MX23RW : Wednesday, February 27 21:26:11

5 contenders to replace Claude Puel as Leicester manager

5 contenders to replace Claude Puel as Leicester manager
© Reuters
The Frenchman lasted just 16 months in charge of the Foxes.

Leicester have parted company with manager Claude Puel.

The Foxes failed to win a Premier League match since New Year's Day – picking up just one point from six matches – and Puel's 16-month tenure came to an end following Saturday's 4-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at some of the possible contenders to replace the Frenchman.

Brendan Rodgers

Celtic v Aberdeen – Betfred Cup – Final – Hampden Park
Brendan Rodgers led Celtic to a seventh straight domestic trophy last month as they beat Aberdeen in the Scottish League Cup final (Jeff Holmes/PA)

The Northern Irishman is favourite with the bookmakers for the job but he is midway through his third season at Celtic, where he is hoping to win his third successive domestic treble.

The Foxes would need to pay compensation to prise Rodgers away from Parkhead but the 46-year-old is proven in the Premier League.  He impressed there after getting Swansea promoted, before joining Liverpool – where he came so close to ending the Reds' title drought during the 2013-14 campaign.

Rodgers has previously been linked with a return to English football, with Arsenal reported to have considered him as a successor to Arsene Wenger before they hired Unai Emery prior to the start of this season.

Rafael Benitez

Newcastle United v Cardiff City – Premier League – St James' Park
Rafael Benitez is out of contract at Newcastle this summer (Richard Sellers/PA)

Another former Liverpool boss with proven Premier League pedigree – and beyond. Benitez has worked wonders at Newcastle on a strict budget but there have been signs that his patience is wearing thin with such constraints, together with the uncertainty surrounding the ownership of the club.

The Spaniard has been coy on his future at St James' Park club and could be difficult to get mid-season as he prides himself on not breaking a contract. However, that expires at the end of the current campaign and, while Newcastle have recently broken their transfer record to sign Miguel Almiron, the former Real Madrid boss may want more assurances over the Magpies' ambitions before deciding whether to stay or go.

David Wagner

The German has been linked with replacing Puel in the past, having won admirers with Huddersfield during their debut campaign in the top flight last season. However, things have not gone so well this time round and Wagner left the Premier League's bottom club last month by mutual consent, after approaching the board to reveal he needed to take a break from management.

With that in mind, despite being among the front-runners for the Leicester job with bookmakers, the 47-year-old appears a less likely contender.

Slavisa Jokanovic

Fulham v Exeter City – Carabao Cup – Second Round – Craven Cottage
Slavisa Jokanovic was sacked by Fulham in November (Nigel French/PA)

Sacked by Fulham in November after getting the club promoted to the Premier League, the 50-year-old Serbian will still have many admirers and he is now available.

Jokanovic did good work at Watford, Maccabi Tel Aviv and then at Craven Cottage and he would be an interesting choice.

Neil Lennon

Lennon, centre, is a former player at Leicester and won two League Cups during his spell at the club
Lennon, centre, is a former player at Leicester and won two League Cups during his spell at the club (Rui Vieira/PA)

Lennon left Hibernian by "mutual consent" last month after a fruitful two-and-a-half year spell at Easter Road, where he guided them back into the Ladbrokes Premiership.

He started management at Celtic and won three successive league titles and two Scottish Cups during his four years in the hotseat, before a less successful spell in charge at Bolton.

The Northern Irishman spent four years at Leicester as a player, which yielded two League Cup triumphs, and with the success of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's return to Manchester United as interim manager, could the Foxes follow suit with their former midfielder?

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Leicester City manager Claude Puel watches on during his side's Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur on February 9, 2019
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Leicester part company with Claude Puel
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool28216162154769
2Manchester CityMan City28222475205568
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs28200855282760
4Arsenal28175660382256
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd28167554361855
6Chelsea27165646291753
7Watford28117103938140
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28117103535040
9Everton28106123939036
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham28106123541-636
11Leicester CityLeicester28105133439-535
12Bournemouth28104143953-1434
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2887132634-831
14Crystal Palace2886143237-530
15Burnley2886143150-1930
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2776142941-1227
17Southampton2869133046-1627
18Cardiff CityCardiff2874172555-3025
19Fulham2845192663-3717
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2835201550-3514

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