Next Leicester City Manager Odds: Six replacements for Steve Cooper

English football pundit Gab Sutton ponders who Leicester City should choose to replace the sacked Steve Cooper, as they look to preserve their Premier League status.

Graham Potter

There’s a possibility that Graham Potter turned down the Leicester job in the summer, when he was strongly linked with the vacancy, with the possibility of the much-coveted England job in mind.

So, now that Thomas Tuchel has got that job, Potter must be tempted to return to management, after 19 months out of work – not that the payoff at Chelsea would have left the 49-year-old short financially.

Ironically, Potter’s Swansea successor, Steve Cooper, achieved more at the Liberty Stadium on paper, guiding them to successive Play-Off campaigns after the 9th-place finish before he arrived.

Despite this, Potter was always more popular with Swans fans because of his refusal to compromise on stylistic principles, where Cooper was more pragmatic.

And, arguably, this Leicester squad suits Potter’s methods better, with the likes of Wout Faes and Harry Winks having proven themselves highly accomplished on the ball, and capable of playing on the deck – even at Premier League level.

Potter’s once gleaming reputation in the managerial scene has undoubtedly taken a slight hit in the last two years, and Leicester could be the perfect club for him to regrow his stock.

David Moyes

With age comes experience, and there are few more experienced Premier League managers than David Moyes.

Having succeeded, on balance, at West Ham, building a fast-paced, counter-attacking side, appointing Moyes would be something of a call-back to Leicester’s title-winning principles, as opposed to the ideas they’ve embraced in more recent years under the likes of Claude Puel, Brendan Rodgers and Enzo Maresca.

Vardy can’t lead counter-attacks like he used to, of course, but City do have pace out wide in Abdul Fatawu and Stephy Mavididi, who would be key to Moyes’ plans.

On the whole, though, this isn’t really a squad that’s built to do what he wants. 

Ruud van Nistelrooy

Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s successful four games as Manchester United caretaker manager haven’t done his credentials any harm, but the Dutchman’s coaching reputation should extend well beyond his legendary playing status.

The 48-year-old has been coaching for the last 11 years, honing his craft away from the limelight where other high-profile ex-pros may have been guilty of trying to rush things.

A KNVB Cup winner with PSV Eindhoven in 2022-23, a time when Rood-witten weren’t at their most powerful financially, Ruud has arguably earnt a shot at the Premier League.

Carlos Corberan

One of the most consistent, reliable managers in the Championship over the last half-decade, Carlos Corberan is well overdue a shot at the Premier League.

An energetic, meticulous coach with a thirst for detail, Corberan may lack the profile of other contenders but, crucially, he knows how to build teams that can create a high-volume of chances, whilst remaining rock solid defensively.

The above is a difficult balance to strike, and Corberan does it consistently – so there’s every reason to think he could make the step up a success. 

Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick inspired Middlesbrough to an automatic promotion charge in 2022-23, following a tough start under Chris Wilder, before a 2023-24 Play-Off bid that was undermined by injuries and suspensions.

This season, Boro have been creating chances all season but, most recently, they’re starting to find that clinical edge in front of goal, with Emmanuel Latte Lath beginning to recapture his sumptuous form from the end of last season – while Carrick’s coaching has inspired attacking midfielder Finn Azaz to a whole new level.

Carrick’s sides have sometimes been guilty of being passive without the ball, and while that problem has been trouble-shooted in recent weeks, it’s something Leicester would have to be wary of before handing him an opportunity for which such vulnerabilities get most ruthlessly punished.

Lee Carsley

Carsley’s stock has grown for his work as England boss in the interim period, giving opportunities to a new generation of talent, with whom he worked in the Under-21s.

The former Everton midfielder’s knowledge of and relationship with the country’s top prospects can only be an attraction for Leicester, who may seek new young players they can nurture.

However, Carsley has always enjoyed the coaching, without necessarily wanting the limelight that comes with permanent management – whether that’s down to the pressure that can entail, or operational responsibility.

Leicester might be able to offer the 50-year-old a structure to negate the latter – but if he hasn’t become a permanent club manager by now, it feels like he never will.