Ruud van Nistelrooy ‘astonished’ by level of interest following Man Utd stint

Ruud van Nistelrooy has admitted feeling surprised at the level of interest in his services following what was only a brief period as interim Manchester United manager last month.

Van Nistelrooy had just four games in charge of his former club following the dismissal of compatriot Erik ten Hag, winning three times and drawing once.

Only 18 days after leaving Old Trafford following the appointment of Ruben Amorim, the Dutchman was announced as Steve Cooper’s replacement at Leicester City.

The Foxes might not have been his only opportunity either, which caught Van Nistelrooy off-guard, considering he had previously been an assistant coach with the Netherlands national team and a trophy-winning head coach at PSV Eindhoven without the same surge of approaches.

“To be fair, what happened after those games [in charge of United], the amount of interest that was, all of a sudden, there for me and the options that came along…I was astonished a little bit by it,” Van Nistelrooy explained in his first press conference as Leicester boss.

“It’s only four games and I’ve managed a full season at PSV, able to win the [KNVB] Cup and the [Johan Cruyff] Shield and the year before with Jong PSV. I’ve been in coaching as well with the national team and it never got this reaction from the football world.

“Apparently, [being at United] provoked this reaction and I was only happy with that, to get into conversations with different parties and make a decision that felt really good for me. And, now I’m [at Leicester].”

Van Nistelrooy will take charge of his first Leicester game on Tuesday night when West Ham United are visitors to the King Power Stadium. He inherits a Foxes side, promoted back to the Premier League this season, in 16th place, one point above the relegation zone and win-less since October.