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Leicester City have appointed Dean Smith as their new interim manager until the end of the season after talks with Jesse Marsch broke down earlier in the week. Smith has been out of work since being sacked by Championship side, Norwich, in December but will now be tasked with keeping Leicester in the Premier League.
The new of Smith’s appointment will perhaps be underwhelming to Leicester City fans who were hoping for a bigger name such as Rafa Benitez or Graham Potter to replace Brendan Rodgers. It is expected that if Smith keeps the Foxes in the Premier League then the club’s hierarchy will look to appoint Potter in the summer following his sacking from Chelsea last month.
Joining Smith at the King Power Stadium are Craig Shakespeare and John Terry. Shakespeare was Claudio Ranieri’s assistant when Leicester shocked the world and won the Premier League in 2016 and he had a brief stint as the club’s manager after the Italian left the club.
Terry, who recently told Stephen Hendry in a YouTube video that he would only return to first-team management if Chelsea came knocking, was part of Smith’s backroom staff at Aston Villa and has been persuaded by the former Villa and Brentford manager to join him once again.
Six weeks to save the season
With just eight Premier League games to go until the end of the season, Leicester find themselves in the bottom three. They are currently two points from safety but with a trip to the Etihad Stadium this weekend to play Manchester City next up, their situation could soon become desperate.
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dean Smith as the Club’s First Team Manager until the end of the 22/23 season 🔷
— Leicester City (@LCFC) April 10, 2023
Despite that, the new manager is confident about their chances. Speaking to the Club’s official YouTube channel, Smith said:
“If it was something that I thought was insurmountable then I wouldn’t have come and Shakey and JT wouldn’t have come, if they believed that also. We’re going to see it like a competition, really. We’ve got eight weeks to save the season. We can’t get away from the fact we’re in a tough position at the moment.”
“I think the three of us is a good package. Craig is an outstanding assistant manager, as everybody at this club knows. JT is an outstanding defensive coach but he also brings vast experience of the Premier League and playing at the elite level. He will drive high standards as well.”
“The challenge in front of us is clear, but it’s one myself and my coaching team have experienced before. With the quality in this squad and the number of games remaining, it’s very much achievable.”
Playing the temporary game
Smith’s appointment now means there are five Premier League clubs with an interim manager at the helm with Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Southampton also having a temporary man in charge until the summer. Meanwhile, Leeds United’s new manager Javi Gracia is on a “flexible” contract at Elland Road.
It could mean as many as six new Premier League jobs being available in the summer which will likely mean a swift return to management for the likes of Graham Potter and Brendan Rodgers.
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