How Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Man Utd exit has left Premier League manager looking over his shoulder after stuttering start
STEVE COOPER may be looking over his shoulder at Leicester — as managerial options come on the horizon.
Chief Cooper has struggled for results since taking over when Enzo Maresca moved to Chelsea.
The ex-Nottingham Forest manager, 44, was picked ahead of Graham Potter and Ruud van Nistelrooy as Foxes gaffer.
But Potter is itching for a return now he has missed out on the Manchester United and England hotseats.
Dutch giants Ajax and West Ham are also possibles and he would be open to a Prem job if he had time to influence their season.
And Dutchman Van Nistelrooy enhanced his reputation as caretaker-boss at Man Utd.
Foxes experts claim Cooper has until the end of the year to impress before a call is made.
Leicester went into the November international break 15th in the Premier League table.
They have won just two of their 11 games thus far, drawing four and losing five.
Last time out they were beaten 3-0 by Man Utd, managed by Van Nistelrooy, at Old Trafford.
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After the game, Cooper told the BBC: “The result will paint the picture but in the end we didn’t show enough desire in either penalty area.
“We let two unopposed shots from outside the area for the goals.
“Two of the goals have come from our corners as well which is frustrating. It wasn’t a dangerous position but we made it dangerous.
“At the other end we got into good areas but didn’t show that same desire.
“Our general play was fine but in the end we didn’t have the purpose. We had good spells, we were in the game, it didn’t feel like they were going to score the next goal.
“We can’t just say we missed Jamie Vardy, we can’t be reliant on that.”