Pundit Richard Keys has slammed Leicester City director of football Jon Rudkin for his role in the club’s recent managerial changes, particularly the exit of Ruud van Nistelrooy. Van Nistelrooy departed the King Power Stadium by mutual consent on Friday, just three days before the players are due to return for pre-season training.
Keys expressed his frustration on social media, questioning why Rudkin wasn’t held accountable for the “bad” decisions that led to Van Nistelrooy’s departure. “Why aren’t Leicester firing Jon Rudkin along with van Nistelrooy?” Keys asked. “How many bad appointments can he get away with? These decisions cost millions. Why aren’t people accountable for them? There isn’t another business in the world where failure is protected like it is in football.”
Van Nistelrooy was appointed as Leicester City’s manager in November 2024, but was unable to prevent the team from suffering relegation to the Championship. His departure leaves the Foxes searching for a new boss, with several candidates already emerging as potential favorites for the job.
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Leicester City’s Statement
The club confirmed Van Nistelrooy’s departure on Friday morning, thanking him for his dedication and hard work. “Ruud has overseen a challenging period for the club,” the statement read. “From his appointment in November 2024, he approached the role with professionalism, integrity and a clear commitment to our aims, including through the integration of several promising players from the Club’s Academy into our First Team environment. Ruud moves on with the respect and thanks of everyone at the Football Club for his dedication and hard work, and with our very best wishes for t
he future.”
