The 2024/25 campaign for Leicester City saw tremendous lows for the once Premier League winners. This came off the back of the jubilation under Enzo Maresca, who captivated the players and fans alike. Whether it was performances, managerial options, or transfers, the club often disappointed the fans.
Leicester City Turmoil Explained Following Van Nistelrooy Exit
Lack Of Business
As reported this morning, Ruud Van Nistelrooy has parted ways with the East Midlands outfit. This came as no surprise given how poorly his side performed in parts of last term, having suffered relegation with five games to go. However, recent reports from John Percy suggest that there were even more underlying issues.
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For example, promises like three new signings in the January transfer window didn’t come to fruition. The team was only able to bring in one recruit, full-back Woyo Coulibaly from Parma, who quickly realised he wasn’t part of the plans and only played five times. The lack of business was due to the club’s financial restrictions, which have been lingering for many years now.
By early January, the Foxes’ demise was already apparent, and change proved to be essential. Players like Jamie Vardy became relied upon too much, and there was a lack of quality at both ends of the pitch. This links back to prior issues in the summer of 2024, as Premier League experience was at the forefront of business. The likes of Jordan Ayew and Bobby Decordova Reid arrived but struggled to remain effective.
Another issue in the transfer market was the loan move for Odsonne Édouard. Percy reported back in February that the loan fee for the Frenchman stood at a staggering £2.5 million. In addition to this blunder, Édouard did not have a recall option in the deal agreed with Crystal Palace. This meant that there was no opportunity to swap it for another loan leaving the club were stuck with the forward, who appeared just six times.
Issues With The Players
It was evident that Maresca and his players had a great relationship throughout their title-winning season. Figures such as Harry Winks and Conor Coady openly praised the current Chelsea manager. Even during the most recent season, players were in a nightclub with a card saying “Enzo I miss u”.
Therefore, issues between coaches and players seem to have been prominent following a positive tenure in the Championship. Steve Cooper’s dismissal whilst the Foxes were in 16th place clearly suggests this, as he also seemed to clash with the top figures in the dressing room.
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Similar to this, both Winks and Jannik Vestergaard fell out with Van Nistelrooy. He excluded both players from his plans after they refused to stay late at the training ground, which led to neither player starting a game since February. Percy also adds that the Dutchman was ‘stunned’ when players resisted simple functions like strength and conditioning training.