Ruud van Nistelrooy has revealed he was astonished by the number of managerial offers he received after his short stint as Manchester United’s interim manager, as he embarks on his new challenge with Leicester City.
Van Nistelrooy, who spent just four games in charge at Old Trafford following Erik ten Hag’s sacking, admitted he was taken aback by the interest from various clubs. “What happened after the games and the amount of interest, the options that all of a sudden were there for me and the options that came along, I was a little bit astonished,” said the Dutchman at his first press conference as Leicester’s manager.
Despite only managing Manchester United for a brief spell, Van Nistelrooy, who had previously led PSV Eindhoven to cup glory, was surprised by the reactions he received from the football world. “It provoked these reactions and I was only happy with that — and to get in conversations with different parties and be able to make a decision which felt really good for me and I am happy to be here,” he said, reflecting on the outpouring of interest.
Van Nistelrooy takes over at Leicester with the club in a precarious position, just above the relegation zone. The Foxes are coming off a 4-1 defeat to Brentford, their third consecutive loss. In his first few days, Van Nistelrooy has already begun implementing changes in the style of play and team structure, aiming to lay a foundation for success.
Leicester’s immediate priority is staying in the Premier League, with Van Nistelrooy setting clear expectations for his squad. “It is something we face, that challenge to maintain and play in the Premier League and that is the big target for everybody to achieve that,” he said.
The former striker, who enjoyed successful spells at Manchester United and Real Madrid, expressed pride at being allowed to manage a club with high expectations. He said he had relished his brief spell at Old Trafford, which allowed him to connect with the team and the supporters, helping steady the ship during a challenging time.
Leicester’s next match under Van Nistelrooy is against West Ham on Tuesday, as the manager looks to make an impact and steer the club to safety in the Premier League.
