Leicester Interim Coach in the Dark Over Van Nistelrooy Appointment Reports

Leicester City interim coach, Ben Dawson, has expressed uncertainty regarding media reports that Ruud van Nistelrooy is set to become the club’s next manager. British outlets are widely speculating that the former Manchester United striker, who briefly managed the club after Erik ten Hag’s departure, is lined up to replace Steve Cooper following his sacking.

Cooper was dismissed on Sunday after Leicester’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea, leaving the club in 16th place in the Premier League. Dawson, who will take charge of Leicester’s upcoming match against Brentford, was questioned about the rumors surrounding Van Nistelrooy’s appointment at the pre-match press conference.

“Nothing at the moment,” Dawson said. “I was hoping you could shed some light on the situation. We probably know as much as you do and we’re just continuing and focusing on the game tomorrow.”

Dawson admitted that Cooper’s departure was “a little bit unexpected” and acknowledged that the players were taken aback by the news earlier in the week. He also addressed the fallout from a controversial Christmas party held by Leicester’s players in Copenhagen, which sparked negative media attention.

Footage from the event showed a nightclub sign reading “Enzo I miss you,” a nod to Cooper’s predecessor, Enzo Maresca, who left Leicester for Chelsea during the offseason. The club’s Thai owner, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, reportedly met with the players after the incident, expressing disappointment over the leaked images.

Despite the drama, Dawson emphasized that the club had quickly handled the issue and that the players had shown professionalism in the aftermath.

“First and foremost, the lads had a couple of days off and it’s their decision what they do with their time off,” Dawson explained. “The issue you mentioned, the club have dealt with pretty quickly early in the week. Everybody has moved on and the lads have been really professional and worked well.”

As Dawson focuses on preparing the team for their next match, Leicester supporters continue to wait for clarity on who will take charge of the club long-term.