A crucial player of Leicester City’s historic 2015/16 Premier League title-winning side has backed one of the candidates for the club’s managerial job. It’s been two weeks since Enzo Maresca was announced as Chelsea’s next manager, leaving Leicester City after just one season. It was a great single season for Leicester, as they won the Championship, but Maresca’s departure for Chelsea came as a surprise after the Foxes took a chance on him in only his second senior management post last summer. The Leicester leadership has been working hard to narrow down their own manager search over the last few weeks and appears to have settled on Graham Potter as their preferred choice.
Danny Simpson backs Graham Potter for the Leicester job. A number of names have been touted in relation to the King Power vacancy, but Potter is said to have had extensive meetings with the club’s decision-makers. The news that Leicester are expected to receive compensation from Chelsea for Maresca means the Premier League is set to break the club’s transfer embargo improves their claim, but Potter still needs to be convinced the role is suitable for him.
The 49-year-old has been patient since his dismissal as Chelsea manager in April 2023, turning down a number of opportunities. However, former Leicester right-back Danny Simpson believes that now is the time for Potter to return to management, and that the East Midlands club is the ideal spot for him to do it. Simpson told Sports Boom, “I believe Graham Potter would be good. He’s been quiet for a while now, and from what I gather, the club spoke with him about the job some time ago.
“It didn’t happen then, but perhaps now is a good moment. There are still a few difficulties to work out with some older players, but whatever occurs, it must be resolved quickly. “The club still have a core of players who know how to play in the Premier League, but they need to get a new manager in because, before you know it, it’s pre-season again and decisions need to be made.” Jurgen Klopp rates Potter highly.
Despite his poor tenure at Chelsea, Potter has many supporters. He left Brighton to become Todd Boehly’s first choice since taking over at Stamford Bridge. Potter first attracted notoriety in 2018 when he led Ostersund to a Europa League quarterfinal tie against Arsenal. He later managed Swansea City in the Championship before taking over Brighton. His Brighton side received plaudits from around the Premier League, and Jurgen Klopp, the recently departed Liverpool manager, admired his work. In February 2021, Klopp stated of Potter’s Brighton: “I really admire Graham Potter’s work there. They are a football team. “They battle to stay in the league, and I monitor them as much as I can.
“The way they play is incredibly fantastic and unbelievable; they stick to their idea, which I admire a lot. “I know how good they are.” Under Potter, Leicester would have a distinct identity, and he would be able to build on the possession concepts that Maresca instilled in the team during his tenure as manager. It could be the ideal opportunity for the former Chelsea manager to return to a club that matches his preferred style of play.
