Favourites to become new Leicester manager as club sack Steve Cooper after 5 months in charge

Time to look at the favourites to become new Leicester City manager as the club sack Steve Cooper after 5 months in charge.

The Foxes have announced the dismissal of head coach Steve Cooper, with Alan Tate and Steve Rands also departing. Ben Dawson, Danny Alcock, and Andy Hughes will temporarily lead first-team training.

It comes less than 24 hours after Leicester’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea, with Cooper’s side being booed by their own fans.

The result saw Leicester fall down to 16th in the Premier League table, but having picked up just 10 points from 12 games, his stint after replacing now-Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca comes to an end.

We have parted company with Steve Cooper, who leaves his position as First Team Manager with immediate effect.

— Leicester City (@LCFC) November 24, 2024

Club wanted to give Steve Cooper as long as possible, but didn’t feel he would be able to overcome the issues in the timeframe needed.

There’s no expectation of a quick appointment at present, but club were very keen on Potter in the summer before appointing Cooper.

— Jason Bourne 📻 🦊 (@JasonBourne1986) November 24, 2024

CLUB STATEMENT:

Leicester City Football Club has parted company with Steve Cooper, who leaves his position as First Team Manager with immediate effect.

Assistant Manager Alan Tate and First Team Coach and Analyst Steve Rands have also left the Club. Steve, Alan and Steve depart with our thanks for their contribution during their time with the Club and with our best wishes for the future.

Men’s First Team training will be overseen by First Team Coach Ben Dawson, supported by coaches Danny Alcock and Andy Hughes, as the Club begins the process of appointing a new manager, which we hope to conclude as soon as possible.

FAVOURITES TO BECOME NEW MANAGER:

Sky Bet – 25 Nov
Graham Potter – 5/4
David Moyes – 7/4
Ruud van Nistelrooy – 11/4
Mark Robins – 12/1
Carlos Corberan – 20/1
Lee Carsley – 20/1

Thomas Frank and Steve Cooper angrily hit out at referees after their displays on Saturday

“Certain moments in the game ended up having an impact,” Cooper said post-match. “It’s one of the toughest games so far this season and proved to be that challenge. The first 30 minutes were a challenge and for all of the defending that we had to do, we ended up giving away a really soft goal.

“The biggest change we needed in the game was what we did with the ball, because when we did show enough quality and courage, we ended up creating two chances and that was giving us the belief to do a bit more and not just creating chances but having good spells on the ball.

“Half-time was about giving that message. We changed one or two things defensively, we needed to open up the game a little bit and when you do that, you risk Chelsea being in full flow with the players that they have. You know they can do damage.

“In general, we did okay at that, but it was at the other end that we needed to really improve. We’ve ended up creating moments in the game, but we’ve had two decisions that go against us.”

“There would have been a lot of good reference points to show the lads that this is how it was going to play out, but when you are 1-0 down, you need to try and get back into the game and that’s what we tried to do, retain the pressing lines and you are doing that risking what could go the other way.

“But at the same time, you want to get the ball back and go the other way and it played out a little bit like that. I just wish we could have managed moments with the ball a bit better with the chances we created. It’s not to be and we have conceded two again.

“Winksy coming off after a difficult international break – all of these things are facts but not excuses. I’ll never go down that road. A few things went against us, but at the same time, we’ve got to make our own luck and that’s always going to be on us.

“He (Winks) has hurt his groin but how serious, I don’t know. Sometimes these things can be minimal, a week or so, sometimes longer. We’ve got our fingers crossed.”

Fans reacted amid the favourites to become new Leicester manager as the club sack Steve Cooper after 5 months in charge…

@benlapworth: Brilliant timing of the sacking tbh. Didn’t wait too late til damage was done (like we did with Rodgers). New man gets to come in and have a little time to evaluate the squad before January transfer window #LCFC

@danscull88: See you later Steve Cooper 👋 Was never the right hire for us. Holding off on any praise for the board until we see who they’ve come up with as his successor. Has to be someone with a clear identity. #lcfc

@thatpoliticsguy: For me it has to be Moyes. Sign him and we stay up. #LCFC

@Linseyhart10:
Totally think Ruud van Nistelrooy is Tops kinda manager.
Moyes – to set in his ways
Potter – turned us down trillion of times!
Pearson to steady the ship til we find our permanent manager! #lcfc 🤔

@Wilson_1605: I cannot believe it – it’s finally over. Get Potter #lcfc

@Elliot_2008: Screams of Ruud Van Nistelrooy by the way #LCFC

@ashclarke10: Fair play to the board for acting quick, quicker than normal. Time to get someone in with something about them, so many names being linked and thrown round on here already. Scares me. Don’t want Moyes personally. Rather potter or RVN. #lcfc

@devftbl: Completely unsurprising to see this, Cooper is a good manager who probably would have done a good long-term job at #LCFC. Unfortunately the club failed to take into account that it was obvious the fans would dislike him due to his Forest connection.

@agbnufc_: Poor guy, what is he supposed to do with Wout Faes as his center back, gotta feel for him.

@Vintage_Cfc: Good. he shouldn’t be anywhere near a premier league job

@thekingadjor: Potter. Ruud Van. David Moyes. Talk to any immediately. I will choose Potter or Ruud for the Leicester Job 👀

@lcfc_pigeon: Right call. I like Cooper, but it wasn’t working out. Wish him all the best but he probably had to go

@BenAMatthews: Nice bloke, feel for him to a degree, but it never felt as though Cooper was able to exert his authority or influence over the squad. Lack of identity & disjointed game plans wk-to-wk ultimately led to a lack of coherence on the pitch & connection to the fans off it 🦊🔵⚪️ #LCFC

@JackRaff: Wow. I’ll be honest, despite the fan unrest, I wasn’t expecting that just yet. But clearly the club felt something wasn’t right and have made sure not to make the same mistake as two years ago and have acted quickly. You’d hope they have someone lined up ready to go. #LCFC 🦊

@ADAMNUTS: Was always up against it with the forest connection and the lack of any kind of style of play. Step forward David Moyes 🦊 #lcfc

@Tinkerler99: @LCFC ok please I beg I would literally have anyone BUT Moyes. If we get Moyes In it’s such a sideways move! #lcfc

@JoshKotadia: The list has to be Potter, RVN or Moyes #lcfc