Ruud van Nistelrooy made the perfect start to life as Leicester City manager with a fine 3-1 victory over West Ham.
The Dutchman had only officially taken charge of Leicester on Sunday, with the former Man United forward and interim boss needing to lift the side after a 4-1 loss by Brentford at the weekend.
Jamie Vardy gave the hosts an ideal start as the Foxes captain put his side ahead in just the second minute.
Despite allowing West Ham numerous shots on goal, Leicester doubled their lead in the second half through Bilal El Khannouss.
Patson Daka added a late third for the hosts, before Niclas Fullkrug scored a consolation effort for West Ham.
Mail Sport were there to analyse Van Nistelrooy’s every move.
Ruud van Nistelrooy enjoyed a perfect debut as Leicester boss with a 3-1 victory over West Ham
TACTICS
Van Nistelrooy made no secret in his first press conference that his Leicester side would play 4-4-2 out of possession but a 3-4-3 when they had the ball with a wide player tucking in to form a ‘box’ in midfield. They did just that with winger Bilal El Khannouss tucking in and left-back Victor Kristiansen bombing forward. That’s how Steve Cooper lined up, too, but he rarely got an attacking tune like this from the players as the Foxes passed and moved far quicker.
He’s still got to work miracles with this defence though. West Ham had 20 in the first half. A more ruthless opponent would, and should, have put a far different feel on Ruud’s opening night.
Victor Kristiansen bombed forward from full back as per Van Nistelrooy’s instructions
BODY LANGUAGE
You might expect that a goal less than two minutes into your first game in charge might illicit some form of raucous celebration. A Jose Mourinho stampede down the touchline, perhaps. Not Ruud. A little double fist pump to the crowd then hands back in pockets. And that’s where they stayed for most of the game. He is Dutch, after all.
He’d use the breaks in play to impart his years of wisdom to his players, with a little word in the ear here and a wave of the hand there.
Only when the second goal went in did he truly let go of his inhibitions. Off down the touchline he went, punching the air as he let out a roar before turning back to the crowd and pumping his fists. Not quite full Jurgen Klopp but enough to get the crowd going.
Van Nistelrooy gave a composed reaction after Jamie Vardy gave Leicester an early advantage
The Dutchman, however, let his inhibitions go after Leicester took a 2-0 lead in the second half
CROWD REACTION
The cries of ‘Ruuuuuuud’ filled the cold night air at the King Power Stadium as the referee blew his whistle for the final time.
It had taken a while, in truth, for his name to ring around his new surroundings. Not until the last 10 minutes, with the game in the bag, did the chants of ‘Ruud will keep up us’ begin. It took 30 minutes for the first audible song in his name to bubble up from a few hundred in the corner of the stadium.
Leicester fans haven’t been the most accommodating to managers here in recent times but a first win, at least, will be a good early tick in their book – and maybe earn Van Nistelrooy a proper song for next time.
His night ended, at least, better than Julen Lopetegui in the away dugout who faced chants from his own fans of ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning!’
SUBS
One of his first moves was to take off Vardy, the man who broke Van Nistelrooy’s own goalscoring record on this ground nine years ago scoring in 11 consecutive games, just before the hour.
Ruud embraced Vardy like a favourite nephew, only one nine years younger than him, tapping him on both cheeks before a warm embrace and a pat on the back.
A minute later, Leicester scored their second and later, Vardy’s replacement Patson Daka made it three. Midas touch, job done.
Van Nistelrooy embraced Vardy as the forward came off the pitch during the second half
FASHION
Gone are the sports casual days of Steve Cooper, stood on the touchline in his trousers and quilted gilet over a three-quarter zip like a seven-handicap club golfer ready for his frosty morning round.
Van Nistelrooy cut a far smarter look in the dugout, another quilted jacket but this time underneath a smart black coat, black jeans and black shoes with the air of a secret service agent.
The stiff East Midlands chill got a bit too much for him and, less than 15 minutes in, out came the gloves. Black, too, of course.
