LEICESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: Jamie Vardy of Leicester City during the Premier League match between Leicester City FC and Chelsea FC at The King Power Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
Ruud van Nistelrooy gets green light for surprise Man United reunion after Leicester nightmare.
The latest Manchester United news as the Leicester City boss has been offered help from one of his former Man United and international teammates.
Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam has said that he would be open to joining Ruud van Nistelrooy’s coaching staff at Leicester City to try and help save the club from relegation.
Van Nistelrooy replaced Steve Cooper as manager at the King Power Stadium at the start of December, just a couple of weeks after a successful four-game interim period in charge of United. After an initial upturn in form with the Foxes picking up four points from their first two games under the guidance of the former striker, things have been harder going in recent weeks.
Despite some performances probably deserving more, Leicester have lost each of their last seven league games. The only reprieve came with a 6-2 win against Championship QPR in the FA Cup third round earlier this month.
The results leave Leicester in 19th position in the Premier League table, two points adrift of safety. They are next in action when they take on Tottenham Hotspur away on Sunday afternoon.
One of the problems Van Nistelrooy has faced is with his defence. Leicester have kept just one Premier League clean sheet so far this season, and individual mistakes keeps seeing them concede goals.
Former defender Stam has now offered his help. Asked on Viaplay if he would be willing to take an assistant manager role at Leicester, Stam replied with: “Yes.”
After apparent surprise from the presenter, he added: “Didn’t you expect that?” Before joking: “Maybe when I go into training for two weeks I can still play a ball.”
He then added more seriously: “If Ruud were to call, I would certainly do so.”
The 52-year-old is currently manager of Dutch side DOS Kampen, having been appointed in the summer. He has previously had spells in charge of Reading, Feyenoord and Cincinnati.
Stam and Van Nistelrooy’s time at United as players only overlapped by a few weeks. Van Nistelrooy arrived at the club in early July 2001, with Stam leaving in late August of the same year.
The two would have however played on the international stage together with the Netherlands. Both players started every game of Euro 2004, helping the Netherlands to the semi-final of the tournament in what was Stam’s final appearances for his nation.
