Leicester City continue their search. After sacking Brendan Rodgers, the Foxes are expected to be looking for an interim: here are our three top picks.
The King Power club need to either select someone who can guide them to safety, or bring in a permanent head coach to lead the team forward and guide the transfer strategy coming up: one of the reasons Thomas Frank is highly-regarded by supporters. Outside of that, I believe Graham Potter is the right permanent replacement, and we believe he has rejected the Foxes. So, an interim is critical.
I have three names in mind, and we shall run through each in turn. First of all we have the ever-present Rafa Benitez, the former Leeds United coach Jesse Marsch, and finally the former fox Martin O’Neill. Price and style are my key considerations.
Why Leicester City should approach Rafa Benitez
We all know ‘Rafa’, that is a fact. From Valencia to Liverpool, Newcastle United to the backwater of the Chinese Super League, the Spanish manager is as cultured and well-travelled as they come. He has trained some of the best, some of the worst, and some of the worst attitudes in the business.
Experience is key. For the Foxes to avoid relegation, Leicester will need someone with plenty of experience to organise and attain the points they need. Rafa did this with Newcastle and could easily do this with the King Power club.
At the same time, his value has collapsed after his stint with the ‘Magpies’. Therefore, we can expect the manager to not cost an excessive amount to bring in on an interim basis. Furthermore, saving money on the coach will let us spend more on players or on other coaching roles which need improvement.
Finally, the Spaniard has the previous quality to be given a reevaluation in the summer, and if the coach has succeeded well, the Foxes may wish to give the coach a longer stay. Stylistically though it is difficult to know what passages of play or defensive organisation will be employed, this could be both a curse of negativity or a blessing of unpredictability.
How about Jesse Marsch?
Leeds play an exciting and progressive style of football entirely based around getting possession into key spaces and constantly trying for opportunities. This was pioneered by Marcelo Bielsa, but continued by RB Salzburg and RB Leipzig coach Marsch.
The American is a stylistic juggernaut. Gegenpressing football, aggressive football, progressive passing, etc. His Leeds were a creative force even without their major talents. They created the chances, exploited space, and played their entertaining brand of football. However, there is a caveat.
Defensively the English club were just as bad as Rodgers’ Leicester City. Once a turnover occurred, with any injuries to key players they would crumble and surrender a chance. The only thing they had was pace to trackback, their organisation was lacking. Marsch is not a defensive coach.
Additionally, price wise he should be decent. Certainly the American coach should cost less than the Northern Irish head coach. That being said, the manager would be more expensive than Benitez and likely would want to stay at the club. He might not accept a temporary position.
Finally, Martin O’Neill?
We all love a feel good story and a former loved coach returning. This could be one wise interim appointment. The Northern Irish head coach was incredibly successful for Leicester: earning them promotion to the Premier League, winning them League Cups, and securing them top half finishes in the league table.
His career fell off more recently after leaving the international role as Ireland manager. Since then the manager has not been employed, so has had a long time to reflect, study, and watch the modern game. The Foxes could make use of this loved coach to bring back positive feeling for the club, as well as someone experienced and fresh enough to take on the role with a calm head.
It has been reported that O’Neill’s name has been mentioned in internal discussions. A cheap, cheerful, and experienced appointment for the King Power club to stabilise and win some points. Stylistically though, the head coach would not fit our current possession-based style.
Who would you like to see permanently or on an interim basis for the Leicester City role? Let Foxes of Leicester know on our social media channels.