Leicester City sacked manager Claudio Ranieri last week – less than a year since winning the Premier League title.
England manager Roy Hodgson
Leicester City last week confirmed that they have parted company with manager Claudio Ranieri, just nine months after he guided the Foxes to the Premier League title.
Leicester were the story of last season as they stunned the world by winning the Premier League title, despite having been viewed as relegation candidates before the start of the season.
Ranieri was the mastermind behind the title win, taking a modest squad of players to what was akin to a football miracle, but less than 12 months on, the Italian has lost his job.
Whilst he guided Leicester through the group stages of the Champions League, last Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat at Sevilla proved to be his final game in charge, but the Foxes responded under caretaker Craig Shakespeare by beating Liverpool 3-1 on Monday.
Bookmakers have begun pricing up odds for who could replace Ranieri at the King Power Stadium, and here are five of the main names in the mix, with odds compiled by Oddschecker this evening…
Roy Hodgson: Evens
Out of work since losing his job as England manager following their disastrous Euro 2016 campaign, Hodgson may fancy one more crack at Premier League football. The 69-year-old has barely been seen since England’s embarrassing 2-1 defeat to Iceland last summer, and needs to rebuild his reputation. Hodgson impressed in spells with Fulham and West Brom in the Premier League, and having kept both clubs in the top flight, he could be ideal for Leicester’s battle against the drop. Despite the 3-1 win over Liverpool on Monday, Hodgson’s odds have been slashed today, and he’s now Evens to take Leicester job.
Craig Shakespeare: 2/1
Ranieri’s right hand man who has taken the job on an interim basis, Shakespeare led the Foxes to that 3-1 win over Liverpool on Monday in an impressive display. The 53-year-old has never been a full-time manager, and the only other game he has taken charge of was as caretaker boss of West Brom in 2006, beating Crystal Palace 2-0 away from home. Formerly assistant to Nigel Pearson at Leicester and Hull, Shakespeare is well known to the Leicester squad and would give some continuity at a key stage of the season, and having beaten Liverpool, he’s now 2/1 for the job.
Guus Hiddink: 9/2
Something of a surprise name in the frame, Hiddink took charge of Chelsea for the second half of last season following Jose Mourinho’s exit. The Dutchman, 70, has enjoyed a lengthy managerial career spanning almost 30 years, and he would be a veteran boss to bring in for the rest of the season, as he showed at Chelsea. Now 9/2 for the job, Hiddink could be a short-term option for Leicester, and he’s third-favourite to take the reins at the King Power Stadium.
Leicester City caretaker manager Craig Shakespeare watches the warm up before the game
Nigel Pearson: 6/1
Pearson is a name that simply won’t go away for Leicester. He managed the club between 2008 and 2010 before heading to Hull City, but then returned in 2011, guiding the club to promotion to the Premier League in 2014. Pearson kept the Foxes in the top flight in 2015 but surprisingly left the club that summer, with Ranieri replacing him. Pearson had a short spell at Derby earlier this season but is one of the favourites to replace Ranieri, with 6/1 odds on him having a third spell in charge of Leicester.
Alan Pardew: 8/1
Sacked by Crystal Palace in December, Pardew may want a swift return to work in the Premier League, and Leicester is the only vacancy right now. After starting well at Palace, Pardew endured a nightmare season this term, and paid the price for poor results by losing his job just over two months ago. A figure who divides fans, Pardew may not be what Leicester need right now – but at 8/1, he’s a name in the frame at least.
Who would you like to see Leicester City appoint as their new manager?
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