Van Nistelrooy: Aiming to Boost Leicester Players’ Morale

The former Manchester United striker was appointed last Friday, succeeding Steve Cooper. Van Nistelrooy faces a tough challenge, with Leicester sitting 16th in the league standings, just one point above the relegation zone after suffering three consecutive defeats.

Responding to questions about the need to boost players’ spirits, Van Nistelrooy said:

“That’s exactly what needed to be done. Sunday was the first time I stepped in here—was that yesterday? It feels like it’s been much longer.”

The Dutch manager added ahead of Leicester’s match against West Ham United on Tuesday:

“I held a meeting with the players, and that was the first thing we had to address: the situation we’re in, the challenge we face, and what is necessary to get out of it. It’s hard to make significant changes in just two days, but we’ve started to introduce tweaks in playing style and training sessions. Little by little, we’re building the foundation of a highly motivated and competitive team for this league.”

Leicester faces a challenging December schedule with fixtures against Brighton, Newcastle United, Liverpool, and Manchester City.

The club experienced an extraordinary triumph in 2016 when they won the Premier League but were relegated in 2023. They returned to the top flight under Enzo Maresca, who later departed to manage Chelsea.

Van Nistelrooy credited Maresca, a former teammate at Malaga, as a significant influence in his decision to take the Leicester job.

“You’re naturally curious about those who’ve worked here. Enzo, a great friend and former teammate, was the first to call me. Could I have received better insight than that? When we played against each other in the Premier League—when I was interim manager for Manchester United against Chelsea—we spoke for half an hour. At the time, I wasn’t aware of the Leicester opportunity, but his feedback about the club was overwhelmingly positive. He was absolutely right, judging from my first impressions,” Van Nistelrooy remarked.

Van Nistelrooy, who began his coaching career with PSV Eindhoven in 2022, served as United’s interim manager last month, guiding the team to three wins and a draw in all competitions.

Reflecting on his brief stint at United, the 48-year-old noted its positive impact on his career:

“The aftermath of those matches—the sudden attention and the opportunities that followed—was astonishing. It was just four games. I coached PSV for a full season, winning a cup and a charity shield, and also worked with the national team’s U-19s and seniors, yet I never received this level of recognition from the football world. It was humbling and allowed me to make informed decisions about my next steps.”