French striker Odsonne Édouard has publicly criticized former Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, blaming the Dutch football icon for his limited playing time and difficult spell at the English club.
Édouard, 27, stated in an interview that his time at Leicester was largely sidelined due to his relationship with the former Netherlands international. “Initially, I played with Steve Cooper, but then I didn’t get along with Ruud van Nistelrooy,” Édouard told French newspaper L’Équipe.
He added, “I spent seven months without playing. Having been a great striker doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a great coach.”
The comments come as Édouard is enjoying a resurgence in form at Lens, where he has scored three goals in six games.
This contrasts sharply with his unproductive period at Leicester City, where he managed only 134 minutes of play.
Van Nistelrooy, a renowned former striker for Manchester United and Real Madrid, took charge of Leicester in late October before his dismissal the following June.
Édouard had joined Leicester on loan from Crystal Palace for the season.