RUUD VAN NISTELROOY is close to making a swift Premier League return as the manager of Leicester City.
The Manchester United legend has been in talks with the Foxes since they sacked Steve Cooper after Sunday’s 2-1 home defeat to Chelsea.
During his brief spell at Old Trafford, Van Nistelrooy guided United to two dominant victories over Leicester – putting eight goals past them in total.
But now he set to be confirmed as the replacement for Cooper, who was dismissed after five dismal months at the King Power Stadium.
Cooper, who previously managed now high-flying Nottingham Forest, won just TWO of his 12 Prem games at as Leicester manager.
Talks have taken place this week with Leicester conscious that SV Hamburg were also keen on recruiting Van Nistelrooy.
The Dutchman is available with no compensation after being axed from his Carrington assistant post by incoming United boss Ruben Amorim.
Leicester currently face Profit and Sustainability issues and, with cash short, they targeted an out of work boss who would not incur a large fee.
The 48-year-old was unbeaten during his four interim matches in charge after Erik ten Hag‘s dismissal.
Leicester, who sit 16th in the Prem, could appoint the former Netherlands international before their trip to Brentford on Saturday.
FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS
Other possible candidates have reportedly been ruled out by sources close to Leicester, who sit one point above the relegation zone.
Those include former Chelsea manager Graham Potter and ex-West Ham boss David Moyes, who are no longer in the running.
Van Nistelrooy may be considered a gamble, but he has management experience with PSV Eindhoven.
In his first season in charge, PSV finished second in Eredivisie to new Liverpool manager Arne Slot‘s Feyenoord but won the Dutch Cup, beating Ajax on penalties in the final.
A week before the end of the campaign, Van Nistelrooy stepped down.
In a statement put out by PSV, it was said that the former striker believed “there was not enough support within the club to continue longer”.
Van Nistelrooy then spent a year out of work, but was desperate to return to the dugout.
He said in the summer: “I would really like to work in Spain and I have had conversations with Spanish clubs.
“But also the other leagues in which I have played, I want to coach there too – in the Premier League.”
Now following his brief stint at United, he appears to have been granted his wish at struggling Leicester, whose last victory came on October 19 against Southampton.
The Prem legend also appeared to form a brilliant relationship with players at United, with many of them sorry to see him earlier this month.
He has been a Uefa Pro-License holder for more than two years.
Van Nistelrooy previously coached the Netherlands team as an assistant to Ronald Koeman at Euro 2020.
He returned to Old Trafford this summer as part of a shake-up of the club’s coaching staff under Ten Hag with Rene Hake also arriving as assistant, but all three left when Amorim was appointed.
Van Nistelrooy lifted a Premier League title, FA Cup and League Cup in a glittering five-year spell at United under Sir Alex Ferguson.
But this time round will be different for the Dutchman, as he’ll be asked to save Leicester from relegation.
The 2015–16 Prem champions were promoted back to the top flight under Enzo Maresca after winning the Championship last season.
But Southampton and Wolves are the only teams to have conceded more goals than the squad at the King Power Stadium.
After Saturday’s match at Brentford, they face West Ham, Brighton, Newcastle and Wolves before Christmas.
It’s then league leaders Liverpool on Boxing Day and Manchester City on December 29.
