West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan has emerged as a top contender to replace Enzo Maresca at Leicester City. According to The Athletic, Corberan is among the leading candidates, alongside Graham Potter, to take over at the Championship winners.
Leicester City’s former manager, Enzo Maresca, was recruited by Chelsea after they parted ways with Mauricio Pochettino, leading to the vacancy at the King Power Stadium. Corberan is viewed as someone capable of building on the foundation that Maresca laid at Leicester.
The Spaniard is highly regarded for his playing style and coaching prowess. However, Leicester would need to negotiate compensation with West Bromwich Albion, the club Corberan led to the play-offs last season, to secure his services.
Leicester aims to appoint their new manager quickly, as the pre-season for the 2024/25 Premier League approaches. The incoming manager will face immediate challenges, including potential financial constraints and a possible points deduction, which will impact their budget.
While Corberan and Potter, who previously declined the job before Maresca’s appointment, are the front-runners, other candidates are also being considered. Corberan shares similarities with Maresca in terms of age, attention to detail, and enthusiasm, although their on-field approaches differ significantly.
Leicester City dominated the league with a possession-based style, often characterized by extensive passing and using their quality to be incisive when necessary. Their control and pace of play are reflected in their average of 4.76 passes per sequence and a direct speed of 1.61 meters per second, according to The Analyst.
In contrast, Corberan’s team adopted a more direct approach, not quite route one, but less focused on control and possession. They averaged 3.63 passes per sequence and a direct speed of 1.76 meters per second.
Ironically, if Corberan moves to Leicester, he would leave West Brom just as new, wealthy owners arrive, only to join a club with financial limitations. This suggests he enjoys taking on challenging roles.
Managing in the Premier League is the pinnacle for any manager, but the Leicester job comes with significant risks. The new manager may need to sell key players, like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, to fund new signings, complicating Corberan’s task of building his squad.
Corberan has demonstrated his ability to work effectively with various squads, but the Premier League presents a different level of difficulty. The challenge of staying in the top flight is formidable, and he might find himself in a similar position to where he started if he accepts the role at Leicester due to the limitations he will face.
Conversely, West Brom’s chances of securing promotion are not guaranteed. However, they likely have better resources currently to develop into a sustainable team at the Championship level.
Ultimately, the decision for Corberan will hinge on weighing the immediate challenges at Leicester against the potential long-term stability and resources available at West Brom.
