Kristina Roberts
Leicester City has officially announced that their manager, Ruud van Nistelrooy, will no longer be in charge of the team. The decision comes more than two months after the club was relegated from the Premier League. Van Nistelrooy, a former star player for Manchester United, took over as Leicester’s manager in November 2024 but struggled to turn the team’s fortunes around.
During his time as manager, Leicester won only five out of 27 matches and lost 19 games. Their poor performance led to relegation, which was confirmed with five matches still left in the season. Despite this, Van Nistelrooy stayed in his role until the end of the season and even remained for another month before finally leaving. Some fans and former players, like ex-Foxes striker Matt Fryatt, called the delay in his departure “baffling” and “a mess.”
Now, Leicester must prepare for life in the Championship, England’s second-tier football league. However, they face another challenge—a possible points deduction due to financial rule violations. The club has been accused of breaking the English Football League’s spending regulations, which could make their return to the Championship even tougher.
In a statement on Leicester’s website, Van Nistelrooy said, “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.” He also wished the club well for the future.
As Leicester begins searching for a new manager, names like Sean Dyche—former boss of Everton and Burnley—have been linked with the job. For now, the club’s first-team coaches will handle pre-season training while the management looks for a permanent replacement. The new Championship season starts on August 10, with Leicester facing Sheffield Wednesday in their first match.
Van Nistelrooy’s appointment last year came after Steve Cooper was sacked. Cooper had only managed the team for three months, winning three games and losing seven. Before Cooper, Enzo Maresca was in charge and led Leicester to the Championship title in the 2023-24 season before leaving for Chelsea. Interestingly, Van Nistelrooy had previously worked as an assistant at Manchester United and even briefly managed the team as a caretaker before joining Leicester.
His first game in charge was a win against West Ham, but things quickly went downhill. By December, Leicester had slipped into the relegation zone, and except for a brief improvement in late January, they remained in the bottom three for the rest of the season. Their struggles were historic—Leicester became the first team in English top-flight history to lose nine home games in a row without scoring a single goal.
The club now faces a difficult road ahead. Returning to the Premier League will not be easy, especially if they start the season with a points penalty. Fans will be hoping that the next manager can bring stability and success back to the King Power Stadium. For now, Leicester must regroup, learn from their mistakes, and focus on rebuilding for the future.
Football is full of ups and downs, and Leicester City has seen both in recent years. From winning the Premier League in 2016 to now fighting in the Championship, the club has experienced dramatic changes. The departure of Van Nistelrooy marks the end of another challenging chapter, but the fans remain hopeful that better days are ahead.
The new manager will have a big task—getting the team back to winning ways and restoring confidence among the players and supporters. Leicester’s journey in the Championship will be closely watched, and everyone connected to the club will be eager to see if they can bounce back stronger.
For now, the focus is on preparing for the new season and making sure the team is ready to compete. The players will need to work hard, the management must make smart decisions, and the fans will continue to show their support. Football is unpredictable, but one thing is certain—Leicester City will not give up without a fight.
The story of Leicester City is far from over. With new challenges come new opportunities, and the club will be determined to write a successful next chapter. As they say in football, the game goes on, and Leicester will be ready for whatever comes next.
