‘Being a Great Striker Doesn’t Necessarily Make You a Great Manager’

Ex-Leicester Star Odsonne Edouard Takes Savage Dig at Former Man Utd Hero Ruud van Nistelrooy After Disastrous Foxes Spell

When Odsonne Edouard decided to open up about his turbulent season at Leicester City, few expected him to hold back. The French striker, now thriving back in Ligue 1, has delivered a scathing verdict on former Manchester United icon Ruud van Nistelrooy, claiming that the Dutchman’s reputation as a world-class forward never translated into managerial success.

“Being a great striker doesn’t necessarily make you a great manager,” Edouard told L’Équipe, in what reads as a pointed and brutally honest assessment of his former boss.

The comments have reignited debate about whether legendary players often struggle to replicate their brilliance in the dugout — and in Van Nistelrooy’s case, Leicester’s relegation and his fractured relationship with senior players like Edouard have done little to strengthen his case.

Edouard and Van Nistelrooy: From Promise to Fallout

AFC Bournemouth v Leicester City FC – Premier League

Edouard’s time at Leicester began with optimism. Having joined on loan from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2024, he saw it as a fresh opportunity to re-establish himself in the Premier League after an inconsistent spell in London. Under Steve Cooper, the Frenchman featured occasionally and even hinted at forming a promising partnership with Jamie Vardy before injuries and managerial instability disrupted any rhythm.

Then, in late November, Van Nistelrooy arrived.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker — revered for his ruthless finishing and sharp football brain — was brought in to steady Leicester’s faltering campaign. The expectation was simple: a proven goalscorer guiding a struggling team out of trouble. But what followed was a downward spiral that left both manager and player disillusioned.

According to Edouard, the pair’s relationship soured almost immediately.

“At the beginning, I played a little under Steve Cooper,” Edouard said. “Then things didn’t work out with Van Nistelrooy. I didn’t get along with him, and I found myself blocked for seven months without playing.”

Despite Leicester’s desperate need for goals — they went on a shocking eight-game drought — Edouard was left watching from the stands. The decision puzzled both supporters and pundits alike, particularly given his proven Premier League experience and work ethic.

Leicester’s Collapse Under Van Nistelrooy

Van Nistelrooy’s tenure at the King Power Stadium will be remembered as one of frustration and confusion. The Dutchman won just five of his 27 matches in charge, failed to find a settled system, and oversaw one of the least clinical Leicester sides in recent memory.

For a manager whose entire playing career was built around precision in front of goal, the irony wasn’t lost on fans. The Foxes — once an energetic, high-pressing team known for their attacking flair — became directionless and stale.

Edouard’s exclusion became a symbol of that dysfunction. With Vardy in the twilight of his career and summer signing Patson Daka out of form, many questioned why the Frenchman wasn’t even being given a chance. Behind the scenes, tensions reportedly grew, with Van Nistelrooy accused of poor communication and questionable man-management.

By May, the damage was done. Leicester were relegated, morale was shattered, and Van Nistelrooy was out of a job.

“I didn’t give up,” Edouard reflected. “After training, I would do an even harder session with my fitness coach. I just wanted to stay ready. But when you know you won’t play, it’s tough mentally. That period taught me a lot about professionalism and staying strong.”

“Being a Great Striker Doesn’t Make You a Great Manager”

Edouard’s most cutting line — now making headlines across Europe — hits at a deeper truth in football. Not every great player becomes a great coach.

Van Nistelrooy, who scored over 300 goals across spells at PSV, Manchester United, and Real Madrid, was one of the deadliest forwards of his generation. But translating instinctive brilliance into tactical leadership is rarely straightforward.

“Van Nistelrooy’s name still commands respect,” one Leicester insider told The Athletic. “But the dressing room never fully connected with him. He demanded intensity and precision, but his methods felt rigid. The players couldn’t express themselves.”

Edouard’s words echo similar sentiments voiced by other players who have worked under legendary ex-footballers turned managers — where past glory doesn’t always translate into modern coaching acumen.

From Rejection to Redemption: Edouard’s Revival in France

If Leicester was a chapter to forget, Edouard’s resurgence in France is quickly becoming a redemption story.

After returning to Ligue 1 with Lens, the 27-year-old looks reborn. Trusted as the team’s main striker, he has repaid that faith with energy, leadership, and goals — including a coolly converted penalty in a 2–1 win over Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille. The victory lifted Lens to second in the table and reestablished Edouard as one of the most reliable forwards in French football.

“I feel liberated here,” Edouard said. “The coach trusts me, the fans support me, and I’m enjoying football again. Sometimes, you need to step back to move forward.”

His performances have reignited whispers of a possible recall to the French national setup — an ambition that once felt distant during his frustrating Premier League stint.

Van Nistelrooy’s Reputation Takes a Hit

Leicester City FC v Liverpool FC – Premier League

While Edouard’s career trajectory is pointing upward again, Van Nistelrooy’s path has stalled.

Since his dismissal in June, the Dutchman remains without a managerial post. Despite a promising stint at PSV Eindhoven — where he guided the club to a KNVB Cup triumph — his reputation took a significant hit after the Leicester collapse.

That success at PSV, once seen as proof of his managerial potential, now feels like a distant memory. His short and largely symbolic spell as interim boss at Manchester United, where he oversaw a handful of unbeaten games, only adds to the contrast between past promise and present uncertainty.

In football’s unforgiving world, a single disastrous season can reshape perceptions overnight. The question now isn’t whether Van Nistelrooy was a great striker — that’s beyond dispute — but whether he can ever reinvent himself as a competent coach after Leicester.

Leicester’s Rebuild and Lessons Learned

For Leicester City, the post-relegation rebuild is already underway under Marti Cifuentes. The Spanish manager has focused on stabilising the club’s structure, fostering unity, and restoring confidence.

Sources inside the King Power suggest there’s a conscious effort to learn from last season’s mistakes — particularly around managerial appointments. Van Nistelrooy’s tenure is being studied as a cautionary tale: charisma and a glittering playing career cannot replace tactical coherence, empathy, and adaptability.

The Foxes’ new era is still in its early stages, but there’s a quiet optimism around the club again — something that was sorely lacking during Van Nistelrooy’s chaotic spell.

The Fine Line Between Legacy and Leadership

Edouard’s criticism might sound harsh, but it touches on a wider football truth. The transition from elite player to elite manager has always been tricky terrain. For every Pep Guardiola or Zinedine Zidane, there’s a Ruud Gullit, a Thierry Henry, or now, perhaps, a Van Nistelrooy — icons whose playing brilliance cast long shadows they struggled to step out from as coaches.

Being a striker, after all, is often about instinct. Managing is about communication, structure, and psychology — the ability to inspire, not intimidate. Edouard’s comments aren’t just a personal jab; they’re a reflection of that enduring divide.

What Comes Next?

For Edouard, the future looks bright again. If he continues his current form, a national team call-up or a major European move could well be on the horizon. More importantly, he appears to have regained his confidence and love for the game — qualities that no statistics can measure.

As for Van Nistelrooy, his next move will define the second act of his career. Will he return to coaching, perhaps back in the Netherlands, to rebuild his reputation? Or step away from the sidelines altogether, retreating into punditry or technical roles where the pressure is less suffocating?

Whatever comes next, one thing is certain: Leicester’s 2024–25 season will be remembered as a cautionary tale — a season of mismanagement, mistrust, and missed chances.

Conclusion: Two Careers, Two Directions

In the end, Edouard’s words — “Being a great striker doesn’t necessarily make you a great manager” — encapsulate the gulf between the two men’s trajectories. One is rediscovering himself, thriving in a new environment and proving his doubters wrong. The other is searching for answers, still haunted by a season that unraveled faster than anyone expected.

Edouard has found freedom; Van Nistelrooy, frustration.

And as football so often reminds us, reputations can change as quickly as a ball hits the back of the net — or doesn’t.

For now, the Frenchman is smiling again. And perhaps, somewhere in the quiet of a Dutch morning, the great Ruud van Nistelrooy is wondering how it all went so wrong in Leicester blue.