MY ACCOUNT
Struggling Leicester have parted company with manager Brendan Rodgers following Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace.
The Foxes sit in the relegation zone with 10 games to play after taking just one point from the last 18 available.
With Adam Sadler and Mike Stowell taking charge of first-team affairs for the time being, we look at some potential contenders to succeed Rodgers on a permanent basis.
Mauricio Pochettino
Mauricio Pochettino gained extensive Premier League experience at Southampton and Tottenham and is still available after leaving Paris Saint-Germain last summer.
Attracting the Argentinian, 51, would be a real coup and no doubt excite the Foxes faithful.
But following a stint managing Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, and with his stock still high, he may prefer to hold on for a so-called bigger club and has been linked with a return to managerless Spurs.
Marcelo Bielsa
Due to his attacking philosophy and relentless style of play, Marcelo Bielsa would undoubtedly provide entertainment at the King Power.
Bielsa, 67, is still revered by Leeds fans for his successful spell in West Yorkshire.
But he has already turned down the Everton job this season, preferring to take over a club in the summer, so would be highly unlikely to sign up for the relegation run-in.
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Ralph Hasenhuttl The Austrian was sacked by Southampton earlier this season but could prove to be a strong candidate for the job.
Yet while his high-pressing style of play is likely to be a good fit with the Leicester squad, the fact the Saints leaked goals may go against him.
Rafa Benitez
Champions League winner Rafa Benitez is still seeking a new opportunity after being sacked by Everton in January 2022.
Following successful spells with Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle, the Spaniard may be seen as a safe pair of hands who could get the best out of Leicester’s underperforming players.
He stayed with the Magpies after he failing to keep them in the Premier League in 2016 and led them straight back to the top tier.
Dean Smith
Dean Smith was linked with the job earlier in the season and is now out of work having been sacked by Norwich.
He previously did a solid job at boyhood club Aston Villa before being axed in a decision that divided the club’s fans.
Smith, 52, suffered relegation with Norwich last season and was shown the door in December as the Canaries slipped off the pace in the Championship play-off race.
