Three Best Signings Made by Ruud van Nistelrooy as Manager, Featuring Former Fox

Leicester City confirmed the appointment of Ruud van Nistelrooy as their new manager on Friday.

The 48-year-old Dutchman was in the stands on Saturday to witness his new team suffer a heavy 4-1 defeat against Brentford.

Van Nistelrooy’s arrival at Leicester comes just weeks after he left his position at Manchester United, where he served as part of the coaching staff before taking over as interim manager following Erik ten Hag’s dismissal.

Prior to his stint at United, Van Nistelrooy spent a season managing PSV Eindhoven, where he achieved notable success by winning both domestic cups and guiding the team to a second-place finish in the Eredivisie.

During the 2022/23 campaign at PSV, Van Nistelrooy demonstrated his aptitude for squad-building by signing 12 players, each with varying levels of success.

Among his recruits were a current Premier League star and another player who had a brief spell with Leicester City.

Here are three of the most impactful signings Van Nistelrooy has made as a manager:

Jarrad Branthwaite

One of Van Nistelrooy’s standout signings was the loan acquisition of Jarrad Branthwaite, now a key figure at Everton.

Sent to the Netherlands to gain first-team experience, Branthwaite thrived under Van Nistelrooy’s guidance.

The young centre-back later described the move as “the best thing I could’ve done.”

Since returning to Everton, Branthwaite has established himself as one of the most sought-after English defenders and even earned his senior debut for the national team.

Patrick van Aanholt

Another significant addition during Van Nistelrooy’s time at PSV was Patrick van Aanholt, a player familiar to Leicester fans.

Van Aanholt had spent the second half of the 2010/11 season on loan at the King Power Stadium, excelling in the left-back role.

After spells with Sunderland and Crystal Palace, the Dutch full-back joined Galatasaray in 2021 before moving on loan to PSV in January 2023.

At PSV, he made 21 appearances, scored two goals, and helped the team win the KNVB Cup under Van Nistelrooy’s management.

With Leicester currently looking to strengthen the left-back position, a return to the East Midlands for Van Aanholt might not be out of the question.

Luuk de Jong

Arguably Van Nistelrooy’s most successful signing, Luuk de Jong rejoined PSV following a stint in Spain, which included a loan spell at Barcelona.

In his first season back, de Jong scored 18 goals in 39 appearances, moving past club legends such as Romario and Mateja Kezman on PSV’s all-time scoring list.

His goals were instrumental in securing the team’s second-place league finish, underscoring his importance to the squad.

Van Nistelrooy’s track record of effective recruitment highlights his potential to rejuvenate Leicester City.