Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester Struggles: Player Disputes, Replacement Rumours, and an Uncertain Future

Ruud van Nistelrooy, former Manchester United striker and now Leicester City manager, is under immense pressure as his tenure at the struggling Premier League side continues to unravel.

After serving as Erik ten Hag’s assistant at Old Trafford and briefly taking over as interim manager, Van Nistelrooy took charge of Leicester following Steve Cooper’s sacking.

Despite hopes of reviving the club and boosting his managerial reputation, his time at the King Power Stadium has been marred by poor results and internal conflicts.

Initially, Van Nistelrooy’s reign began positively with a win and a draw against West Ham and Brighton.

However, this brief momentum quickly faded. Leicester have since suffered 15 defeats in their last 17 league matches and sit in 19th place, 17 points adrift of safety.

A 3-0 home loss to Newcastle on April 7 marked a historic low, making Leicester the first team in English professional football to lose eight consecutive home games without scoring.

Tensions have also surfaced within the squad. Reports emerged of a heated dispute between Van Nistelrooy and midfielder Harry Winks, who was omitted from the squad against Manchester City.

The issue reportedly stemmed from Winks’ refusal to stay overnight once a week at the club’s training ground, opting instead for his 90-mile commute—reportedly for personal reasons.

Shortly after, Winks announced the birth of his daughter, suggesting his absence had a personal context.

Additionally, defender Jannik Vestergaard was previously in the spotlight for bringing his dog to training—a move sanctioned as a one-off due to personal circumstances.

As pressure mounts, Van Nistelrooy has called for discussions with the Leicester hierarchy about future plans.

Emphasising the need for “alignment,” he stated that clarity about next season’s direction and his role is critical.

He noted that such decisions “needed to be sorted yesterday,” signalling urgency over the club’s managerial future, especially with just eight games remaining.

Although there hasn’t been a widespread push for his immediate dismissal, speculation about potential successors has begun.

Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior and Sheffield Wednesday’s Danny Rohl have been mentioned as possible replacements, particularly if Leicester are relegated.

Reports suggest Rohl would be a more feasible option financially for a Championship-level club.

According to Sky Sports News, Van Nistelrooy’s future at Leicester remains uncertain.

Both he and the club have yet to decide if their partnership will continue beyond this season, though there are currently no plans to make a change before the campaign concludes.