Ruud van Nistelrooy has expressed his disappointment over his abrupt exit from Manchester United, while also signalling his determination to lead Leicester City out of their current struggles.
Speaking during his unveiling as Leicester’s new manager, the Dutchman talked about being removed from his interim coaching role at United but praised new United boss Ruben Amorim for handling the situation with professionalism.
Van Nistelrooy “Hurt and Disappointed” at United Exit
Van Nistelrooy briefly took charge of United following the departure of Erik ten Hag. However, Amorim, upon his arrival, decided against retaining the former United striker as part of his coaching staff — a decision Van Nistelrooy admitted was tough to accept.
“The moment I took over the interim job, what I said was I’m here to help United and to stay to help United, and I meant it. So I was disappointed, very much so, and it hurt I had to leave,” said Van Nistelrooy.
While the decision stung, Van Nistelrooy acknowledged the rationale behind it. “I understand the new manager. I’m a manager myself. You can think of a situation, me being there… I understand.
“I spoke to Ruben about it, and fair enough to him. I was grateful for the conversation: man to man, person to person, manager to manager.”
A New Chapter at Leicester City
Van Nistelrooy’s departure from Manchester United opened the door to his appointment at Leicester City, where he is tasked with keeping the side away from the relegation zone.
Drawing from his playing and coaching experience under greats like Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Bobby Robson, and Fabio Capello, Van Nistelrooy wasted no time asserting his authority with the squad.
During his introductory meeting with the players, he emphasised the importance of mutual respect and revealed he had done extensive homework on the team before taking over.
“I looked at the squad and started to make phone calls about players… with two or three phone calls, you hear stories about 20 players,” he said, subtly warning the squad’s more outspoken members.
While the shadow of disappointment from his United exit still lingers, Van Nistelrooy seems ready to channel that experience into a revitalised leadership approach at Leicester City.
“I needed the best managers to guide me through the phases of my career. I was lucky to have those managers to help me lead in a certain way,” he reflected.
Van Nistelrooy’s first game in charge of the Foxes is a home match against West Ham on Tuesday night.
