Leicester City have been encouraged to support Ruud van Nistelrooy in his quest to lead the club back to the Premier League. Appointed as the Foxes’ manager in November with a contract extending until the summer of 2027, the former Manchester United star faced a challenging period, culminating in the club’s relegation following a defeat to Liverpool on April 20. Despite setting an unwanted record of nine consecutive games without scoring at the King Power Stadium, there are calls for the club to give van Nistelrooy a full season to demonstrate his capabilities, with the primary goal of securing promotion.
Paul Dickov said: “I know there’s a lot of people asking questions about his lack of experience in the Premier League as a gaffer, but I like Ruud. I like how he sets up his teams. People have got to remember that he came in at a point where Leicester were already struggling. I think Leicester were always going to struggle this season. It was always going to be difficult. But now they’ve got a chance to reset over the summer. Ruud can bring in his own players. Championship is a tough, tough league. I think we all know that. But I would love to see the board and the owners at Leicester to at least give him a full season.”
Paul Dickov added: “I was looking at it thinking they’ve got very short memories, really. Look, the fans have got the right to protest. But unfortunately sometimes the minority have the biggest voices. I think from what Leicester have done – people talk about the league, then there’s an FA Cup in there as well – and I think it’s just incredible from where they were before that. It’s as simple as that.”
Analysis of Leicester City’s recent struggles highlights the challenges faced by van Nistelrooy since his appointment. The club’s relegation has sparked criticism towards chairman Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha and director of football Jon Rudkin, with some fans expressing dissatisfaction. However, Dickov, a former Leicester player, suggests that the criticism may be unwarranted given the club’s achievements in recent years, including their FA Cup victory.
The upcoming season presents an opportunity for van Nistelrooy to rebuild and potentially guide Leicester back to the Premier League. With the summer transfer window allowing him to bring in new players, the Dutchman could reshape the squad to better compete in the Championship. The support from the club’s hierarchy and fans will be crucial as van Nistelrooy aims to prove his managerial prowess and restore Leicester’s top-flight status.
