Ruud van Nistelrooy’s position at Leicester City is increasingly uncertain.
The Foxes have suffered seven consecutive Premier League defeats under his management and now sit 12 points behind 17th-placed Wolves, edging closer to relegation.
Wednesday’s 2-0 loss to Manchester City all but confirmed Leicester’s return to the Championship, prompting frustrated fans to call for Van Nistelrooy’s dismissal, with criticism mounting over his team selections.
The decision on his future lies with Jon Rudkin and club chairman Khun Top, who have already spent a significant sum on dismissing Steve Cooper earlier in the season.
Adding to Van Nistelrooy’s troubles, he could soon be without an assistant manager.
Huddersfield Town target Leicester coach Brian Barry-Murphy
Brian Barry-Murphy, who recently joined Van Nistelrooy’s coaching staff at Leicester, is now being linked with a move away.
League One promotion chasers Huddersfield Town, who recently parted ways with Michael Duff, are reportedly interested in appointing him. According to Daily Mail journalist Mike Keegan, Barry-Murphy is highly regarded by Huddersfield, who are reconsidering their decision to stick with caretaker boss Jon Worthington for the rest of the season.
The West Yorkshire club could be an appealing destination for Barry-Murphy, who has long expressed a desire to become a first-team manager.
Barry-Murphy’s managerial ambitions
Speaking to The Athletic after leaving Manchester City last summer, Barry-Murphy was clear about his ambitions.
“I’ve known for a while that I wanted to move on,” the 46-year-old said. “My time at Manchester City was the most insightful of my football career because of who I worked with.
“But I also have a real desire to test myself on my own terms. Rather than just watching Pep [Guardiola] in awe, I wanted to apply what I’ve learned.
“I had a strong instinct that joining City was the right move at the time, and I’ve had that same feeling for over a year now. It might sound selfish, but I’ve taken what I needed from that experience.”
Given his ambitions, Barry-Murphy would likely jump at the opportunity if Huddersfield made an offer, leaving Van Nistelrooy without a key member of his coaching staff during an already difficult season.
