Leicester City hired Ruud van Nistelrooy in November 2024 with hopes of reviving the club’s former successes at the King Power Stadium. The expectation was that some of the magic from his playing days at Manchester United would transfer to the Foxes players, especially after Steve Cooper was dismissed following just two wins in the league.
Van Nistelrooy’s first match led to a convincing 3-1 victory over West Ham, raising hopes for a turnaround, particularly since he had previously secured three wins and a draw in his four interim games with the Red Devils.
Though circumstances may have allowed for a continuation of Van Nistelrooy’s role under new management by Ruben Amorim, the Portuguese coach made his intentions clear about wanting his own team, paving the way for Van Nistelrooy to explore opportunities elsewhere.
Leicester welcomed the former player, but the 3-1 win over West Ham masked significant issues that would trouble the 48-year-old for the remainder of the 2024/25 season. In that match, West Ham dominated, holding 61.1% possession and outshooting Leicester 31 to 8—a clear indicator of potential failures to come.
Pressure mounts after slow start
By the time Leicester managed their second league victory under Van Nistelrooy, a 2-1 win against Tottenham in late January, doubts about his effectiveness began to surface. A subsequent 2-2 draw against Brighton, followed by a dismal run of seven straight defeats, suggested that Leicester was struggling with the wrong fit at the helm.
Record home struggles and relegation fears
As Leicester lost nine consecutive Premier League matches while only managing one goal against Manchester United, their 2-2 draw against Brighton offered little solace before their relegation became a reality after Liverpool‘s 1-0 win solidified their position in the title race. Leicester also made unwanted history by being the first team in the English top flight to go nine consecutive home matches without scoring.
Key players underperform
Only ten players contributed to Leicester’s tally of just 27 goals this season, with Jamie Vardy, now 38, scoring a mere seven. The failure of Van Nistelrooy to maximize the potential of his forwards is puzzling, especially given Vardy’s decision to leave the club soon after. Leicester’s struggles extended beyond just scoring; their passing accuracy was dire, with only Harry Winks completing over 80% of his passes.
Criticism of fighting spirit
The lack of effort from the squad, seen in just four players making over 100 ball recoveries, highlighted a disappointing work ethic in a relegation battle. With only Jannik Vestergaard winning more than half of his one-on-one battles, it raised questions about the commitment of the players, which Van Nistelrooy has yet to instill in his team.
Future uncertainties for Van Nistelrooy
With such a disappointing management record (P21 W2 D2 L17), it’s quite likely Leicester will consider parting ways with Van Nistelrooy. The history of former players like Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, and Frank Lampard shows that a famed playing career doesn’t guarantee success in management. The real question for the club is whether they will take another risk on a manager with such a poor trajectory moving forward.
