The worst kept secret in football was finally confirmed earlier today when Leicester City announced that manager Ruud van Nistelrooy had left the club.
The Dutchman was appointed in December following the decision to part company with Steve Cooper. The former Nottingham Forest boss had been in charge for just 15 games in all competitions and left with the Foxes sitting just above the bottom three.
Van Nistelrooy wad just completed a successful temporary stint at Manchester United, holding the fort after Erik ten Hag was dismissed. The arrival of Ruben Amorim saw him leave Old Trafford and he was viewed as the ideal man to steer Leicester to safety.
The 48-year-old endured a torrid time at the King Power Stadium though. He picked up just four victories as the East Midlands-based outfit returned to the Championship at the first time of asking. However, two of those wins came after their relegation had been confirmed in April.
What Took Leicester So Long?
Every man and his dog knew that Leicester would make a change in the dugout this summer, but with the season finishing over a month ago, what took them so long?
It was reported last week that they were reluctant to sack the former Real Madrid striker. That would mean alongside Cooper, they would have to account for two compensation packages in the same financial year. As a result, it was claimed that the decision would be announced in early July.
Of course, it’s not yet July, but the parting of ways has been announced as ‘mutual consent’, which may ease the financial burden.
Who Next?
There have been two men consistently linked with the position over the past few weeks. Alan Nixon reported earlier this month that Sean Dyche is set to land the role, having been out of work since leaving Everton in January.
The situation is more complicated than that though. Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl is said to have plenty of admirers at LE2 and could yet emerge as the frontrunner.
Like van Nistelrooy, the German’s exit is also one of the worst kept secrets in football and it has been widely reported that he is actively looking for other jobs amid the ongoing off-field issues at Hillsborough.
Writer’s View
Few can deny that the situation at Leicester has been somewhat of a mess over the last month. Their financial strains mean that it hasn’t been as straightforward as they would have wished but they can now finally start planning for the new campaign. However, they still have the threat of a potential points deduction hanging over their heads as well as limited funds available for the transfer market. Therefore, the next manager may need some convincing to take the position. This may favour Danny Rohl, who has performed wonders amidst a host of red tape from Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri.
