The hunt for a steady hand at King Power Stadium has reportedly reached its conclusion. Yet the road to Gary Rowett's appointment was far from a one-car race. As first revealed by Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider (lower tier news, according to observers), Leicester City spent significant time considering Swedish tactician Jimmy Thelin before ultimately opting for the safety of domestic experience.
Who is Jimmy Thelin?
Thelin, who recently departed Aberdeen after a rollercoaster tenure that included Scottish Cup glory in 2025, is a manager defined by efficiency rather than flair. However, form and Scottish Premiership position both dwindled prior to his sacking. Before that, he was described as a "Big hit" north of the border.
Known for a so-called 'quiet assassin' persona, his modus operandi revolves around a high-energy, vertical 4-2-3-1 system. He forgoes 'passing for passing’s sake': preferring a press-heavy approach that forces turnovers in the final third.
For a Leicester side struggling with a lack of identity, Thelin represented a futuristic, high-concept project. A potentially sleek, experimental prototype with the promised to redefine the Foxes' mechanical output. Although, with only 14 matches remaining to secure Championship survival, the LCFC hierarchy clearly felt they couldn't afford a developmental phase.
Gary Rowett closing in on the Leicester job until the end of the season. Former Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin was one of the final-stage candidates for the vacancy after holding talks over the role at the King Power. #LCFC pic.twitter.com/Z5ZqPAtxxO
— Pete O'Rourke (@SportsPeteO) February 17, 2026
If we view the relegation battle as a final-lap sprint in Formula 1, Thelin was the sophisticated, turbocharged engine that required a complex setup and a specific track temperature to perform. He offered a higher ceiling but carried the risk of a technical DNF if the players couldn't adapt to his pressured mid-race demands.
Leicester City's high-stakes gamble: Why Gary Rowett took the checkered flag
In contrast, Rowett is the reliable safety car. He brings an 'integrate immediately' reliability to a pit stop team currently veering off-track. While the 47-year-old blueprint looked better in the wind tunnel, the City board decided that a prototype isn't required in a storm: the driver who knows every chicane of the English second tier is.
Rowett won because he was ready to take the wheel immediately. He will hopefully ensure that Leicester stay on the tarmac; the Swedish alternative remains a tantalizing but risky 'what if' for the future.