Gary Lineker revealed Lee Carsley would be his choice to become the new Leicester City boss (Image: YouTube/The Rest is Football podcast)
has tipped as his preferred successor to at , confessing that the former England caretaker manager “really has something”. The dismissal of Cooper came hot on the heels of Leicester’s 2-1 defeat at home to , leading to his departure on Sunday (November 24).
Despite being in the role since June this year, Cooper’s tenure was marred by a lacklustre four-game streak without a win and a mere two victories in the league, culminating in his exit from the club. With Leicester languishing in 16th place, speculation is rife about who will take the reins at the King Power Stadium, a subject broached on .
Recently-sacked No 2 Ruud van Nistelrooy is one of the early favourites for the job alongside Graham Potter and David Moyes. However, Lineker, a Leicester native and former Foxes striker, revealed he’d prefer a leftfield choice to take the reins instead.
“I’ve got no insight on who might come in and take his place now, I’d be almost astonished if they haven’t got someone in mind because just to do that on a whim and suddenly think ‘who are we gonna get’, the first rumour I heard was David Moyes which would certainly be I think a safe pair of hands,” Lineker shared with Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, reports .
“He’s been around the block and I think that would be a safe appointment. I think if you look elsewhere, maybe someone like [Graham] Potter possibly, he’s been doing the media rounds which suggests he wants to get back in the game as soon as he possibly can.”
then revealed his top pick for the next Leicester manager, stating emphatically: “I’d go with Lee Carsley,” a comment which saw Micah Richards exclaim, “What a shout”.
Lee Carsley proved to be a popular figure among the England squad (Image: Getty)
The Match of the Day presenter elaborated on his choice, noting: “I think he’s really got something and I think there’s a little bit of a reluctance in the opposed to perhaps other leagues and with possible exceptions, Brentford and Brighton who’ve brought in young managers that they think have got something about them.
“They’ve got a coaching ability that I think is there and you take a bit of a punt, now it’s difficult with a club who are obviously going to be fighting relegation, it’ll be a tough first managerial job in terms of a club size for someone like Carsley.”
Highlighting the respect Carsley garnered from England players during his time with the national team, Lineker added: “But the way England players responded to him, you can tell they respected him as a coach and thought he had good ideas.”
The football icon also mentioned Carsley’s innovative approach. He added: “We thought he was really imaginative and brave so if it was down to me, which it categorically is not, I would possibly think of someone like that if they don’t go down the tried and trusted experience route of someone like David Moyes.”
As Leicester gears up for their next match against Brentford on Saturday, interim first team coach Ben Dawson will take charge of training, with the club looking to appoint a new manager promptly.