Ruud Van Nistelrooy is set to be named as the new manager of Leicester City, after the Foxes sacked Steve Cooper on Sunday after just 14 games in charge.
Van Nistelrooy was recently interim manager at Manchester United for four games and said he was ready to get back into management, now it looks like he will get that chance at the King Power Stadium.
On Wednesday night, Fabrizio Romano reported that agreement had been reached and documents had been signed. An official announcement is likely to come at some stage on Thursday.
Familiar foe becomes the boss
Leicester fans have already experienced Van Nistelrooy’s management up close this season, with two of his four games at the helm of Manchester United came against the Foxes at Old Trafford.
The first game saw United record a 5-2 win in the Fourth Round of the Carabao Cup, with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes both scoring a brace. Eleven days later they met again in the Premier League, with United winning 3-0 with Fernandes again on the scoresheet.
Overall Van Nistelrooy’s four games in interim charge saw United win three and draw one, scoring eleven goals in the process. Leicester fans will certainly be hoping he can translate some of that form to their side.
How have Leicester been performing?
Van Nistelrooy takes over a Leicester side 16th in the Premier League with 10 points, two places and one point above the relegation zone after 12 games, just two of these have been wins.
They started off the season with a 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham, but they failed to win any of their six games, until a 1-0 win over Bournemouth was followed up with a 3-2 win at fellow newly promoted side Southampton.
However they have picked up just one point from four games since with Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat by Chelsea, their sixth loss of the season, proving to be the end of the line for Steve Cooper having only arrived in the summer.
As if their on pitch struggles weren’t enough their front of shirt sponsor, Curacao based cryptocurrency firm BC.GAME, is about to lose its licence after being found to be running a large illegal betting network.
What can Leicester expect from Van Nistelrooy?
Van Nistelrooy previously spent the 2022-23 season in charge of PSV Eindhoven where he won the Johan Cruyff Shield and KNVB Cup, the Dutch equivalents of the Community Shield and FA Cup.
During that season, Van Nistelrooy utilised a classic Dutch 4-3-3 system which saw his team build from the back. While ensuring his side had an extra man up front while in possession, during the buildup his central midfielders would drop deeper to collect the ball from the centre backs.
Following this, the focus would then be on the wingers getting out wide while the full backs would cut inside in order to give extra help to the midfield. These overloads are a key part of Van Nistelrooy’s system.
What’s coming up for Leicester?
There certainly won’t be much time for Van Nistelrooy to settle in, with games coming thick and fast as his new side will face five games between now and Christmas. His first game in charge on Saturday will be a trip to Brentford.
This is followed by back-to-back home games West Ham United and Brighton and Hove Albion before a trip to Newcastle United and a home clas with fellow strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers before Christmas.
Ironically, Van Nistelrooy managing the side that knocked Leicester out of the Carabao Cup means he now only has Premier League games to concentrate on before the FA Cup Third Round on 11 January. He faces his former club on 15 March.