Ruud van Nistelrooy Departs Leicester After Season to Forget

Ruud van Nistelrooy has officially departed from Leicester City by mutual agreement.

The 48-year-old Dutchman was appointed by the Foxes in November last year but struggled to prevent the club from suffering relegation to the Championship. Earlier in the season, he managed Manchester United on an interim basis, securing three wins and one draw in four matches, including two victories over Leicester, following the dismissal of Erik ten Hag.

After a poor 27-match tenure as manager, van Nistelrooy’s exit from the King Power Stadium sparked a lot of speculation during the summer, which has now been officially confirmed.

In a statement issued Friday morning, Leicester City declared that van Nistelrooy’s tenure as First Team Manager will end immediately. The statement read: “Leicester City Football Club and Ruud van Nistelrooy have mutually agreed that Ruud’s contract with the Club as First Team Manager will terminate with immediate effect. Ruud has overseen a challenging period for the Club. From his appointment in November 2024, he approached the role with professionalism, integrity, and a clear commitment to our aims, including the integration of several promising players from the Club’s Academy into our First Team environment. Ruud moves on with the respect and thanks of everyone at the Football Club for his dedication and hard work, and with our very best wishes for the future.”

In his own words, van Nistelrooy expressed gratitude in the statement: “I would like to personally thank the Leicester City players, coaches, academy, and all the staff I have worked with for their professionalism and dedication during my time at the Club and to thank the fans for their support, and take this opportunity to wish the Club well for the future.”

Leicester further added: “Preparation for the EFL Championship season will continue with the planned start of pre-season on Monday, 30 June. The First Team coaching staff will oversee the delivery of those plans until a new manager is appointed. There will be no further comment until this process has been completed.”

Van Nistelrooy had taken charge in late November on a contract extending until 2027 after Steve Cooper was relieved of his duties with the Foxes languishing in 16th place. The team’s swift relegation was sealed in April after a 1-0 home defeat to Liverpool, marking their ninth consecutive home loss without managing to score.