Ruud van Nistelrooy, Leicester City’s new manager, says he was “astonished” by the level of interest he received after his brief stint as interim boss at Manchester United. The Dutchman, who was officially unveiled as Leicester’s head coach on Friday, has signed a contract until 2027, succeeding Steve Cooper.

Van Nistelrooy managed Manchester United for just four matches following the departure of Erik ten Hag but stepped aside when Ruben Amorim was appointed permanent manager at Old Trafford. Despite this short tenure, the former striker revealed he was inundated with opportunities.

Speaking at his first press conference as Leicester City manager, Van Nistelrooy admitted he hadn’t anticipated the flurry of interest that came his way.

“I have to say there were offers there and possibilities. It’s good to have them and look critically at where you’re going to work,” the 48-year-old said.

“What happened after the games at United and the amount of interest, the options that all of a sudden were there for me… I was a little bit astonished. It provoked a reaction from the football world, and I was only happy with that.”

Ultimately, Leicester’s swift and decisive approach convinced him to take on the challenge at the King Power Stadium.

“I went into conversations with Leicester because, having spoken to other people, I thought it was a great opportunity. The discussions felt good, and in the end, both parties agreed this was the right path,” he added.

Van Nistelrooy’s managerial CV includes a full season with PSV Eindhoven in 2022-23, during which he led the team to a Dutch Cup triumph and a second-place finish in the Eredivisie. Prior to that, he gained coaching experience with PSV’s Under-19s and the Dutch national team.

Reflecting on his managerial rise, Van Nistelrooy said: “It was four games [at United], and I managed a full season at PSV, where we won the cup and the charity shield. I’ve been in coaching roles before, but this interim spell at United brought an entirely different reaction from the football world.”

Van Nistelrooy faces a steep challenge at Leicester, with the club currently sitting 16th in the Premier League, just one point above the relegation zone. He watched from the stands as his new team suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat at Brentford on Saturday.

“The expectations are clear,” he said. “They are not easy, but they are clear. Our big challenge is to maintain our place in the Premier League. That’s the main target for everybody.”

The Dutchman takes over a Leicester side that has struggled for consistency this season, and he will have little time to implement his ideas before Tuesday’s crucial home match against West Ham.

Van Nistelrooy will work with Jamie Vardy, the veteran striker who broke his Premier League record for scoring in consecutive matches. Vardy famously netted in 11 straight games during Leicester’s remarkable title-winning campaign in 2015-16, surpassing Van Nistelrooy’s mark of 10.

Joking about the record, Van Nistelrooy said, “It’s a problem, of course, that he broke my record! I told him straight away, ‘We have a big issue we need to get out of the way before we can even start together.’”

He added, “Back in the day, I made a tweet congratulating him on breaking the record and wishing him well. Nine years later, it’s funny how football brings you together in unexpected ways.”

Leicester’s decision to part ways with Steve Cooper after his successful seven-year tenure was controversial, but the club’s hierarchy hopes Van Nistelrooy can bring a fresh perspective to guide them through the current crisis.

The Dutchman’s experience as a player at the highest level and his steady managerial progression make him a compelling choice for the role. Now, his immediate task will be to stabilize a faltering team and steer them away from the relegation zone.

If his confidence and pedigree as a player are anything to go by, Leicester fans might just have reason to believe brighter days lie ahead under Van Nistelrooy’s leadership.