- Ruud Van Nistelrooy admitted he is still unaware whether he will keep his job
- Leicester’s relegation was confirmed after losing 1-0 to Liverpool on Sunday
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Why Bruno Fernandes is the Premier League Player of the Season
Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has admitted he is still uncertain whether he will keep his job following the club’s relegation to the Championship.
The Foxes, who have picked up just 18 points from 33 games, had their relegation confirmed with five matches remaining after their 1-0 home loss to Liverpool last weekend.
Van Nistelrooy, 48, was appointed Leicester boss in December following the sacking of Steve Cooper after just 157 days in charge but failed to prevent an immediate return to the second tier.
The Dutchman earned a mere eight points from 20 league matches, while his side haven’t scored in nine home league games, the worst run in top-flight history.
Van Nistelrooy said he has spoken with Leicester’s owners and the board about ‘how we move forward as a club’.
‘I know what my plan is to bring the club back but I am waiting on alignment,’ he said.
Van Nistelrooy said he is still uncertain whether he will keep his job after Leicester’s relegation
Leicester’s relegation to the Championship was confirmed after losing to Liverpool on Sunday
The Dutchman has overseen a run of 16 defeats in their past 18 Premier League games
‘The quicker the better for the football club.’
Although it was hoped that the former Manchester United star could spark an upturn in form for the East Midlands outfit, he has overseen a run of 16 defeats in their past 18 league matches.
Now they must dust themselves off to focus on another push to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking, as they did under Enzo Maresca last campaign before he was snapped up by Chelsea.
On Sunday, a light aeroplane flew close over the King Power Stadium in a protest against the club’s ownership, with the banner: ‘King Power Clueless. Sack The Board.’
Director of football Jon Rudkin has been targeted by supporter chants throughout the campaign. Rudkin is a trusted ally of Leicester and chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha but finds himself in the spotlight for the club’s mixed transfer record in recent times.
Srivaddhanaprabha is also the chairman of Thai travel group King Power, the sponsor and namesake for Leicester’s home ground.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his job, van Nistelrooy believes Leicester should build their promotion campaign around homegrown players next season.
A banner reading: ‘King Power clueless, sack the board’ was flown over the stadium last week
Jamie Vardy today confirmed he would leave the club after 13 years at the King Power Stadium
Meanwhile, 38-year-old club legend Jamie Vardy will leave the club at the end of the season, closing the door on one of English football’s fairytales.
It comes days after Vardy took to social media to express his ‘anger and sadness’ at a season he called a ‘total embarrassment’ and a ‘s***show’.
Although he turns 39 in January, he does not plan to call it a day and has expressed confidence in the past that he can continue playing beyond his 40th birthday.
Confirming the news of his exit, Vardy – who also won 26 caps for England – said: ‘To the fans of Leicester: gutted this day is coming, but I knew it was going to come eventually.
‘It has been 13 unbelievable years at this club, with lots of success, some downs, but the majority all highs. It’s finally time to call it a day, which I’m devastated about but I think the timing is right.
‘I just want to sincerely thank you all for taking you in as one of your own. Leicester will always have a massive place in my heart and I’ll make sure I’ll be following in the years to come in what I hope will be even more success for the club.
‘As for now, this is my goodbye, but you will see me again soon I promise. Thank you.’
