The frontrunner for the Leicester City manager position has already received approval from Manchester City’s boss, Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola is familiar with outgoing Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca, as Maresca previously served as his assistant before taking on the main role at the Foxes.
After leading Leicester to the Championship title, Maresca has departed to fill the vacancy left by Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea, leaving Leicester without a manager as they prepare for their return to the top flight.
Despite names like Carlos Corberan, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and even Mauricio Sarri being associated with the Leicester job, it appears the club has now focused their search on two primary contenders.
The unemployed duo of Steve Cooper and Graham Potter are reportedly the top candidates, with Potter holding a slight advantage in the race.
Pep Guardiola is a “big fan” of Graham Potter, the leading candidate for the Leicester City manager position. Potter has been without a job since his dismissal by Chelsea in April 2023, despite rejecting several job offers since then.
It’s widely understood that the 49-year-old coach has aspirations for the England job. However, whether he pursues that role could depend on the outcome of this summer’s European Championship, which might determine if the position becomes available.
Nevertheless, Leicester cannot afford to wait for the conclusion of England’s Euros campaign and will seek to finalize their managerial situation as swiftly as possible.
If Leicester successfully persuade Potter to take the helm, they’ll have a manager who garners admiration from none other than Guardiola.
The Catalan coach expressed his admiration for Potter back in 2021 when Potter was managing Brighton, stating, “Brighton are a joy to watch, a joy to analyze. At the same time, when you see them you are concerned about their quality. We [City] will need to be at the highest standards and level to compete against them. I’m absolutely a big fan of Graham Potter. Everyone plays in their positions, the ball comes to the positions, players move with freedom and everyone knows what they have to do. They have the courage to play everywhere.”
Potter emerges as the standout candidate for the Leicester job.
Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images
If Leicester can convince Potter to lead the team, it could be a significant coup for the club. Although his tenure at Chelsea may have slightly tarnished his reputation, Mauricio Pochettino’s departure has underscored the challenges associated with that managerial position.
Potter’s most notable qualities lie in his adaptability and his capability to elevate a team to perform beyond their individual talents, a skill he demonstrated adeptly with Brighton, Swansea, and Swedish outfit Ostersunds.
Considering Leicester’s financial constraints regarding Premier League profit and sustainability regulations (PSR), the club won’t have the luxury of splurging money for survival. Therefore, they require a manager who can extract the utmost from the squad.
Potter has previously proven himself capable of fulfilling that role. The Leicester job presents him with the opportunity to prove that his stint at Chelsea was merely a hiccup in what promises to be a successful career.