Ruud van Nistelrooy’s brief stint at Leicester City officially ended on Friday, bringing the curtain down on a disappointing seven-month tenure.
The Dutchman failed to prevent the club from dropping out of the Premier League and oversaw a team that managed just four goals across the opening four months of 2025.
At 48, Van Nistelrooy is now widely considered one of the most underwhelming managers in Leicester’s modern history.
Attention has now swiftly turned to appointing his successor, and the timing may be ideal. One of the club’s top managerial targets is nearing the exit door at his current side, making a move increasingly plausible.
Danny Röhl on Leicester’s Radar
According to The Star, Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Röhl is firmly in Leicester’s sights as they begin the search for a new head coach.
This follows a Telegraph report earlier in the week suggesting that Röhl was likely to appear on Leicester’s shortlist, although they claimed he hadn’t yet. In contrast, The Star asserts that he is already a candidate under active consideration.
Meanwhile, The Telegraph also reported that former Everton manager Sean Dyche is not being looked at for the vacancy, ruling out a return to Premier League management for him—at least at Leicester.
Röhl, who has previously worked as an assistant at Bayern Munich and with the German national team, has been seeking a departure from Hillsborough for several months.
He made his intentions clear back in April, informing the Wednesday board of his desire to move on.
However, securing a move has been complicated by a hefty multi-million-pound compensation clause still active in his contract.
That obstacle might soon be removed. The Star claims that Röhl and Wednesday are now in negotiations that could result in his departure by mutual consent, which would allow a new club—like Leicester—to bring him in without worrying about a large financial outlay.
Röhl’s Impressive Track Record
Röhl has performed admirably in his near-90-game spell at Wednesday.
After a disastrous start to their Championship return, he took over in 2023/24 and masterminded a remarkable turnaround, steering the club to safety with an inspired second-half campaign.
He followed that by guiding the team to a mid-table finish in 2024/25—his first full season in charge.
However, it now seems that his time at Hillsborough is nearing its end.
A Smart Fit for Leicester
Röhl’s reputation is growing rapidly, and with good reason. At just 36, he’s already shown he’s one of the most capable coaches in England’s second tier.
Clubs both in the UK and Germany have been monitoring him this summer.
Given Leicester’s uncertain future—including a possible points deduction and the likelihood of key players departing—Röhl’s ability to thrive in difficult environments makes him a strong contender for the role.
His experience and tactical acumen could be just what the Foxes need in the challenging months ahead.
