Ruud van Nistelrooy's tenure as Leicester City manager has come to an end by mutual agreement, the club announced on Friday. The departure comes after a difficult season which saw the Foxes relegated from the Premier League. Van Nistelrooy's appointment in late November 2024 was intended to steer the club away from the relegation zone, but unfortunately, he was unable to turn their fortunes around.

Leicester City acknowledged the challenging period under Van Nistelrooy's leadership. Despite the difficulties, the club expressed gratitude for his professionalism, integrity, and commitment. They specifically highlighted his efforts in integrating young players from the academy into the first team. The club wished him well for his future endeavors.

Van Nistelrooy also released a statement, thanking the players, coaches, academy staff, and all the personnel he worked with at Leicester City. He acknowledged their professionalism and dedication during his time at the club. He also extended his appreciation to the fans for their support and wished the club success in the future.

The decision to part ways comes after weeks of speculation regarding Van Nistelrooy's future. Leicester City's relegation with five matches remaining sealed a disastrous second half of the season. The club finished 10 points adrift of safety. There was a possibility that Leicester were unable to sack Van Nistelrooy earlier because it would have affected their latest PSR accounts, which refresh on July 1.

Van Nistelrooy's record at Leicester included just five wins in 27 Premier League matches. Under his management, Leicester also became the first club in top-flight history to endure a nine-game stretch without scoring a single goal at home.

Leicester City is already looking ahead to the upcoming season in the Championship. The team's pre-season preparations are scheduled to commence on Monday, with the existing first-team coaching staff overseeing training sessions until a new manager is appointed. Leicester will begin their Championship campaign with a home game against Sheffield Wednesday.

Several names have been mentioned as potential replacements for Van Nistelrooy. The Championship club have been considering various names for some time, including Sean Dyche and Danny Rohl.