Leicester, April 22, 2025 — Ruud van Nistelrooy has officially resigned as manager of Leicester City this morning, bringing an end to a tumultuous five-month tenure marked by relegation, fan unrest, and internal instability at the King Power Stadium.
The former Manchester United striker informed the board of his decision in a formal letter handed in early Monday morning, just 48 hours after the Foxes’ 1-0 defeat to Liverpool confirmed their relegation to the EFL Championship. The club has since released a brief statement thanking Van Nistelrooy for his service and confirming that the search for a new manager is already underway.
In the statement, Leicester wrote:
“Ruud van Nistelrooy has today tendered his resignation as First Team Manager. The club respects his decision and extends its gratitude for his efforts during a difficult period. We wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”
Van Nistelrooy’s short stint in charge of Leicester City began with cautious optimism when he was appointed in November 2024. Tasked with steadying a club struggling in the lower half of the Premier League table, the Dutchman was seen as a bold appointment—bringing fresh ideas and a pedigree for nurturing young talent from his time at PSV Eindhoven.
However, the reality was far more unforgiving. Under his stewardship, Leicester won just two of their 20 Premier League matches, suffering a string of demoralizing defeats and setting an unwanted record of nine consecutive home losses without scoring. A promising January transfer window failed to ignite results on the pitch, and disjointed performances became the norm.
Sources close to the club say Van Nistelrooy had grown frustrated with the lack of cohesion behind the scenes, particularly with the club’s transfer policy and long-term vision. His resignation letter is believed to have cited “structural challenges” and “misalignment of goals” as key reasons behind his decision.
Speaking to reporters outside the club’s Seagrave training facility this morning, Van Nistelrooy gave a short but emotional statement:
“I arrived at Leicester with hope and determination, but it has become clear that the circumstances were not conducive to success. I take full responsibility for the results, and I believe it is in the club’s best interest that someone else leads the next chapter. I thank the fans for their passion and support, even in difficult moments.”
Fan reaction has been mixed. While many acknowledge Van Nistelrooy inherited a broken squad and unstable environment, others believe his tactical approach and game management left much to be desired. Calls for sweeping changes at board level continue to grow louder, with club owner Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha and Director of Football Jon Rudkin under increasing pressure.
Jamie Vardy, the club’s veteran striker, issued a message on social media shortly after the resignation was confirmed: “Gutted it’s come to this. Ruud gave everything. We all let the club down this season—time to reset and rebuild.”
As Leicester City prepares for another campaign in the Championship, attention now turns to who will be tasked with rebuilding a fractured squad and restoring pride at a once-thriving Premier League club.
