Leicester City’s Next Manager: The Dream Picks, Underrated Gems, and Sentimental Favorites
When Leicester City celebrated their Championship title win at Preston North End a few weeks ago, the last thing on anyone’s mind was searching for a new manager.
Despite Enzo Maresca’s complaints about recruitment and concerns about the upcoming summer transfer window, there was no clear indication that a change in management was imminent.
However, on Monday, the unexpected happened. Maresca was lured by the allure of London and, despite Chelsea’s Profitability & Sustainability Rules concerns, he was named their new manager.
This left Leicester not only calculating their PSR figures but also seeking a new manager to build a team capable of surviving in the Premier League despite any constraints they might face.
At LeicestershireLive, we reviewed the potential candidates and assessed their suitability for the role.
In a twist of football irony, Leicester might replace Maresca with a manager who last worked at Chelsea.
The 49-year-old has been available since Todd Boehly dismissed him in April 2023. Despite numerous job openings and links to various clubs, he has not returned to management.
Reports suggest Potter is waiting for a top-tier job like those at England or Manchester United, making a move to Leicester unlikely. However, the fit seems ideal. Potter could restore his reputation in the Premier League with a squad that plays possession-based football, a style he honed at Brighton and Swansea. Transitioning from Maresca to Potter could be seen as an upgrade.
Carlos Corberan’s West Brom posed one of the toughest challenges for Leicester at home last season, with Maresca’s team narrowly winning thanks to Hamza Choudhury’s goal-line save.
Corberan’s team is known for its organization and his meticulous attention to detail, qualities he has shown throughout his coaching career. Despite his lower profile, Corberan’s tactical acumen and man-management skills are impressive. He led a striker-less West Brom to the play-offs this season and almost achieved a top-six finish in 2022/23. He also took Huddersfield to the play-off final in 2021/22. His rise began as part of Marcelo Bielsa’s staff at Leeds United.
Nigel Pearson, who orchestrated Leicester City’s 2014/15 great escape and is credited with laying the groundwork for their title-winning team, has had two stints at the club. He first led them to the 2009 Championship title and repeated the feat in 2014. His crowning achievement came in 2014/15 when he guided Leicester from bottom at Christmas to a 14th-place finish.
Since leaving Bristol City last October, he has been out of the game, but adding former players Andy King and Esteban Cambiasso to his staff could be appealing.
Chris Hughton, now managing Leicester’s sister club OH Leuven, is another potential candidate. His experience and regular communication with Leicester’s director of football, Jon Rudkin, make him a cost-effective option amidst PSR concerns. Hughton, who has managed several clubs including Watford and Brighton, has expressed his desire to manage in England again.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, the former Manchester United striker, is at the beginning of his managerial career. In his debut season with PSV, he led them to second place in the Eredivisie and won the Dutch Cup, defeating Ajax in the final. Despite his success and desire to coach in the Premier League, his lack of experience in English football might work against him, as Leicester has never hired a manager without some coaching experience in England.
Steve Cooper is the bookmakers’ favorite for the job. He achieved success with England’s youth teams, impressed at Swansea, and took Nottingham Forest from the Championship relegation zone to the Premier League.
With Forest, he managed a massive influx of new players and built a team that stayed in the Premier League, a task similar to what Leicester needs. While his appointment might not excite everyone, it would be a safe choice.
