Claude Puel had barely packed his belongings into a box before English football’s often hyperactive hive mind had picked his replacement. Indeed, within just moments of its confirmation, it seemed that Brendan Rodgers’ name became synonymous with Puel’s dismissal as Leicester City manager.
Others, such as David Wagner, Sean Dyche and Neil Lennon, have also been linked with the vacancy, but bookmakers currently have the Northern Irishman as the red hot favourite to take charge at the King Power Stadium. And with good reason. Rodgers is exactly the sort of figure the Foxes are looking for, with Celtic confirming on Tuesday suggesting the Premier League side have been given permission to speak to the 46-year-old.
While results under Puel weren’t glowing, they certainly weren’t atrocious. In fact, the Frenchman led Leicester to a number of landmark wins during his time as manager there. It was just a couple of months ago, in the run-up to Christmas, that the Foxes beat Premier League champions Manchester City and then Chelsea in back-to-back games.
So, Jamie Vardy & Co got their way!
Claude Puel sacked by Leicester, what a criminal waste of a very respected & talented coach, so he isn't charismatic I & doesn't jump around, but ask the young players how good a coach he is!
The entitled ones will gloss over that! pic.twitter.com/psyXZNeask
— Kris Carpenter ⭐⭐ (@AFCfreddie8) February 24, 2019
Leicester City, as a club, believe they should be higher in the table than their current position of 12th, but that wasn’t the primary reason for Puel’s sacking. Instead, it was the Frenchman’s style of play and view of the game that ultimately finished him, with even Jamie Vardy voicing his opposition to the conservatism of the former Lyon and Southampton boss.
Rodgers is be the perfect antidote to this. He is a manager renowned for attractive, dynamic football, the kind that would appeal to the owners and fans at the King Power Stadium. What’s more, Rodgers has plenty to work with at Leicester. The argument could be made that the Foxes presently boast the seventh best squad in the Premier League, with Jamie Vardy, Harry Maguire, James Maddison, Kasper Schmeichel, Ben Chilwell, Jonny Evans and Marc Albrighton all proven at the top level. On top of that, there are talents like Demarai Gray and Youri Tielemans too.
Upon leaving Liverpool three-and-a-half years ago, Rodgers became a figure of derision. He was mocked for his David Brent-esque mannerisms, the portrait of himself in his own house, for his fake tan and his new teeth and from a footballing standpoint, for Liverpool’s collapse post-2014/15 title challenge.
Brendan Rodgers as #Celtic manager…
– Games: 169
– Trophies: 7/7 domestic trophies
– A trophy every 24 games
– Double Treble
– Invincible season#CelticFC pic.twitter.com/Yoz3pmUPFc
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) February 26, 2019
A lot of it was grossly unfair given what Rodgers achieved at Liverpool, but the Northern Irishman has since rehabilitated his image in Scotland, with Celtic currently on course for a third straight Treble-winning season. He is ready for a return to the Premier League and Leicester City would be a good place for him to land.
Many thought prising Rodgers from Celtic’s grips before the end of the season would be difficult, if not impossible. The 46-year-old was coy on Monday, brushing off the rumours linking him with the Foxes vacancy. “My job is to concentrate on the football aspect, and that is with Celtic,” he said. “I've been stood here for two and a half years and I've been asked similar questions, my message is always very, very clear, I'm very concentrated on the game.”
However, there had been hints in recent months that Rodgers might well be considered an exit from Celtic. He had previously voiced his frustration over a lack of investment in the squad at the club, with the scale of the task involved in lifting Celtic to Champions League level again seemingly dawning on the Northern Irishman after recent failings.
Some argued that Rodgers wouldn’t leave Celtic before winning the fabled ’10 in a row’ – 10 league titles in a row, which would be a Scottish record. He signed a new contract not so long ago to take him past that milestone, suggesting Rodgers would stay that long, but things have changed since then. The mood around Celtic, and around Rodgers, has shifted.
The period post-Premier League title win was always going to be difficult for Leicester as they reverted back to default. In some ways, Puel was a victim of this. Now, though, the club must move into a new era and Rodgers is the man to help them do that.
