Leicester City confirm Ruud van Nistelrooy exit

Leicester City have officially parted ways with manager Ruud van Nistelrooy as the club prepares to return to the Championship following relegation from the Premier League. The decision comes amidst a challenging season that saw the Foxes unable to avoid dropping into the second tier, marking a disappointing end to van Nistelrooy’s tenure.

The relegation was confirmed with five matches remaining in the season, a rare occurrence in top-flight football. Leicester’s relegation at this stage is one of the earliest in history, with only Southampton, Ipswich Town, Derby County, Huddersfield Town and Sheffield United experiencing similar early drops in previous seasons. This record underscores the struggles Leicester faced throughout the campaign.

During his time in charge, van Nistelrooy’s team struggled to find form, managing just four wins from 25 Premier League matches, with a win rate of only 16%. The team scored a total of 17 goals, a stark contrast to van Nistelrooy’s own scoring record when he played for Manchester United. His managerial stint was marred by multiple losing streaks, including two separate seven-game losing runs, and a historic nine-match home losing streak without scoring.

Van Nistelrooy expressed gratitude to the club’s staff and supporters in a statement on the club’s website, thanking them for their professionalism and support during his time at Leicester. The club confirmed that their existing first-team staff will oversee pre-season training as they search for a suitable replacement, with the new campaign set to kick off on August 10 at home against Sheffield Wednesday.

Looking ahead, Leicester is linked with potential managerial candidates including Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl and former Everton and Burnley manager Sean Dyche. The club’s focus now shifts to rebuilding and preparing for their return to the Championship, aiming to bounce back stronger in the upcoming season.