The 48-year-old Dutchman took charge in November 2024. He inherited a team struggling for form. He won just five of his 27 Premier League matches in charge, whilst suffering 19 defeats.
Leicester became the first club in top-flight history to go nine home games without scoring. Their return to the Championship was confirmed with five matches left to play. The team finished the season 10 points adrift of safety.
Van Nistelrooy had asked for clarity on his future as far back as early May, soon after relegation became certain. However, his official departure was not announced until Friday morning, more than nine weeks later. This long wait was due to a rule around the club’s financial fair play accounts.
Leicester were unable to end his contract sooner. Doing so would have impacted their latest Profitability and Sustainability (PSR) reports. These important accounts refresh on 1 July. Former Foxes striker Matt Fryatt called the drawn-out exit “baffling” and “a mess” earlier in June. The delay meant the club could not start its search for a new boss immediately.
Leicester released a statement about the manager’s exit. They said, “Ruud has overseen a challenging period for the club.” The statement added that he showed “professionalism, integrity and a clear commitment to our aims.”
The club also said Van Nistelrooy helped bring “several promising players from the club’s academy” into the first team. They wished him “very best wishes for the future.”
Van Nistelrooy also shared his thoughts on leaving. He said, “I would like to personally thank the Leicester City players, coaches, academy and all the staff I have worked with.” He added that he wished the club “well” for the future.
Van Nistelrooy’s appointment came after Steve Cooper was sacked. Cooper had only been in charge for three months himself. He oversaw three wins and seven losses from 15 games across all competitions. Before Cooper, Enzo Maresca led Leicester to the Championship title in the 2023-24 season, before leaving for Chelsea.
When Van Nistelrooy took over, Leicester were 16th in the Premier League table. They were just one point above the relegation places. The challenge was clear, but he could not keep them up.
The club now faces a double challenge. Not only are they planning for a second season in the Championship in three years, but they also face a potential points penalty. The English Football League (EFL) has charged Leicester for allegedly breaching its financial rules. This charge could hit them hard for the upcoming season.
Leicester are now fully focused on finding the right person to lead them forward. Sean Dyche, who has experience with Everton and Burnley, is strongly linked to the role. Danny Rohl is another name the club are considering as they draw up a shortlist of candidates.
The first-team coaching staff will oversee the start of pre-season work. The club hopes to bring in a new boss before the Championship campaign starts. Leicester kick off their season away to Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday, 10 August.
