Ruud van Nistelrooy appointed as new manager of Leicester

Just weeks after leaving United

Former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has been appointed as the new boss of Leicester City after Steve Cooper was sacked last weekend.

Graham Potter had initially been favourite to take over from Cooper but having previously rejected the Foxes advances twice, he reportedly turned them down a third time.

Former Manchester United and West Ham manager, David Moyes was also linked with the role but Van Nistelrooy has been selected to take the reins.

The 48-year-old recently impressed in his stint as interim manager at Old Trafford following the departure of Erik ten Hag.

Van Nistelrooy was unbeaten in his four games in charge across all competitions.

He returned to Old Trafford in the summer for the first time since 2006 as he took the role of assistant manager to Erik ten Hag.

However, upon the arrival of Ruben Amorim, Van Nistelrooy was surplus to requirements as the Portuguese manager brought his own backroom staff.

Speaking to LCFC.com, Van Nistelrooy said: "I'm proud, I'm excited. Everybody that I speak to about Leicester City Football Club is enthusiastic.

"They have great stories about the quality of the people working at the club, the supporters and, of course, the recent history of the club is impressive.

"I'm excited to start and to get to know everyone and give everything I can for the Football Club."

Prior to his time at Manchester United, Van Nistelrooy won the domestic Dutch cup while in charge of PSV Eindhoven in 2023.

The Dutchman had previously been linked with a move to Hamburg where he spent time as a player back in 2011.

The side who currently sit eighth in the second-tier in Germany were still whittling down candidates when the Foxes swooped for Van Nistelrooy.