Leicester City has yet to confirm who will be the manager for their Championship campaign next season. Van Nistelrooy came into the English side mid-season but failed to turn their fortune around. Now, his failure to sit down with upper management is raising eyebrows amid uncertainty surrounding the club.
Van Nistelrooy's managerial career thus far
The Dutchman started as an assistant coach for his home country of the Netherlands. From there, he joined PSV and worked his way up to eventually become manager of the first team.
When his former club Manchester United came calling for an assistant manager, van Nistelrooy jumped on the opportunity to work under Erik ten Hag. The fabled club looked to be a good spot for the Dutch international. After the firing of ten Hag, van Nistelrooy was promoted to interim manager for his former club.
Van Nistelrooy had a successful tenure as interim manager, pointing to why Leicester hired him as Steve Cooper's successor. The Dutchman earned three wins and one draw during his time as interim manager, which was impressive considering the season Manchester United was having.
Turning to his time at Leicester, van Nistelrooy hasn't been as near as successful. Given the lack of quality in the players and the tough Premier League campaign he came into, van Nistelrooy can't be blamed entirely for Leicester's relegation. In 27 matches with Leicester, the Dutchman only secured five wins and four draws.
Van Nistelrooy oversaw 19 losses in the 2024/25 Premier League campaign for Leicester. The defensive struggles were overwhelming, with the Foxes conceding 57 goals and only netting 24 of their own goals. Leicester's goal differential was a staggering -33, pointing to problems on both sides of the ball.
Uncertainty over van Nistelrooy's future at Leicester
With summer transfers already beginning, the Leicester City bosses are facing some tough decisions. According to Rob Dorsett on X, van Nistelrooy has yet to sit down with management to discuss his future. The Sky Sports News reporter posted, "He is now with family in the Netherlands, still uncertain about whether he will [be] kept on in the role or not."
Van Nistelrooy does not seem in any rush to try and save his job with the Championship side. His silence points to his reluctance to stay on with Leicester. There haven't been any talks yet with potential replacements, although plenty of rumors are flying around.
Should Leicester move away from van Nistelrooy, Russell Martin looks to be the man expected to get the job. The question is: can he do enough to get Leicester back into the Premier League for the 2026/27 season?