leicester’s season.
