Ruud van Nistelrooy said he was “astonished” by the number of offers he received following his brief spell as Manchester United’s interim manager, as he plans how to keep Leicester in the Premier League.
The Dutchman had four games in caretaker charge at Old Trafford – two of them against Leicester – after Erik ten Hag’s sacking at the end of October. He left the club when Ruben Amorim arrived last month.
Speaking at his first press conference since replacing the sacked Steve Cooper at Leicester, Van Nistelrooy said offers had flooded in.
“What happened after the games and the amount of interest, the options that suddenly appeared for me, and the offers that came in, I was a little bit astonished,” he said on Monday.
“It was four games, and I managed a full season at PSV Eindhoven, where I won the cup and the charity shield. I have been coaching with the (under) 19s and the national team (with the Netherlands), but it never received this kind of reaction from the football world.”
“It provoked these reactions, and I was happy with that – to have conversations with different parties and be able to make a decision that felt right for me. I am happy to be here.”
He said he had enjoyed his “intense” spell in the Old Trafford hot seat and had helped “steady the ship”.
“I really enjoyed it, being responsible, creating a connection with the team, with the supporters, and turning the momentum for the club for a while,” he added. “That’s our job, and it felt great to do it. Now, it feels even better to be in this position to do it again.”
Van Nistelrooy, whose first game in charge of Leicester is against West Ham on Tuesday, takes over a side just one point above the relegation zone after 13 games.
Caretaker boss Ben Dawson oversaw Saturday’s 4-1 loss at Brentford, the team’s third straight defeat.
Van Nistelrooy, a former striker for United and Real Madrid, said he was proud to have been given the opportunity to manage the former Premier League champions, where “expectations are clear”.
“It is a challenge we face, to maintain our place in the Premier League, and that is the big target for everyone,” he said.
The 48-year-old added: “In two days, it’s difficult to make many changes, but we have started making changes in style of play, training sessions, and structure, gradually building the foundation of a highly motivated team that can compete in this league.”
[Punch]