Martinez, Rodgers, Benitez candidates for Leicester job
Roberto Martinez, Brendan Rodgers and Rafael Benitez are among a list of candidates to become Leicester’s next manager, but the club is considering an interim appointment until the end of the season, according to Sky Sports News understood.
Due to the fact that Martinez, Rodgers and Benitez are currently in work, no approaches have been made so far, and the hierarchy at King Power Stadium fear it may take some time to negotiate a deal for any of them, according to skysports.com.
Sky Sports News also understood that Neil Lennon would listen to Leicester if it is to pursue an interim manager until the end of the season.
Sunday’s sacking of Claude Puel was not planned – it was the ¿rst big decision taken by Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, since he became sole decision-maker following the death of his father, Vichai, in a helicopter crash in October.
As a result, Leicester is only now beginning to compile a shortlist, and it will take its time to get the right man, as it looks for its fourth manager in almost exactly two years. Claudio Ranieri was sacked on February 23, 2017.
Leicester is con¿dent the job will appeal to some of the biggest-name managers in world football. The club’s owners have always backed their boss ¿nancially, and they feel Puel’s development of young players – Ben Chilwell, Hamza Choudhury, Wilfred Ndidi, Demarai Gray – makes the squad attractive to anyone wanting to take over.
Vice chairman Srivaddhanaprabha, the chief executive Susan Whelan and director of football Jon Rudkin will form the selection panel.
Leicester defender Jonny Evans has told Sky Sports News that players feel they have let Puel down, but they feel a responsibility to everyone when they don’t play well.
He could not deny that results have been inconsistent – they have done well against top sides but not beaten sides they have been expected to overcome.