Ruud van Nistelrooy has departed Leicester City by mutual consent, the club confirmed on Friday — nearly 10 weeks after their relegation from the Premier League.
The 48-year-old Dutchman, who joined the Foxes in November 2024 following a short stint as Manchester United’s caretaker manager, failed to prevent the club’s return to the Championship after just one season back in the top flight.
In a statement, Leicester acknowledged Van Nistelrooy’s efforts during what they described as “a challenging period” for the club.
“Ruud has overseen a challenging period for the club,” the statement read. “From his appointment in November 2024, he approached the role with professionalism, integrity and a clear commitment to our aims, including through the integration of several promising players from the club’s academy into our first-team environment.”
Van Nistelrooy expressed gratitude to those he worked with during his time at the King Power Stadium.
“I would like to personally thank the Leicester City players, coaches, academy and all the staff I have worked with for their professionalism and dedication during my time at the club,” he said.
Van Nistelrooy had initially made a promising start, earning four points in his first two games after replacing Steve Cooper. However, the club’s form collapsed with 15 defeats in their final 16 matches, including a record-setting run of nine consecutive home losses without scoring.
Leicester were relegated alongside Ipswich Town and Southampton — the same trio that had earned promotion to the Premier League together in the 2023/24 season. The Foxes, famously crowned Premier League champions in 2016 under Claudio Ranieri, now face a fresh rebuild in England’s second tier.
They will open their Championship campaign at home against Sheffield Wednesday on August 10.
The club may also face a points deduction after being charged over alleged breaches of financial regulations.
