Huge Mistake Leicester City Will Pay For This Season

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 10: Mads Hermansen of Leicester City looks dejected after the team's ... [+] defeat in the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Leicester City FC at Old Trafford on November 10, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

In soccer's fierce rivalries, the benefit of the doubt is earned, not given.

Anyone who requires evidence need only look at Steve Cooper, who found to his detriment that crossing the bitter East Midlands divide from Nottingham Forest to Leicester City was an insurmountable task.

Unlike his successor, Ruud Van Nistelrooy or, indeed, the vast majority of coaches who'd come before him at the King Power Stadium, the former Swansea City boss was viewed with a suspicious side-eye from the moment he walked through the door.

It was ridiculous; Cooper had spent a mere two years at the City Ground, far less than the decade former Leicester City Premier League-winning captain Wes Morgan had spent at his boyhood club.

Perhaps it was what he'd done at Forest that caused the distrust. It was a qualification for the job that he'd managed to assemble a disparate array of players into a coherent team that won and then retained top-flight status in Nottingham.

The achievement broke decades of lower-division soccer in the city and, in doing so, granted him almost legendary status amongst the fans.

That he was then fairly swiftly disposed of by the Forest hierarchy mattered little to the Leicester City support; their rival's love tainted him.

Cooper, as he always does, approached the situation in a level-headed manner, making all the correct statements when facing unrest from fans in what should have been a period of initial grace.

Struggling to a penalty shootout win over League 2 Walsall at the end of September, the fans emphasized that the former Forest boss would be singled out when things weren't going well.

As the Foxes toiled, the 2,000 Leicester fans barracked him with chants of" Cooper, sort it out" and "This is embarrassing."

There should have been respect for the way he took it on the chin after the game, but if there was, it was short-lived.

"I obviously heard the chanting from the crowd, I'll own it and you'll never hear me having any disrespect to fans' opinions," Cooper told the media.

"We have to build some credit with the supporters to do the job, but I knew that anyway. It's things like that which will make me even more committed to do well, because I'm desperate to do that.

"I want to do well for this football club – I've bought into what it stands for, I take that responsibility seriously.

"Nobody said this season would be easy. It's going to be a challenging season but nobody is up for it more than me.

Following that game, the Foxes' form improved, with two wins against Bournemouth and Southampton.

Although progress was tempered by a 1-3 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, having performed reasonably well in more demanding games against Manchester United and Chelsea and with a slightly more forgiving run of games to come, Cooper was in a good position.

Yet Leicester City still pulled the trigger. He was fired.

EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS - NOVEMBER 29: Leicester City unveil their new manager Ruud van Nistelrooy on ... [+] November 29, 2024 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)

In the media, there was surprise and outrage at the call.

Former Leicester City goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer told the BBC he was "a little bit surprised."

"Leicester is not known for being a club that will sack managers quickly," he said. "They are not known to panic.

"At times some would say that perhaps they have held on too long to some managers.

"You did hear after the last few games that Cooper was pointing his finger a lot at the officials for decisions that had gone against Leicester and perhaps cost them."

Fellow pundit Chris Sutton echoed that sentiment, saying he "cannot believe" the Welshman was relieved of his duties.

"I think they have had a reasonable start to the season; they are not in the relegation zone," he added.

"The three promoted sides last season went straight back down. I think that decision is really harsh."

His replacement, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, is an appointment that cannot be disguised as anything but an incredibly risky one.

The legendary Premier League striker has just one season as a manager under his belt. He was the coach of PSV Eindhoven, where he finished second and won the cup.

No one can pretend that experience adequately prepares for a tough relegation battle in a far harder league. This is not to say he won't succeed, but his CV does not currently suggest that he has the tools to do so.

Ironically, his only experience managing in England has mainly come against Leicester City, as Van Nistelrooy played the Foxes twice during his spell as interim boss of Manchester United.

The Dutchman won both games, but you would hope that such a short-term impression did not influence the decision-making process.

Bizarrely, the BBC hailed his 'impact' during that short period in charge of the Red Devils as an indicator of what was to come at Leicester City.

"Van Nistelrooy could have been forgiven for regretting returning to Manchester United given how short his stint was back at Old Trafford. But it turned out to be an astute move," wrote reporter Simon Stone.

"Had the former PSV Eindhoven boss not answered the call from fellow Dutchman Ten Hag, he could well have been plotting a promotion campaign at Burnley.

"Instead, he is taking the direct route back to the Premier League with Leicester. It is probably too simplistic to say Van Nistelrooy has got the job because of the two wins he managed against the Foxes while in interim charge, but it can't have done any harm.

"He dealt with the media well, is clearly focused on game day - judging by the number of times he strays into the opposition technical area - and exudes a calm authority.

"Leicester must hope he can have the same kind of impact at the King Power as he had at United."

Stone's take must be the most favorable reading of the appointment.

The truth is that with a threadbare CV, Van Nistelrooy is little more than a big name. Steve Cooper's firing was a huge mistake, and Leicester City will pay for it this season.