Gary Lineker reveals who he wants as next Leicester boss after Steve Cooper’s shock dismissal – and calls for his former club to ‘take a bit of a punt’
Gary Lineker has recommended that Leicester City take a gamble on their next managerial option after Steve Cooper was sacked on Sunday.
He was appointed as Enzo Maresca’s replacement in the summer after the Italian joined Chelsea, but was sacked after a run of four games without a win the day after Leicester lost 2-1 at home to Maresca’s side.
Cooper took charge of just 15 games with the Foxes, winning just three.
And Lineker revealed he would like to see former England interim boss Lee Carlsey given a role with the newly promoted Premier League side.
Carsley returned to his head coaching duties with England Under-21s after his final game with the first team against Ireland last week, which ended in a 5-0 win for the Three Lions.
Thomas Tuchel will succeed him at the helm in January 2025 after signing an 18-month contract with England in October.
Gary Lineker advised Leicester City to take a gamble with England Under-21 boss Lee Carsley
The 50-year-old won five of his six senior games during his short spell in charge
Steve Cooper was sacked by Leicester, who are winless on four points and languishing in 16th place
The Match of the Day presenter admitted that hiring Carsley would be a bit of a joke, but highlighted the 50-year-old’s success in his short spell with England and how positively the players responded to his management technique.
“I’d go for Lee Carsley, I think he’s got something,” Lineker told The Rest Is Football podcast.
‘There is some reluctance in the Premier League, with possible exceptions – Brentford and Brighton – to bring in young managers who they think have something in them.
‘The coaching ability is there and then you have to gamble a bit. It is difficult for a club that is fighting relegation.
‘It would be a tough first managerial job for someone like Carsley, but from the way the England players responded to him you could see that they respected him as a coach and thought he had good ideas. I thought he was very imaginative and courageous.’