Leicester City cannot afford to make the wrong decision in their next managerial hire. Following a surprise relegation to the Championship at the end of the 2022/23 season, Leicester City responded promptly by winning the second tier with 97 points. Much of the credit goes to the manager who took over after the divisional drop, Enzo Maresca, who was chosen to change the playing style in only his second senior managerial position. Having previously worked as Pep Guardiola’s assistant, the similarities in mindsets between the two coaches were plain to observe when watching Leicester, but they now need to appoint a second manager in a year after Maresca left for Chelsea.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has recently been connected with the empty role at the King Power Stadium, but this hiring may be too risky for Leicester to pursue. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is too risky for Leicester City Solskjaer has been out of work since his dismissal as Manchester United manager in November 2021, after originally coming in to steady the ship following Jose Mourinho.
With second and third place finishes in his first two full seasons, you could argue that United’s subsequent performance demonstrated that he did a good job in charge of the Red Devils. However, the Norwegian was hired mostly because of his playing history at the club, and he was frequently exposed lacking tactically while against inferior sides. His counter-attacking approach worked well for United against teams who would take the game to him, and it may work for a team like Leicester that is looking to stay in the league.
However, the Foxes are now well-versed in a possession-based approach, and it may not be the greatest idea to change things up ahead of such an important season. Furthermore, Solskjaer has a Premier League relegation record, having failed to keep Cardiff City in the level in 2014 before being fired a month later with the Bluebirds suffering in the Championship. Jamie Carragher doesn’t believe Solskjaer will be the top manager.
With Steve Cooper, Carlos Corberan, Mauricio Sarri, and Graham Potter all rumored to replace Maresca, Solskjaer appears to be the most risky of the bunch. After failing at Cardiff and doing a respectable job at Manchester United, Solskjaer has spent the majority of his time as manager of Molde in his native Norway. With Leicester likely to need tactical excellence to have the best chance of staying up next season, it may be prudent to end talks with Solskjaer.
Pundit Jamie Carragher does not believe the 51-year-old has what it takes to be a top manager, as he stated in his Telegraph column in October 2021. “I truly believe he has done a wonderful job at Manchester United. He has probably exceeded expectations.”
“There was entertainment that you didn’t get with Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho. But he’ll never be as good as the three managers he has to defeat.” “He’ll never be them. “He’ll never have that gravitas.” “He hasn’t got the presence of [Jurgen] Klopp at Liverpool, he’s hasn’t got the trophies behind him that [Pep] Guardiola has at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and now Manchester City so that when he speaks the players hang off his every word.” While Leicester may not be able to attract top-tier managers, there are too many questions about Solskjaer’s managing skills to take such a big risk this summer.
Leicester City is now in talks with a former Premier League manager who was fired in 2021 and hasn’t worked since. Leicester City are without a manager ahead of their Premier League return, as Enzo Maresca has taken the Chelsea post. Last season, the Italian led Leicester City to the Championship title, and the Foxes were promoted on their first attempt. Maresca, a former Manchester City assistant coach, has signed a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge, with an option for an additional year. Many in the football community were surprised by the choice, but for many Leicester City fans, it is not the end of the world.
Maresca faced criticism at times for the way Leicester City played under his leadership, and many fans may be pleased by the idea of a new manager taking over.
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