The Dutchman signed a two-and-a-half year deal with Leicester in 2024
Former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is set to see his time at Leicester City come to an end, with the club ready to make a managerial change after their relegation from the Premier League.
Despite his efforts behind the scenes to steady the ship and prepare the Foxes for life in the Championship, the Dutchman is reportedly about to be replaced, with former Southampton boss Russell Martin emerging as the frontrunner.
Advanced talks are underway between Leicester’s board and Martin, whose track record in the Championship is seen as a more pragmatic fit for the club’s immediate future, according to The Daily Mail. Martin guided Southampton to promotion in 2024, before being sacked after poor performances in the Premier League.
Van Nistelrooy, who was appointed to replace Steve Cooper in November after leaving an interim position at Manchester United, has expressed frustration in the past over the uncertainty surrounding his position. Though he has continued working behind the scenes to prepare for next season, the lack of clarity from the top has left him disillusioned.
“My job day to day is, of course, developing and performing in the short term, but also doing everything I can to leave the club in the best position possible,” Van Nistelrooy has said, while lamenting “certain things that are not clear enough” at the club.
