Bosnia And Herzegovina
Czech Republic
Hungary
Indonesia
South Korea
United Arab Emirates

Ruud van Nistelrooy reveals Enzo Maresca talks ahead of accepting Leicester City job

sportsmole.co.uk, 2 December 2024, 15:18
Ruud van Nistelrooy has revealed that he spoke with Enzo Maresca before accepting the opportunity to become head coach of Leicester City.

The Foxes confirmed last Friday that they had handed a two-and-a-half-year contract to the Dutchman after parting ways with Steve Cooper.

Van Nistelrooy was in the stands at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon as Leicester succumbed to a 4-1 defeat to Brentford in West London.

With Premier League fixtures taking place in midweek, it is a quick turnaround for Van Nistelrooy and his squad of players as they prepare to take on West Ham United at the King Power Stadium.

Just five points separate the two teams in the Premier League table, upping the stakes ahead of Van Nistelrooy's first game in charge.

Van Nistelrooy reveals Maresca discussions

As recently as the start of last month, it became public knowledge that Van Nistelrooy and Maresca - the former Leicester boss now in charge of Chelsea - were friends away from the pitch courtesy of their spell with Malaga during their playing days.

The pair played out a 1-1 draw when Van Nistelrooy was in caretaker charge of Manchester United on November 3, and the 49-year-old has now revealed that the occasion represented one of several times where Maresca has spoken fondly of his time in the Wast Midlands.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Van Nistelrooy said: "When the first approach was there, you are going to think about the club, the setup, the players, the training ground.

"You're curious about the people who work there and Enzo [Maresca], being a great friend and former teammate, he was the first one to call. What better information could I get?

"When we played against each other in the Premier League - when I was Manchester United interim boss against Chelsea - we spoke for half-an-hour.

"I didn't know yet about Leicester but we spoke about it and he was already very positive [after managing them]. That only got better when I spoke to him. I have to say he was absolutely right, according to first impressions."

Key period for Van Nistelrooy

Keeping Leicester outside of the relegation zone for the remainder of the season will be Van Nistelrooy's primary objective, and the result against the Hammers on Tuesday night could set the tone.

Leicester face a testing fixture list during the remainder of 2024, playing Brighton & Hove Albion, Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Liverpool and Manchester City.

Aside from the home showdown with Wolves, Leicester will be regarded as clear underdogs, and points may realistically be required versus West Ham to give them some breathing space.

Show more

Top News

13 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Como president Mirwan Suwarso has confirmed the Italian club attempted to sign Marcus Rashford from Manchester United in the winter transfer window. 13 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly entered the race to sign Real Madrid-linked defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson will reportedly miss around six weeks of action due to a hamstring injury. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Reece James is set to return to the lineup for Chelsea's Premier League away meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Virgil van Dijk couldn't resist making a dig at Everton players and fans after Liverpool were denied Merseyside's bragging rights at the death. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic's return to the Champions League knockout rounds ended in a 2-1 first-leg defeat against Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic's return to the Champions League knockout rounds ended in a 2-1 first-leg defeat against Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich. 12 February 2025 talksport.com The final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park ended crazily with Arne Slot, Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucoure all getting sent off after the final whistle. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool wing wizard Mohamed Salah both broke a Premier League record and extended one of his existing ones in the Reds' pulsating 2-2 Merseyside derby draw with Everton at Goodison Park. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Everton and Liverpool played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in the Premier League on Wednesday night, with James Tarkowski scoring a dramatic last-gasp equaliser. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Harry Kane has scored his first goal against a Scottish side, firing in for Bayern Munich in their Champions League knockout play-off first leg at Celtic. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Chelsea have been dealt another major injury blow with first choice striker Nicolas Jackson ruled out until April, talkSPORT understands. 12 February 2025 talksport.com West Ham's Jarrod Bowen has planted himself in the history books, and this time, it's in the Queen Vic rather than the London Stadium. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Mohamed Salah made Premier League history with his role in Liverpool's equaliser at Everton. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Reece James and Nicolas Jackson could start Chelsea's Premier League away meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion captain Lewis Dunk is a major doubt for Friday's Premier League clash with Chelsea at the Amex Stadium. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Boavista have announced that they have strengthened their squad with the addition of nine players. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Six days after they locked horns in the FA Cup, Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea will recommence battle when they meet in Friday's Premier League clash at the Amex Stadium. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Everton and Liverpool will both be out for more than just bragging rights in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park tonight. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United reportedly had scouts at Sporting Lisbon's league contest with Porto last week to watch Geovany Quenda following claims that the Red Devils have a deal in place to sign the youngster this summer. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk RB Leipzig are reportedly open to letting Benjamin Sesko leave during this summer's transfer window, with Arsenal and Manchester United said to be among the clubs interested in his services. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola reportedly views Bayer Leverkusen attacker Florian Wirtz as his 'dream replacement' for Kevin De Bruyne, but it will take an astronomical fee to secure his services. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Kai Havertz being ruled out for the rest of the season has created huge problems for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Hilal head coach Jorge Jesus has confirmed that he wants Mohamed Salah at the club next season. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly 'serious contenders' to sign Bayern Munich forward Leroy Sane this summer. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly identified Hertha Berlin youngster Ibrahim Maza as a potential summer transfer target. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United could reportedly battle the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea and Liverpool for the signature of RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba during this summer's transfer window. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Fresh off yet another controversy, Turkish Super Lig's bottom side Adana Demirspor will host Antalyaspor at the New Adana Stadium on Friday to kick off round 24. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo's dream of scoring 1000 career goals has been given a big boost. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk David Moyes should be the manager that leads Everton into the move from Goodison Park to their new state-of-the-art home on Bramley-Moore Dock next season, former Toffees' midfielder Kevin Kilbane has exclusively told Sports Mole.