Exclusive: The key reason why Leicester City chose to appoint Ruud van Nistelrooy as their new manager

Yesterday at 04:24 PM

Leicester City have wasted little time in landing their new manager despite only sacking Steve Cooper on Sunday.

The Foxes parted company with Cooper following their weekend loss to Chelsea and immediately set about looking for their next boss as they wanted him in place ahead of their clash at Brentford on Saturday.

TBR Football revealed that Graham Potter was on their radar once again, following their failed attempts to land him him in the summer, along with former Everton boss David Moyes.

However, it soon emerged that both Moyes and Potter were not looking to be considered and Leicester focused their efforts elsewhere.

• READ MORE – Roy Keane reacts after Ruud van Nistelrooy leaves Man United before Ruben Amorim's first game

Man United legend has agreed terms to take charge at King Power

It soon emerged that Ruud van Nistelrooy was the leading candidate and TBR Football sources confirm that he has agreed terms to become Leicester’s new manager.

TBR Football can reveal that Leicester were focused on free agents in their search and van Nistelrooy was free after leaving Manchester United following his spell as interim boss and no compensation needs to be paid.

Van Nistelrooy – who turned down Burnley in the summer – was also on Hamburg’s list for new head coach, but he was eager to seal a job in England.

Leicester focused their attention on free agents

As well as looking at Potter and Moyes, the club also considered England Under-21 boss Lee Carsley and West Brom’s Carlos Corberan, but compensation packages were due so the club turned their attention elsewhere and van Nistelrooy emerged as the clear favourite.

During his short spell in charge of United, van Nistelrooy claimed two wins over Leicester and we are told that impressed the Foxes’ hierarchy hugely.

Talks took place in recent days and the Dutchman was again understood to be hugely impressive during that process and he was offered the job on Wednesday and terms were quickly agreed.

This will be the second managerial job that 48-year-old van Nistelrooy has taken on. His first was with PSV Eindhoven, which he quit after just over 12-months in charge in 2023.