Van Nistelrooy posts one-word Jamie Vardy message as he heads out
Leicester City will be without club legend Jamie Vardy next season but Ruud van Nistelrooy’s future is still up in the air.
Van Nistelrooy has been unable to steer the Foxes clear of the Premier League relegation zone since he took charge in December, but has overseen a dismal record of just four wins, three draws and 17 defeats.
Half of those four victories have come in Leicester‘s last three games after their demotion back to the Championship was confirmed, and that counts for little other than the prospect of an 18th-placed finish.
The Foxes are back up to that very position after they beat fellow relegated side Ipswich 2-0 on Sunday and the result came with a piece of history for Vardy, arguably the greatest player in Leicester’s history.
Vardy sent ‘legend’ message by Leicester boss
Leicester’s victory over Ipswich came in their final Premier League game at the King Power Stadium for the next 12 months at least, and Vardy achieved an historic record of symmetry with the opening goal.
The 38-year-old’s strike in the 28th minute was his 200th Leicester goal in exactly 500 appearances for the Foxes, and came 13 years to the day since his £1million arrival from non-league Fleetwood in 2012.
| Leicester City | Statistics | Ipswich Town |
| 2 | Goals | 0 |
| 0.80 | xG | 1.41 |
| 3 / 9 | Shots on Target | 2 / 20 |
| 51% | Possession | 49% |
| 2 | Corners | 2 |
Vardy and Leicester’s apex was without doubt their shock Premier League title win in 2015–16, in which the former England striker broke Van Nistelrooy’s own record to score in 11 consecutive league matches.
Van Nistelrooy’s future as Leicester boss beyond this season is unclear, but the Dutchman’s admiration for Vardy was made clear in an Instagram post (19 May), in which he said: “500/200. Legend”
Leicester line up Vardy, Van Nistelrooy replacements
The Foxes are on their way back down to the Championship just a year after they stormed to promotion, and Van Nistelrooy looks increasingly unlikely to be Leicester manager next term given his poor record.
Ex-Man United chief scout Mick Brown has told Football Insider that sacked former Southampton boss Russell Martin is the front-runner to replace Van Nistelrooy, but both men are arguably damaged goods.
Vardy, meanwhile, has been linked with moves to several Premier League sides and other clubs north of the border, and the onus will be on Leicester to try and find a striker who can replicate his impact in the East Midlands.