Ruud van Nistelrooy, the new Leicester City manager, has revealed his surprise at the level of interest in him after his brief stint as Manchester United’s interim boss.
The former Netherlands striker, who replaced Steve Cooper on a contract until 2027, admitted he had other offers before choosing Leicester.
Van Nistelrooy stepped in as United’s caretaker manager for four games following Erik ten Hag’s dismissal. He left last month when Ruben Amorim was appointed, but the period sparked widespread interest in him from other clubs.
“I have to say there were offers and possibilities,” Van Nistelrooy said. “The amount of interest and the options that came up surprised me. I was a little astonished.”
After weighing his choices, the Dutchman engaged in talks with Leicester City.
“I spoke to other people and felt Leicester was a great opportunity,” he said. “It felt right for both parties, which is why we decided to work together.”
Van Nistelrooy managed PSV Eindhoven in the 2022/23 season, leading the team to win the Dutch Cup and finish second in the Eredivisie. He also coached PSV’s Under-19s and gained experience with the Netherlands national team.
Reflecting on his time at United and PSV, he said, “It was only four games at United, but at PSV, we won the cup and the charity shield. The reactions from the football world this time were unexpected and encouraging.”
Taking charge of a Leicester side currently 16th in the Premier League, Van Nistelrooy watched their 4-1 loss to Brentford from the stands on Saturday. He is already focused on the task ahead.
“The expectations are clear: stay in the Premier League,” he said. “It’s a big challenge, but it’s one we must face together.”
Van Nistelrooy will work with striker Jamie Vardy, who famously broke his Premier League record for scoring in consecutive matches during Leicester’s title-winning 2015/16 season.
“It’s a problem he broke my record,” Van Nistelrooy joked. “I told him straight away, ‘We have to sort this out before we can even start together.’”
Despite their past rivalry, the Dutchman had previously congratulated Vardy on his achievement and is now looking forward to their collaboration.
Leicester will host West Ham on Tuesday evening as Van Nistelrooy begins his new chapter at the King Power Stadium.
Discussion about this post