A former head coach at Leicester City was key to Ruud van Nistelrooy taking the job, he has now revealed.
Leicester City sacked Steve Cooper after just 14 games in charge. 12 of those games came in the Premier League and only two of which ended in wins.
Their most recent outing saw the Midlands outfit beaten 2-1 by Chelsea, with former boss Enzo Maresca in the opposition dugout.
The Foxes acted swiftly after that defeat, with Leicester confirming Ruud van Nistelrooy as their new manager on Friday evening.
Fans are thrilled to have Van Nistelrooy at Leicester, while the man himself has already spoken to the media.
The ex-Premier League striker had a lot to say, the majority of which will please supporters.
Van Nistelrooy sent his first-ever message to Leicester fans after becoming new manager on November 29th and also shared his verdict on the club’s top scorer, Jamie Vardy.
Enzo Maresca, Manager of Chelsea, reacts during the Premier League match between Leicester City FC and Chelsea FC at The King Power Stadium on Nove...
Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Enzo Maresca helped Leicester City land Ruud van Nistelrooy
Elsewhere on Friday, the 48-year-old has shared the role the aforementioned Maresca played in him taking the job.
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The Italian spent just one season at Leicester, helping the club secure a swift promotion from the Championship in 2023/24.
Despite leaving his title-winning team after just one year, Van Nistelrooy has now revealed that Maresca gave him a glowing review of the club, as per the Foxes’ official website.
He said: “I have to say, when the interest came, the first one I called was Enzo. He was so positive about it. He absolutely loved his time. When you hear these things, it’s a club you want to be a part of.
“Obviously, with the interest coming, I phoned him and I asked him more detailed questions about the Club, the structures, the people that work there, the squad, the stadium, the fans, the town, the surroundings… it was a fantastic conversation. It’s always a pleasure to talk to him.”
Leicester City unveil their new manager Ruud van Nistelrooy on November 29, 2024 in Eindhoven, Netherlands.
Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images
When will Ruud van Nistelrooy first game as Leicester City manager be
Leicester face Brentford on Saturday in a 3pm kick-off but the ex-Red Devil will not be in the dugout.
Coach Craig Dawson will instead lead the team out against the Bees, with Van Nistelrooy’s first game as boss set to take place on December 3rd vs West Ham United.
In the same interview with the club, the Man Utd legend revealed how much he is looking forward to his first game in charge.
He said: “I’m looking forward to that. The preparation will be short for the West Ham game, but we’ll get to know each other and get our focus on the West Ham game at home.
“It’s a new start and something to look forward to. When the connection is made at King Power Stadium, then we’ll know what can happen there.
“You start to play with 11 and then you go to 12, you get the extra bit there, and it’s something which is vital in this period for the Football Club.”
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