Three Top Candidates Who Leicester Can Consider As Claude Puel’s Replacement
Claude Puel might find himself out of a job once again at the end of the season, as reports claim that Leicester City are considering the possibility of sacking the Frenchman once the curtains fall on the 2017/18 Premier League campaign.
Having taken over from Craig Shakespeare back in October last year, Puel led the Foxes away from the relegation scramble to the comforts of the upper half of the table.
However, a poor run of results, in which his side have registered just four wins in 18 games has cast a doubt on his future at the club. Saturday’s 5-0 belting at the hands of Crystal Palace has only worsened the manager’s situation at the club.
If it so happens that Puel ends up getting the sack from Leicester, here are three managers who could be the ideal replacements for him at the King Power Stadium.
Rafael Benitez
Currently tipped as the front-runner to take over the reins at Leicester City, should Puel be discharged of his duties, Rafael Benitez would prove to be a solid option for the Foxes to count on. A vastly experienced customer, the Spaniard has worked with some of the biggest clubs across the continent, including the likes of Liverpool and Real Madrid.
The work he did with Valencia early in his career and at Napoli not very long ago, speak of his managerial pedigree. Having taken over a derailing Newcastle United side, Benitez guided them back to the Premier League and has ensured their stay in the top-flight for another season despite having a barely average squad to work with.
Imagine the good work he can do if given the chance to work with players like Jamie Vardy, Kelechi Iheanacho and Riyad Mahrez.
Marco Silva
The 40-year-old Portuguese was widely regarded as one of the brightest young managers in the Premier League in the first half of the 2017/18 campaign when he turned the Watford side into genuine contenders for a UEFA Europa League spot. However, his attention was turned by a chance to join Everton, which derailed his work at Watford and he was eventually sacked in January this year.
Despite the sacking, Silva remains a tactically astute coach who has done a pretty decent job in the Premier League with Hull City and later with Watford.
The 40-year old has his sides play a good brand of football, has shown that he can get the best out of talented young players and is currently without a job. Leicester should definitely consider the possibility of bringing him in.
Unai Emery
Perhaps a move that would be too ambitious but Leicester should explore the possibility of trying to land Spanish tactician and current Paris Saint-Germain manager Unai Emery at the club next season. The 46-year-old recently announced that he will be leaving the French giants at the end of the season when his contract expires, having been in-charge of the club for two seasons.
Emery might not have been able to meet the lofty expectations that came with the job at PSG but his work with Sevilla, where he won a hat-trick of UEFA Europa League trophies between 2013/14 and 2015/16, remains a true testament to what he can achieve with a good squad of players.
A career win percentage of 53.8%, having worked with clubs like Valencia, Spartak Moscow and Sevilla in the past, the current PSG manager could prove to be a masterstroke by Leicester.
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